Man Tong Kitchen is a peaceful haven in Crown Complex where you can escape the shiny maze of lights and the never-ending noise of the pokie machines down below. A traditional Chinese interior blended with a modern design of red and black wood gives the place a relaxing and intimate vibe.
guests ready for their feast to begin at Man Tong Kitchen
I was invited to discover the new winter menu concocted by Man Tong’s creative team, which consisted of a ten-course meal accompanied by a fine selection of wines. After a friendly welcome by our host Eric Chew and a shot (or two) of Moutai liquor, everyone started happily chatting about the amazing variety of Chinese cuisine as we awaited the beginning of the food bonanza.
Kudos to the chef for the creative take on the wontons served as an entrée, and the hot crab soup was warmly welcomed on this chilly night. If you were still not hot and cozy, the crispy chicken served with dry chili would have done the trick!
one of the new winter menu dishes
My plus one was shooting me disapproving glances for not being able to resist the urge to Instagram each masterpiece that arrived in front of me. However, she was preoccupied with marvelling over the delicious Sichuan cuisine with the neighboring table to get too angry.
The sommelier gave us the luxury of choosing our own wine pairings for each course. Surprisingly, I found myself enjoying the 2013 Cloudy Bay Chardonnay with a Wagyu beef stirfry, even if I risk getting assassinated by food critics for suggesting this as a pairing!
The dessert was an interesting and pleasant surprise. A simple yet tasty hot custard in a pastry crust that paired really well with their sweet Riesling. I would absolutely recommend both.
the diners wrapping up the 10-course feast
Next time you are at Crown or if you want to warm up during the cold Melbourne winter, come and try out the new winter menu and chill out in the relaxing ambiance of Man Tong Kitchen. Definitely try the wontons, but don’t abuse the Riesling. On second thought…abuse it.
– Ewan
Erwan B. is a French/Australian video editor but mostly waiter, avid reader, and wanna-be writer who tends to go out too much for his own good. As a French person, he does walk around with croissants and baguettes.
Man Tong Kitchen
Level 1, West End Crown Entertainment Complex
corner of Clarendon Street and Crown Riverwalk, Southbank
http://www.mantongkitchen.com.au/
Dinner served Monday to Sunday
