The Red Pepper

7

5

7

9-10 The very best | 7-8 Excellent | 5-6 Very good | 3-4 Fair | 1-2 Poor

Setting:

This long-established restaurant has simple functional furniture and decor contrasted by an intricately decorated ceiling and impressive large lanterns.

Food:

The menu boasts an excellent selection of classic Szechuan dishes, which have kept loyal customers coming back for decades. Red hot chillies predictably dominate the menu but chefs temper the fiery effect with herbs and spices to provide tasty versions of traditional Szechuan specialities. The sizzling prawns arrive on a hot plate spitting spice-laden fumes but the sauce is worth the precarious eating conditions thanks to its complex flavour. Similarly, thick, juicy squid comes with mushrooms and a hot, zesty sauce packed with garlic. The seafood is extremely fresh and the whole garoupa, which is served in a rich sweet and sour sauce and garnished with prawns is a delicious richly flavoured dish. The house specialty smoked duck is subtler in flavour but the meat is firm and succulent.There is a wide selection of Shanghainese dishes on the menu and a good range of dim sum. The diversions from traditional Shanghainese cuisine are well executed, such as the braised wheat bran with mushroom, bamboo shoots and peas, which is a delicious and unusual appetiser. The boiled chicken soup with shrimp dumplings is also a light and tasty starter with a fragrant broth. The roasted Peking duck is excellent and served with thin roasted duck skin, pancakes, hoi sin and sweet sesame sauce. The braised string bean with minced pork is one of the best dishes on the menu and has a sweet taste and a sticky texture. It is served with a few surprise ingredients such as dried shrimp, celery and pickled vegetables, which create a unique flavour.

Wine:

The list has a reasonable selection of common or garden varieties mostly from France. Regular wine drinkers should find something they recognise on the list.

Service:

Experienced staff members are efficient and friendly. They are familiar with the menu and make useful recommendations.

Price:

A meal for two, without wine, is around $600.

Signature dishes:

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