Pacific Seafood BBQ House

We come over from the UK every year and Pacific House is always a "must go". As described elsewhere, there is no decor to describe. Formica tables and coloured posters on the wall is your lot. Portions are huge and the service is speedy. The duck dishes are superb and soft shell crab is a treat. The complimentary "soup" when you get seated is a funny one. Think of flavoursome dishwater with half a rib in it and you won't go wrong. Strangely moreish. Vege stir fries are worth a go too. We usually go BYB so can't vouch for their wine list. Worth a visit...even from 12000 miles away. 18/09/2011

For those used to Hong Kong style "lightning speed" dining or those who don't mind some rough handling to get to good food, Pacific Seafood and Barbecue Restaurant in South Yarra is worth a try. The food is really good. I recommend duck, both the Roast Duck and the Peking duck. Lemon Chicken is delicious. Prawns with Chinese broccoli were succulent. They serve really large portions so there is really no need to over-order: you will be taking food home. Dining "experience" is non-existent. There is no foreplay: Whilst escorted to the table one of our multiple waiters said to my husband: You'll have a beer, your wife a white wine and these boys will have coke? Before we had even opened the menus, the drinks were placed in front of us. Their wine list is excellent, and they are right on with their recommendations. Within less than 5 minutes of sitting, someone had taken our order. 10 minutes later the food started arriving. Also, there shall be no afterglow: 20 minutes to eat, then they cleared the table, whilst serving up sliced orange pieces and the bill. No dessert. 5 minutes later we were on the way out, while a line of other diners was waiting for our table. For dim lighting and dinner conversation, don't go there. Don't worry about the decor; you will not see it, the place is always jam-packed. Want to avoid a deep and meaningful? That's your place. The noise will prevent any exchange whatsoever, unless you like screaming. Cheap? Yes. Dinner for 4, at $100.00 including wine and beer is cheap. Classy? If lucky you get a tablecloth. A waiter berated clients who made their way to a table being vacated without an escort. Technically they were being yelled at. They seemed unfazed though. Probably not first-timers. Another waiter setting up a table was flinging the little plates across the table. No mollycoddling. Come, sit, eat well, pay, leave, next. Still probably some of the best Asian dishes in town. And indubitably a dining experience. 08/03/2009