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2014-03-07
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When I think of North Point, first thing to come to mind is usually the wonderful street egg waffles (雞蛋仔) or Tung Po Restaurant, famous for the beer bowls, and the brash servers with amazing food to back up that attitude. So it came as a surprise when I was searching for a birthday place and found Yue, a Michelin one-starred Chinese restaurant tucked inside the City Garden Hotel.I only got to see one section of the restaurant, as there was a wedding in the main area. What I could see, though, w
I only got to see one section of the restaurant, as there was a wedding in the main area. What I could see, though, was simple and elegant; tables were very sparsely arranged and there were decorative curtain drapes and dim lighting; not unfit for a dinner date, if your date enjoys Chinese food as much as you do. Our booking got us a cosy booth in the end of the restaurant.
First to arrive was the Double-boiled Almond Soup with Fish Maw and Pork Tendon 杏汁花膠燉蹄筋 ($428). We ordered this dish days in advance and were expecting great things from it. It did not disappoint - the soup was silky and fragrant, with natural sweetness coming from the pork. The fish maw was bountiful - we found one in each of the bowls we were served. If this were the only dish I had tonight, I would still be happy. The pot of soup was enough for the five of us to each have seconds.The meat leftovers from the soup was plated separately. This is usually dry and bland, as the soup has already absorbed what's good, hence, it is served with soy sauce. But I found the Yue version to be tender with faint flavor remaining. But perhaps this was seasoned by my hunger.
My hunger was not to last - as the Sautéed Minced Dried Oyster with Lettuce 生菜片蠔豉鬆 ($168) was presented in no time. Finely diced dried oysters, celery, pinenuts, and pork were set on a plate, to be wrapped into a big leaf of lettuce. Refreshing and gentle with balanced flavors from each ingredient, this was a nice dish. But again, because of my hunger, this reminded me of but paled in comparison to the more heavily seasoned and starchier Northern Chinese stuffed sesame buns(叉子燒餅), but it was a good appetizer nonetheless.
Then came the meat to satiate my appetite. The Smoked Chicken with Fragrant Tea Leaves and Soy Sauce 龍井茶皇熏雞 (Half $218) was as its namesake, fragrant! The aroma of tea leaves swirled around my palate as I took a first bite into the the tender and juicy chicken. Excellent execution. It was also juicier than the version at Kin's Kitchen.
The Braised Brassica with Yunnan Ham 云腿扒津膽($168) was ordered purely out of a need for fiber, and I didn't bother with much of that fiber supply. But the little brassica I had was tender, chew-free and quite tasteless, to be honest. The Yunnan ham provided a stark contrast - it was very, very salty, probably the strongest flavor in the whole dinner. They should have been a wonderful medley, eaten together. But the carnivore in me will never understand...
The following Braised Bean Curds with Shrimp Roe and Wild Mushrooms 蝦籽野菌紅燒豆腐 ($128) was delicious, as I personally really like tofu (yes, I have no teeth), and the abundance of sauce and shrimp roe was fully absorbed into the tofu. It was like eating a really flavorful sponge of shrimp and oyster. Perfect with white rice. Can you really beat that? I think not.
The food was scrumptious, and we wanted more. We decided that some starch would hit the spot, and ordered Fried Rice with Prawns and Barbecued Pork in X.O. Sauce 師傅炒飯 ($188). It did not disappoint, the rice was fried very well, each grain was a separate entity soaked in juices yet retaining its chewiness. The X.O. sauce provided a satisfying spicy kick to each spoonful. This dish disappeared as fast as a magic trick.
Finally, what birthday is complete without some celebratory items? This was not on menu, but we were able to order Longevity Buns 壽包 ($120 for 6) with prior notice. The buns were smaller than and less sweet than the usual, which was perfect, as we were full by the time it arrived. a perfect end to a delightful meal.:||Good For||::
Group dinners and wonderfully delicate Cantonese cuisine in an ambient setting
Other Info. :
The soup and the rice are also available in 'per person' portions.
Soup $118/person
Fried Rice $60/person
Not included in review:
Tea 壽眉 $20 x 5
White rice 絲苗白飯 $20 x 2
(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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