The atmosphere is buzzy and young and everyone is excitedly asking tables next to them what dishes they are eating so that they can get a slice of the action themselves. There is an air of discovery here and dishes are fresh and new to all but those well versed in regional Chinese cuisine.
The menu is extensive with some 250 items to muster over. Make sure you get a selection of goodies from the authentic charcoal BBQ. We tried lamb skewers which were salty, spicy and very addictive. Perfect with bottles of Tsing Tao and a bargain at £1 each. Also from the BBQ, squid with a fermented chilli bean marinade, king prawn and quail (well spiced but a little over cooked).
To follow we had broccoli with scallops. The scallops were perfectly moist inside and the broccoli crisp and al dente just as it should be. The dish was light and delicious and makes a good accompaniment to many of the other fiercely spicy dishes on the menu.
We tried the “shredded pork with garlic in a spicy sauce”. The dish was sweet and sour and I enjoyed the silky crunch of the wood ear mushrooms but it lacked the garlic and chilli punch it promised which I found a bit disappointing.
As a side dish we ordered dry fried French beans and picked vegetables. I liked the overall smoky taste this dish had which I suspect came from a well seasoned wok and ultra high heat. I couldn’t really detect the pickled vegetables but instead enjoyed the taste of the dried chilli and soy.
The service is quick and efficient. Note that they only take cash, we had to make an embarrassing dash to a nearby cash machine. I will be back to sample some of the other dishes that I was eying up on other tables such as deep fried pork and beef in chilli oil. Gourmet San is a solid restaurant serving authentic northern Chinese fare. It can be unpleasantly crowded at times but it is a price worth paying and worth travelling for.
Monster Munch Rating: 72%
No comments:
Post a Comment