from Meng (89%) on September 3rd, 2008 (2 months ago)

Wok and Wine, 57a Frederick Street, EH2 1LH, Edinburgh

With a cheeky little Frederick Street entrance, blink and you'll miss it. An unassuming entrance leading to a little tuckaway cavern of coutoured Cantonese cuisine, the food is simple and unfussy, but with a flair for precise and elegant presentation. Inspired by this, I will review this place in a similar manner.

On 2 separate occassions with Hon. D-H, and the Platinum Blonde I had a chance to sample the menu which is as such:

On the first occassion we had tsingtao beers, (free) prawn crackers. For starters the dim sum platers both fried (deep fried spring rolls, prawn parcels) and steamed (har kow, chicken siu-mai, pork siu-mai / dumplings). And the mains were roast duck, both with sweet plum sauce, and the other with pak choi & oyster sauce, with boiled rice. Bill came up to 50 quid.

On the second occassion we had tsingtao beer (again) and a glass of white wine, shared a starter of steamed dim sum platter. Then for mains a spicy Sichuan king prawn (peppers), and char siu (pork)with pak choi, ginger and spring onion, with boiled rice. Bill this time came to 45 quid.

So, all in all the food is good, above average stuff that doesn't disappoint. This place can be considered pricey, but for once I would argue this is reasonable: You're paying for atmosphere, presentation, excellent service, helpful staff, the faultless attentions of the proprietors (John & Stephanie), and food that ultimately satisfies.

On occassion some dishes may have meat lacking, in others it may seem not very adventurous and overly familiar, the way Chinese food on the straight-and-narrow have now jostled themselves onto the British palate to become firm creature comforts. But what I can say is favourites, both old and new, have been repackaged by John and Stephanie in a modern, polite dining setting but losing none of it's eastern flavours, meaning that this place is now a new solid stalwart favourite haunt of mine.

3.5 - good, as Wok & Wine is fine for fine dining.

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