choi's - 186 riversdale road hawthorn 3122 9818 2299

i've haven't been to too many chinese restaurants that i've really liked. sure, i've been to flowerdrum in the city but you have to bring your first born child to pay for the meal. the food is excellent but it's all a bit stuffy and business-like. of course, if someone else is paying, i'm there! but i digress - back to choi's. you wouldn't know it was there unless you were looking for it or someone told you about it. like i'm doing now. in fact, what the hell am i doing? the more people i tell, the more difficult it will be to get in myself. it's crap, stay away, k?

aw, i can't say that. it's just so good. it's like taking flowerdrum out of the stuck-up city and dropping in on a suburban street in hawthorn. granted, most of the clientele are baby-boomers, in their 50s and 60s, or couples in their 40s with 2.5 kids who struggle to eat with a knife and fork. maybe i'm being a little unfair. they probably learned to eat at finishing school in camberwell.

one word of warning though - you have to book for any day past tuesday. that's how good it is. don't even attempt to turn up unannounced on thursday and don't even think about it on the weekend. it is that good. really. no shit. zomg. the wine list is extensive and justin, the manager, will look after you. he is a true gentlemen and a real restaurant manager. he makes other top class restaurants look like they're staffed by cardboard cutouts. his staff obviously learn from the best. i have never had a bad experience at choi's and there are very few places that i can say that about.

final word, choi's will shift your expectations about other restaurants. go, take your time, enjoy the food and the atmosphere. but stay out of my seat!

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