East - Melbourne, Victoria

We scored a Scoopon deal for a Mouth-Watering 7 Course Tasting Menu with Sparkling Wine at East Restaurant, Member of the Acclaimed Hutong Group at just $49 for two people.

Signature Steamed Juicy Pork Dumplings

Signature Wontons in Chilli Sauce

Yunnan Styled Stir Fried Beef with Asparagus and Eggplant

Szechuan Fish Fillets Soak in Hot Chilli Oil Or Fish Fillet in Ginger and Spring Onion Sauce

Stir Fried String Beans with Hot Chilli Sauce

East Signature Fried Rice

East Banana Fritter with Ice-Cream

East Banana Fritter with Ice-Cream

Verdict? The xiao long bao (steamed juicy pork dumplings) were the highlight as always, while the wontons and fish fillet dishes came in at a close second. Everything else was a little mediocre, with dessert being the least impressive dish. But the service was great, the decor was stylish, and there was a lot of food. Overall, it was a delicious banquet bargain and perfect for a catch up dinner - I wouldn't hesitate to snap up another deal!
Time and date of visit: 6 pm Friday 17 July 2015 

East
25 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9650 8838
Open 7 days for lunch 11:30 am - 3 pm and for dinner 5:30 pm - late

New Shanghai - Melbourne, Victoria

Garlic cucumber 5.5

New Shanghai Xiao Long Bao - Steamed pork dumplings (8pcs) 8.6

Dumplings (10pcs) 10.8

Cold noodles with braised beef 11.5

Prawn wontons with chilli oil, peanut & sesame sauce 16.3

New Shanghai fried pork buns (8pcs) 11.8

Sautéed snow pea shoots 14.9

Revisit verdict? We enjoyed a selection of old favourites, and new dishes - the panfried pork buns were a nice novelty, while the garlic cucumber, pea shoots and cold noodles were refreshing alongside the dumplings. The xiao long bao were tasty, but the dumpling wrapper wasn't quite as thin or silky as Hutong's. For me, the standout dish was definitely the prawn wontons in their spicy peanut sauce!
Time and date of visit: 6 pm Wednesday 17 June 2015 

New Shanghai
Emporium Melbourne, Level 3, Shop 323, 287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9994 9386
Open Saturday to Wednesday 10 am - 7 pm, and Thursday to Friday 10 am - 9 pm

Dainty Sichuan - Toorak, Victoria

Dry Stirfried Beans - With Pork Mince $19.80

Ma Po Tofu - Sichuan Home Style, With Beef Mince $19.80

Fish Flavour Eggplant - Pickled Chilli, Sweet & Sour $19.80

Tasty Cold Noodle - with Chilli Oil and Sichuan Pepper $7.80 (not visible in the menu on this visit)

Sichuan Home Style Baby Cabbages - Pickled Chilli, Sweet & Sour $19.80

Cumin Lamb Ribs - Chilli, Sichuan Pepper & Cumin $26.80

Revisit verdict? We can't help noticing the changes at Dainty - new decor, new menus, more attentive service... but where has the spice gone? The dishes we received were fine, but at the end of the night, we left disappointed - missing that lovely lip-numbing, mouth-watering depth of flavour that we've come to associate with Sichuan cuisine. We truly hope the old Dainty spark (the one we know and love and crave) comes home soon.
Time and date of visit: 7 pm Saturday 30 May 2015 (see our previous visits)

Dainty Sichuan

176 Toorak Road, South Yarra, Victoria, Australia (03) 9078 1686

Open for lunch Mon & Wed-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-2:30pm and for dinner Sun-Mon & Wed-Thu 4:30pm-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 4:30pm-10pm

From the kitchen, Thursday 2 July: Dan dan noodle

Dan dan noodle

Rose Garden BBQ - Melbourne, Victoria

Garlic BBQ Chicken on rice

Bitter melon with crispy skin pork and egg on rice

Time and date of visit: 5 pm Monday 31 March 2014 (see our previous visits)

Rose Garden BBQ

435 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9329 1560

Open Monday - Saturday, 11 am - 9 pm

Sichuan House - Melbourne, Victoria

Sichuan cold noodles $6.00

Cumin pork ribs $24.80

Black fungus in fresh chilli sauce

Fish fragrant eggplant $17.80

Salted cucumber in spicy sauce $11.80

Spicy beef skewers $21.80

Spicy chicken fillet & wild mushrooms in mini wok $24.80

Stir-fried green beans with pork mince $16.80

Time and date of visit: 8 pm Friday 16 January 2015 (see our previous visit)

Sichuan House
22-26 Corrs Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9650 8589
Open 7 days for lunch 11 am - 3 pm and dinner 5 pm - 10 pm

Weekend Eats - Pho Tam and Hong Kong BBQ

Saturday 13 December 2014

Pho Tam

See our previous visits

Pho Tam

7/9 Leeds Street, Footscray, Victoria, Australia (03) 9687 2680 

Open 7 days for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Hong Kong BBQ

See our previous visits

Hong Kong BBQ Restaurant

118 Hopkins St,  Footscray, Victoria, Australia (03) 9687 8488

Open 7 days, 10 am - 10 pm (11 pm Friday and Saturday)