Chefs Gallery Review - Sydney

Food	★★✰
Setting	★★★✰
Service	★★★
Total	9/15

Chinese Roti with Pekin Duck ($16.90)

Chefs Gallery is a Chinese fusion restaurant near Town Hall serving up some beautifully presented dishes. Be prepared to wait in line on a busy night though, as they do not accept bookings on those nights.

Chefs Gallery is quite a crowded restaurant, and without much of a stretch I can easily eat off the table next to us, so this isn't an ideal place to have an romantic dinner for two, this is your eat quickly and get out of here type of place.

My pick of the lot would be the Chinese Roti with Pekin Duck, it's a nice change from the original pekin duck. If I were to go again I would love to try their take on the sliders/mini burgers, but will make sure not to order their "Handmade thick noodles wok fried with prawns and onions in chili prawn paste" again. The noodles didn't have the al dente, bouncy texture that handmade noodles are suppose to have, it was possibly overcooked, the sweetness of the sauce also overpowered the flavour of the prawns .

Pros: Good concept, creative fusion, clean restaurant.
Cons: Average tasting food for the money, tables too close together, noisy.

New Shanghai Review (新上海) - Lemon Grove Chatswood

Food	★★★★
Setting	★★★
Service	★★★✰
Total	10.5/15

Xiao Long Bao (mini pork bun)

When it comes to xiao long bao (pork dumplings) people will always compare them to the world famous Din Tai Fung, at 8 for $12.80, Din Tai Fung is $5 more expensive than New Shanghai, but they are also more delicate. Making dumpling pastry is an art form, the thinner/lighter the better, but they also need to be strong enough to hold the broth inside. New Shanghai's dumpling pastry in comparison is a little thicker, but for the price I would happily eat there.

There are two New Shanghai restaurants in Chatswood, one in Lemon Grove and one in Chatswood Chase shopping centre. Chase has a more upmarket decor and environment where as Lemon Grove is cheap and cheerful, and the prices reflect that.

Apart from xiao long bao there are plenty of dim sims and authentic Shanghainese dishes available. They have conveniently highlighted their more popular dishes on their menu for those that are not familiar with Chinese food.

Pros: Authentic Shanghai food, good price.
Cons: N/A