PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIASho is located within the casino area at Crown, which means it’s adults only in this surprisingly glamorous Chinese restaurant and noodle bar. It is bold and handsome, with strong red, brown and pink hues, and theatrical pendant mesh light-shades. The main feature is the kitchen, which takes up an immense area that is surrounded by seats, allowing guests to sit up at the bar and watch the cooking action. Some of the tables, however, are lit up by the lights of the poker machines. Everything is prepared in this kitchen, including the noodles, which are pulled by chef Pin Tan, who has spent 10 years learning this craft. Most evenings, he demonstrates noodle-making, which proves to be a great show.
The noodle dishes are, of course, wonderful. The food is mainly Chinese, with some Malaysian and Singaporean influences in the noodle dishes and soups and in other dishes such as the beef rendang with steamed rice. The barramundi with spicy oyster sauce is a complex and delicious mix of flavours, and we love the simple combination of the Hainanese chicken rice – chicken, rice and broth with three sauces. There is a decent wine list, but the outstanding feature here is the Chinese tea list. There are 24 of them, including Dragon Well, Taiwan Dong Ding Oolong and Longlife Jade. It’s possible just to come in for tea, prepared in the ceremonious Chinese fashion. Prices are reasonable and some of the teas are available for purchase.
Rita Erlich, October 2008