Restaurants

Queues are common at this long-established restaurant, even for diners with reservations; such is its reputation for seafood. After taking our place in line, it was surprising to see the majority of diners (mostly tourists) dodging the restaurants renowned lobster noodles and opting instead for crispy aromatic duck. Perhaps this explains the apparent fall in standards we experienced. The meal began well. XO jellyfish with smoked chicken and arctic clam wrap was crunchy and refreshing; a couple of steamed razor clams also hit the mark. But then things went downhill. The lobster noodles with ginger and spring onion were let down by sloppy preparation; the lobster had been harshly chopped, and getting at the meat was a battle. The crustacean was also far too salty, as were companion dishes of minced prawn with gai lan (chinese broccoli) and black pepper steak. With frequently abrupt service and a cramped, dated dining room, Mandarin needs to try harder to maintain its reputation.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008