(This is a delayed post from Sunday evening)
Yes, again. I obviously like this restaurant. I was feeling uncreative tonight and couldn't decide where to eat. Since I didn't like my main course selection last time I was here, I wanted to try something different.
For starters tonight I get the "Goldens" which are fried wontons filled with minced chicken, green onion and water chestnuts. This is served with a little bit of pickled carrot and a sweet and spicy dipping sauce. It not a terribly imaginative starter but I have no complaints except for that I want to eat a whole plate of them. $6.60 (US$5.30)
My main course selection today is Ayam Ria which is a stir fry made with chicken, carrot, snow peas, onion, chillis and ginger in a rich dark sauce. Again not terribly different but just a good stir fry. Oddly enough, the dish is loaded with chillis and not the slightest bit hot. I think that if you cook with dried chillies the only usually make the dish spicier if they are sauteed in hot oil before the other ingredients are added. The portion served is huge and well worth the money. $19.80 (US$15.90)
For wine I ordered a Margaret River Chenin Blanc which is a little sweeter than most white wines. It goes great with Asian food. $5.50 (US$4.40)
Instead of getting the Sago pudding that I had on the past two visits, today I am ordering the banana fritter which comes with palm syrup and coconut ice cream. Now let me tell you this is a delicious dessert. It was a whole banana which was batter fried and drizzled with palm sugar syrup. Palm sugar syrup tastes sort of like molasses. The Sago pudding I had the two other times I was here was good but this was great. $7.50 (US$6)
Tonights bill which also includes a charge for rice and tea is $45.70 (US$36.50)
Service tonight is as polite as usual but not very attentive. I find that I have to beg for water, dessert menu, wine and then the check. The staff is running around at a crazed stressful pace. Either everyone is demanding or they are short staffed. My waitress also doesn't know what "Earl Grey" tea is which I have had here on both prior visits.
My rating tonight is a consistent 3 for good food and inasmuch as I don't want to say, a 2 for service. It's a bit off tonight and very unattentive.
Chinta Ria, Temple of Love, Cockle Bay Wharf at Darling Harbour, Sydney
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