Our family is very picky about the food we eat and dinner out is always a much discussed decision. Wondering what to eat this time, I tentatively suggested Henry Tham's. I'd had their fixed menu at lunch sometime last year and have since wondered what their regular dinner menu would be like.
Last night I found out.
Wandering into an empty place at 9 on a Friday night didn't bode too well especially since I'd heard Henry Tham's was a happening place! Even Royal China had two more occupied tables when we went there two days after the Mumbai Terror Attack.
But, appearances as they say are deceptive.
We were soon put at ease by the friendly waiters ( one a bit too attentive I thought) who promptly brought us the menus and some steamed peanuts. The wine list was extensive and my daughter who was thrilled to finally find some Bellini on the menu, promptly ordered a mango one.
The rest of us had Kinleys' aqua vita and munched away on some yummy steamed chicken dim sum and a bowl of vegetarian hot and sour soup. The veg. spring roll was slim and crisp but I wouldn't really recommend it.
For our main course we had vegetarian Mee Foong which is simply fantastic- thin rice noodles, and beef chilly and a crisp prawn tempura.
The sauces which accompanied these dishes are quite different from the normal chillies floating in vinegar and red garlic chilli sauce that are dunked mandatorily on all Chinese tables.
I loved the ambience of this place - teal lights placed in glass bowls on a bed of mustard seed, black laquered tables ( whose slightly concave surface makes you wonder if your vision is blurring with the extra pint!) and the over all ambience of peace and calm like the Buddha welcoming you at the top of the stairs. However, I was a bit wary of pushing the king and queen chairs - a slightly harder push and I'm sure they'll come crashing down the glass barrier separating the dining area from the lounge bar below.
Though we finished our meal by 10, the happening lounge bar was still not happening. I was told, however, that this place picked up only by 11.............
I'll have to come another night to see that.
However, if it's good chinese food you are looking for, look no further. Standard fare that lives up to expectations even though you may pay a bit more.
bellybytes
