Review on Dragon-i
According to The Observer, Dragon-i is 'the coolest thing to happen to Chinese cuisine north of the border' for a very long time. But, make no mistake, this venue adjacent to the Theatre Royal is no ordinary chow mein house.
Daytime dim sum give a flavour of the place and its progressive attitude to Pan Asian fusion cuisine. Forget the usual steamed dumplings, spring rolls and the like, here you'll be offered minced chicken and lime leaves with sweet plum sauce and deep-fried prawns in pastry with cucumber and orange mayonnaise.
The full menu absorbs influences from Malaysia, Thai and Vietnam as well as China, and the kitchen isn't afraid to play around with Western ingredients: 'chi choi' is breadcrumbed St Maure goats' cheese wrapped in seaweed, tiger prawns might be simmered in Champagne sauce with strawberries, while breast of chicken could appear with asparagus, pak choi, shiitake mushrooms and Chardonnay sauce.
Traditionalists won't be disappointed by the presence of steamed sea bass with soy, ginger and spring onions or aromatic crispy duck, but it's back to the wacky world for desserts like brandy-soaked mangoes wrapped in buttermilk pancakes, lychee crème brûlée or a frozen confection of melon and coconut milk.
Cuisine
Pan Asian / Chinese
Chef
Stephen Man
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.00 - 2.00pm Mon-Sat
Dinner: 5.00 - 9.00pm Mon-Thu (10.00pm Fri & Sat) (5.00 - 9.00pm Sun)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card