PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIARain’s contemporary Asian cuisine is presented in an equally modern interior with funky orange lighting that matches the birds of paradise which flock together in large vases. Cushioned, cafe-style seating forms an orderly line down the long dining room and two large booths at its end are perfect to gather around for a cosy meal of all the very best flavours that Asia is renowned for. Shallot pancakes are a traditional, home-made treat in Northern China and proprietor Denise Yip believes Rain’s are the best, along with the in-house dumplings. Generously stuffed with pork mince, prawns and mushrooms, she guarantees they will make your yum cha trips to Chinatown redundant. The Thai lemongrass chilli soup is also a serious draw card and brims with prawns, mushrooms and bamboo shoots in a broth with basil leaves, tomato, ginger and chilli paste.
Mains boast a succulent assortment of meat and seafood dishes. Hong Kong spicy fish is battered and comes served with a unique addition of deep-fried vegetable leaves. King prawns with chilli and long beans are tossed in a spicy garlic sauce, while the blue swimmer crab and rocket omelette goes perfectly with a crisp white wine. Duck smoked in Chinese tea leaves and brown sugar is served with Peking sauce and is definitely a menu highlight, while salt and pepper chicken is wok-finished with chilli, shallots and coriander. For the vegos in the house the bean curd hot-pot combines the delicate deep-fried pillows with shallots, mushrooms and oyster sauce.
Roz Taylor