Profiled by de Groots MediaWith Walter and Christina Ling as proprietors and chef respectively, you can trust this eatery to deliver what it sets out to do. Adelaide was fed traditional northern Chinese fare for 16 years at their iconic Beijing Restaurant. In 2005, they opened East Asian Bistro in the genteel locale of Hazelwood Park, creating a restaurant that is tasteful in decor and cuisine. A striking wooden bank of tea chest drawers runs the length of the bar and each little drawer is adorned with a golden handle. Its marble counter top is home to an octagonal tower of goldfish and a jolly Buddha lolling under giant stalks of lush greenery. They all contribute to the Zen feel of the place.
Politely spaced wooden tables offer linen napery and the novelty of utensil vases stocked with knives, forks and chopsticks. Whatever your weapons of choice, they will be put to good use. The eclectic menu is categorised into “our favourites”, “all time favourites” and “something new”. Noodles, vegetables and rice are all present and, unlike most Asian restaurants, East has a respectable dessert selection. Begin your feast with salt and pepper whitebait, fried onion pancakes and coriander prawn dumplings. Treats from the ocean include steamed or fried whole barramundi with ginger and shallots or chilli black bean sauce. Grilled perch fillet is unusually combined with pork and shiitake mushrooms while boned rainbow trout is stuffed with coriander, chilli and Hoi Sin sauce. Duck lovers can share in the spoils of hot and sour soup, salt and pepper crispy-skinned half duck and Japanese curry. Coconut rosettes, which are Malaysian donuts served with golden syrup and ice-cream, will delight the masses come dessert time.
Roz Taylor