Rock your palate

By Matt Schrader (cityweekend.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-03-31 11:45

It's hard to recommend a restaurant like Red Ocean Butterflies, because what it does do well probably won't be a major selling point, and what it doesn't do well will likely tip the scales against it.

The menu spreads itself over a vast range of Malaysian, Southeast Asian and East Asian dishes, some of them (for example, a selection of dim sum for between 15 yuan and 22 yuan, or an order of banana leaf rice served with a pork cutlet in hot sauce for 39 yuan) done quite well, some of them (a soggy plate of chaoshao pork with “secret sauce” for 38 yuan, or an overly Sinified roti canai for 23 yuan), somewhat less so.

Nothing failed outright, but we couldn't help feeling that we'd be better off at a restaurant that dealt exclusively in Malaysian (or Hong Kong, or Indian, or Guangdong) food. The bright spot? The place's musical roots (it's owned by a Malaysian record company) infuse the dining experience with a fun edge, just as long as your definition of “fun” includes covers of classic Chinese pop, post-iPod (think round and plastic) interior design, and TVs in your table. That previous statement's not meant as a putdown.

If your friend set includes twentysomething monied Chinese folk, go and enjoy. If not, look elsewhere.

Add: 2B Gongti Donglu, 3/F China View building
Tel: 6506-7737