szemet1

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  8     

Great place I accidentally bumped into on Saturday night while the rest of the team was having some fun on a beach party. I had no reservation and was alone, but got a table with good view.

I opted for the special which was scallops, rabbit casserole and warm raspberry and almond tart. The scallops were huge and very tasty on the fresh tomato and basil bed.

I can recommend the rabbit for everyone, large pot with delicious, tender meat and thick soup, even though a bit too much to the vinegar/mustard side for my liking. The best part of the day was the warm raspberry and almond tart, which clearly was the best tart I ever had in my life! It was fresh, tasty, beautiful texture with lots of fruits inside.

I was very happy with the service, the young ladies were friendly and polite with insider recommendations about the food and the best places to visit in the area. The only thing I could suggest as an improvement is to allow the young waitresses to wear proper size of skirts. The one they have appears to be at least 2 sizes smaller and they have to pull it down in every 2 minutes which can be quite obstructive sometimes.

Ah yes, one more recommendation if I may. The background music is French for sure, but those modernised classics that I just hate to listen. I'd rather prefer the original version of those beautiful chansons. I think it would help to improve the atmosphere, but it may only be me that has this idea.

Feb 19, 2012

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  9      Value  7     

I went to this place with friend and booked the table about 2 weeks in advance. I was told on the phone, that we have to vacate the table before 8 pm with a 6:30 pm start.

We had scallops and rock oysters for start and while the scallops were nicely cooked and served, we had the feeling that someone slipped in the kitchen with the vinegarette bottle in the hand and half a bottle ended up on the oysters. The acidic taste was overpowering and left no chance to taste anything else.

We both ordered steak cooked differently and from an exclusive place like this I have to say the steak was quite average. The only "wow" moment we had actually came from the side. The truffle mash had beautiful texture and taste, and the size was perfect for 2.

The overall experience was improved with the arrival of the desserts. I had berries and my friend tried pavlova. They both were fantastically presented and tasted the real fruits. We also received complimentary little sweats with coffee.

The ambience of the place constantly reminded me to one that was left here from the '70s even though the place was built in the mid-'90s. They really need an interior designer to come up with some better colours and wall covers.

Overall, the restaurant is overpriced, but you pay for the location the service and the view to the harbor. The food is quite average for such an "exlusive" restaurant and the overly polite staff could not compensate for the feeling that they charge the high price for everything else, but the food itself.

Jan 16, 2012

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  7     

Went there with the company of friends and booked the table in advance. Good idea not just to turn up, but have a table booked, or else you can end up waiting for a long time.

The service was good and really fast. We ordered many different dishes and never had to wait longer than about 5 minutes for them to arrive. The place is a bit pricey, we ended up paying about $60 each for the food and 4 x 720 ml bottles of sake for the group of 8.

It's gets quite noisy, recommended to book the private room, but you have to do it weeks in advance or else, you have no chance to get it. Arrived at 6 pm and were kicked out at 8 pm even though we wanted to order more food, but were told that other group has already arrived and been waiting for the table...
Try the BBQ Wagyu beef!

Jun 27, 2011

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  8     

I've been there a few times before for yum cha and always with workmates with Cantonese background. Never had any bad experience, but don't expect French pompous service. Chinese are famous for no BS, but straight to the point. If you like something ask from the trolley lady, if not, just say no. Why ppl are whinging about the service I can't grasp.

Food is good, actually the best yum cha I had while I tried a few at other places before. Great Mango Pancake that you should try, you may need to ask for it.

Some of the dishes are better than the other, but you need to try and fail to decide yourself which one you like. I eat stewed chicken feet and find it spicy and tasty even though I'm a gwai lo, but other may find it disgusting.

When they seat you, the first question is that what you want to drink. Wonder why ppl again expected to be asked for drink after getting settled on a yum cha restaurant. You may have mistaken the place with a europian-style restaurant.

I usually pay about $25 but I also eat more than the average and only drink green tea that we have a regular supply when the pot gets empty.

Overall, if you don't expect and compare the place to a europian style restaurant, but you accept that it's a cantonese eat good food, no BS, pay your bill and leave quickly kind of place, than you will not be disappointed.

You can than have a short walk to Milson Point to a classy place to get pampered with smiles and polite words.

Feb 28, 2011

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

6 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  8      Value  6     

I had a buffet dinner here on Friday night with friends. Nice seafood, not a huge variety though. The desserts are nothing special, some of them tasted actually like leftovers from previous day. The staff is polite and fast, but only young asians working there and this place is not a chinese but an international restaurant.
Carefully check the bill! When we finished they wanted to overcharge us with 6 extra soft drinks! When we questioned those items they didn't even say sorry, just mumbled something about accidentally pusing the button (but 6 times?).
Anyway, go there only if it's on special and double check your bill!

Feb 21, 2011

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  8     

Great place I accidentally bumped into on Saturday night while the rest of the team was having some fun on a beach party. I had no reservation and was alone, but got a table with good view.

I opted for the special which was scallops, rabbit casserole and warm raspberry and almond tart. The scallops were huge and very tasty on the fresh tomato and basil bed.

I can recommend the rabbit for everyone, large pot with delicious, tender meat and thick soup, even though a bit too much to the vinegar/mustard side for my liking. The best part of the day was the warm raspberry and almond tart, which clearly was the best tart I ever had in my life! It was fresh, tasty, beautiful texture with lots of fruits inside.

I was very happy with the service, the young ladies were friendly and polite with insider recommendations about the food and the best places to visit in the area. The only thing I could suggest as an improvement is to allow the young waitresses to wear proper size of skirts. The one they have appears to be at least 2 sizes smaller and they have to pull it down in every 2 minutes which can be quite obstructive sometimes.

Ah yes, one more recommendation if I may. The background music is French for sure, but those modernised classics that I just hate to listen. I'd rather prefer the original version of those beautiful chansons. I think it would help to improve the atmosphere, but it may only be me that has this idea.

Feb 19, 2012

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  9      Value  7     

I went to this place with friend and booked the table about 2 weeks in advance. I was told on the phone, that we have to vacate the table before 8 pm with a 6:30 pm start.

We had scallops and rock oysters for start and while the scallops were nicely cooked and served, we had the feeling that someone slipped in the kitchen with the vinegarette bottle in the hand and half a bottle ended up on the oysters. The acidic taste was overpowering and left no chance to taste anything else.

We both ordered steak cooked differently and from an exclusive place like this I have to say the steak was quite average. The only "wow" moment we had actually came from the side. The truffle mash had beautiful texture and taste, and the size was perfect for 2.

The overall experience was improved with the arrival of the desserts. I had berries and my friend tried pavlova. They both were fantastically presented and tasted the real fruits. We also received complimentary little sweats with coffee.

The ambience of the place constantly reminded me to one that was left here from the '70s even though the place was built in the mid-'90s. They really need an interior designer to come up with some better colours and wall covers.

Overall, the restaurant is overpriced, but you pay for the location the service and the view to the harbor. The food is quite average for such an "exlusive" restaurant and the overly polite staff could not compensate for the feeling that they charge the high price for everything else, but the food itself.

Jan 16, 2012

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  7     

Went there with the company of friends and booked the table in advance. Good idea not just to turn up, but have a table booked, or else you can end up waiting for a long time.

The service was good and really fast. We ordered many different dishes and never had to wait longer than about 5 minutes for them to arrive. The place is a bit pricey, we ended up paying about $60 each for the food and 4 x 720 ml bottles of sake for the group of 8.

It's gets quite noisy, recommended to book the private room, but you have to do it weeks in advance or else, you have no chance to get it. Arrived at 6 pm and were kicked out at 8 pm even though we wanted to order more food, but were told that other group has already arrived and been waiting for the table...
Try the BBQ Wagyu beef!

Jun 27, 2011

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  8     

I've been there a few times before for yum cha and always with workmates with Cantonese background. Never had any bad experience, but don't expect French pompous service. Chinese are famous for no BS, but straight to the point. If you like something ask from the trolley lady, if not, just say no. Why ppl are whinging about the service I can't grasp.

Food is good, actually the best yum cha I had while I tried a few at other places before. Great Mango Pancake that you should try, you may need to ask for it.

Some of the dishes are better than the other, but you need to try and fail to decide yourself which one you like. I eat stewed chicken feet and find it spicy and tasty even though I'm a gwai lo, but other may find it disgusting.

When they seat you, the first question is that what you want to drink. Wonder why ppl again expected to be asked for drink after getting settled on a yum cha restaurant. You may have mistaken the place with a europian-style restaurant.

I usually pay about $25 but I also eat more than the average and only drink green tea that we have a regular supply when the pot gets empty.

Overall, if you don't expect and compare the place to a europian style restaurant, but you accept that it's a cantonese eat good food, no BS, pay your bill and leave quickly kind of place, than you will not be disappointed.

You can than have a short walk to Milson Point to a classy place to get pampered with smiles and polite words.

Feb 28, 2011

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

6 Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  8      Value  6     

I had a buffet dinner here on Friday night with friends. Nice seafood, not a huge variety though. The desserts are nothing special, some of them tasted actually like leftovers from previous day. The staff is polite and fast, but only young asians working there and this place is not a chinese but an international restaurant.
Carefully check the bill! When we finished they wanted to overcharge us with 6 extra soft drinks! When we questioned those items they didn't even say sorry, just mumbled something about accidentally pusing the button (but 6 times?).
Anyway, go there only if it's on special and double check your bill!

Feb 21, 2011

5.6 Average

Food  4      Drinks  7      Ambience  4      Service  8      Value  5     

Went there on Sunday evening with my friend and ordered one of their most expensive dish the "Grainge Angus Sirloin Steak $24" medium one. The thing that I received was burned to charcoal level, I feel sorry not to take a photo to show it to you. The place is very noisy, so only 4 to the ambience.

I had an affogato at the end which actually served as a compensation for the outrageous "medium" steak. The affogato was a visual and culinary delight, surely they charged $12 for the experience. Anyway, only going back if all the other places will be bombed to dirt and nothing else's left to visit.

Jan 17, 2011