Food review: Neil Nitin Mukesh tries China House

If some authentic Chinese fare is what you are craving for, do not think twice before heading to China House in Santacruz. This is, by far, one of the best places that whip up delectably mouth-watering yet simple cuisine that lays emphasis on the Sichuan style of Chinese dishes. The ambience is very inviting and much different from the swish restaurants in town. We walk past the open air Oriental pond that leads to the restaurant. The dim lighting with slightly brighter overhead lights that focus on the table, make you want to pay attention to your food. Traditional Chinese artifacts further adorn the dining area. The place is huge, it houses a wine library, comprises of four private rooms, semi-private booths, a bar counter and an exclusive chef’s table.

After settling down, we called for some sliced pork belly with pepper and some egg tart for starters. We tried the Sichuan Poached Chicken with crushed peanuts. Pork dishes are apparently the specialty here, so eagerly wait. Meanwhile, the egg tarts were quite tasty and interesting. However, a word of caution. Wait until the dish cools down a little, as you could end up scalding your tongue. The sliced pork belly was outstanding — thin slices of pork cooked to perfection. This is one of those dishes that leaves you wanting for more. The Sichuan Poached Chicken too was a great appetiser — tender, tasty chicken that was topped with crunchy peanuts added the authentic Sichuan flavour to the dish.

For the main course, we called for the highly recommended Peking Duck. This dish deserves a special mention. It was outstanding and served innovatively. The dish is brought to your table and sliced up, right in front of you. The slices of duck are later rolled up with a variety of sauces and salads and then presented to you. The plum sauce in the pancake only enhances the juicy and fresh flavour of the meat. The Lamb Chops is one dish I always order. Each time I come here, I make it a point to call for it. The dan dan noodles are also unlike anything I have eaten in any other Chinese restaurant.

The best part of any meal is the dessert. We settled for a creme brulee and mango pudding and Jasmine tea-ramisu. The pudding was mouth-watering and the creme fresh. The Jasmine Tea-ramisu, which is essentially an Italian dessert that is mixed with Chinese flavours of jasmine was fabulous. Bold and pungent flavours dominate the palate, and since it is essentially the Sichuan style of food, it is well worth your money spent. The chocolate fondue here is one of my favourites. The combination of chocolate and cheese is quite tricky but this place gets it just right. The waiters are helpful and courteous. Taking your choices into account, they suggest what you could try. The service too is prompt.

China House
Off Western Express Highway, Santacruz (East), Grand Hyatt Mumbai
Meal for two: Rs3,000 (exclusive of drinks)
Call: 66761149
Rating: ***1/2

Neil Nitin Mukesh is an actor and a foodie.