Thanks to Dimmi reservations, I managed to score a $50 discount voucher. Very good value and quite a few selection of restaurants that accept this voucher. Among them where Chinta Ria, La Boheme and Mahjong Room. I picked Mahjong room because of it's reviews and the setting looks great in photos. To my surprise, it was also listed as 1 of 10 restaurants my old company colleagues listed as a must try five years ago and I still had that list kept from that time. Mahjong Room has been in existence for 10 years already and this was my first time to try it. One of the waiters had a good sense of humour so enlightened the night as well to make it an extra "fun" night out. The food was sensational and you can tell the quality is better than the average chinese restaurants. The service was always attentive and friendly. The tables were actually mahjong tables and the restaurant was dimly lit. There was also an alleyway and a private dining room (called the "Happiness Room") for a bigger crowd. I highly recommend this place. My friends were marvelling how it was a great choice for dinner.
 |
| Mahjong ambience and setting |
We didn't order any entrees, went straight to the mains as we always want to try out desserts. We chose, a tofu and eggplant dish, crispy duck, san dong chicken, chung pao lamb with beggars rice. The tofu and eggplant were really soft and really light in taste. I've had eggplant fried and drenched in oil and it is really tasty but heavy.
 |
| Steamed Eggplant and tofu with ginger, shallots and coriander - $16.50 |
I enjoyed the crispy duck. I think I prefer asian style crispy duck because it's likely not to be dry and skin is extra crispy better than the duck confit. The chinese mushroom were soft and tasty with the five spice tofu and crispy snow peas. The snow peas were not properly cooked though, tasted a bit too raw for my liking.
 |
| Roast duck plate - with chinese mushroom, five spice tofu and snow peas - $24 |
The San dong chicken was the best dish of the night. The chicken was crispy and the mild ginger and vinegar sauce made the dish divine!!! You must order this dish if you come here.
 |
| San dong chicken in mild ginger and vinegar sauce - $23 |
The beggars rice was really nice too. It's essentially fried rice served in a beggar's bowl. Concept came from beggars collecting anything from outsiders and it means tossing whatever vegetables into the dish with rice - peas, carrots, corn, shredded duck, chicken and chinese sausages.
 |
| Beggers rice - $16 |
After the mains we chose three different desserts to share - all were so beautifully presented. The banana spring rolls with lychee ice-cream ($12), flourless chilli chocolate cake (special dessert) ($12) and mango pudding ($10). The banana spring rolls were crispy and delicious with real chunks of lychee inside the lychee ice-cream. The flour less chilli chocolate cake is to die for if you're a chocolate lover - it was dark chocolate and not as rich as other cakes. Then the mango pudding was topped with sago but because mango was not in season, they used mango puree and some sweet syrup and coconut cream so it didn't quite taste right as both T and A complained. Both of the other desserts were commended though and perhaps need to wait for mango pudding during it's seasonal fruit time ie. summer to come back and try this dessert again. It's different from the mango pudding at yum cha as it doesn't have the sago and was decorated with raspberries.
 |
| Desserts at Mahjong room |
Summary Review of Mahjong:
Food Rating: 8/10
Service Rating: 8/10
Ambience Rating: 8/10
Price: $$(Affordable)
Overall rating: 8/10
Mahjong Room
312 Crown Street
Surry Hills NSW
Ph: (02) 9361 3985
Website: Mahjong room website
Opening Hours
Lunch 12-3pm Friday
Dinner 6-10.30pm Monday to Saturday
No comments:
Post a Comment