Peacock Gardens - Crows Nest

The food is very tasty here serving regular favorites and some modern Chinese dishes such as mustard King prawns. They serve dishs one at a time whilst clearing used plates and replacing with new allowing for a long leisurely dinning experience. Not your normal Chinese restaurant experience. Service is smart and also personable. Wine list is extensive and not overpriced.

FOOD TYPE Chinese FOOD QUALITY Fresh, tasty, made with premium grade ingredients and prepared with love, care and attention to detail. Portion sizes are generous and it’s all delivered to the table piping hot, straight from the ovens on stylish white crockery. Four of us dined on a busy Saturday night. For entrees, we shared vegetarian spring rolls and dim sims ($5 each for a serve of two pieces) and prawn cutlets ($6 for a serve of two). I especially enjoyed the crispy spring rolls, filled with crunchy vegetables. For mains we chose a selection of dishes including boneless lemon chicken ($24), king prawns ($29), sizzling steak ($28), steamed vegetables ($18) plus a substantial plate of “special combination” fried rice, which had egg and prawn amongst everything else in it. You couldn’t fault any of these dishes. The lemon chicken was succulent and tender, cut into neat little squares and soaked in a tart lemon sauce. An unusual dish but a winner. The sizzling steak was tender and finely sliced into thin strips and served on a bed of fried onions. Everyone enjoyed their meals. There are plenty of desserts available, but oddly we weren’t even offered a menu after we’d finished our mains: the bill was simply brought out. I’m assuming that, since we were virtually the only people left in the restaurant by this time, staff were eager to pack up and go home! ATMOSPHERE The place was pretty full when we arrived at 7.30pm, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere. The interior décor is elegant, bright and inviting with carpeted floors, upholstered furniture, white walls and ceilings with wood panelling and strong down lights. Tables are neatly laid with crisp white napery. There were plenty of family groups having a good time, which helped to create a warm and homely vibe but did not detract from Peacock Gardens’ generally upmarket and stylish ambience. SERVICE As you wold expect from a place that’s been around for over 40 years, service was impeccable. Wait staff are neatly turned out in smart black and white uniforms, the maître d’ resplendent in an evening suit and tie. Our booked table was ready and waiting when we arrived. Orders were quickly taken; and a word of thanks to our friendly table waitress, who remained calm and unflustered, despite being peppered with questions and special requests. Food came out quickly and in the correct order. My only complaint was not being offered the dessert menu. COMFORT The upholstered chairs were firm and comfortable but we struggled to fit all the dishes on the smallish table. Even though it was a hot night, we were comfortably cool inside, I guess that means that the air con was doing its job. Tables are packed fairly close together making it a bit difficult to move around inside the restaurant e.g. to visit the conveniences. MENU Menus are enclosed in plastic sleeves – a clever idea to keep them clean. They’re clearly laid out and easy to read in the strong lighting. TOILETS Toilets are tidy, well provisioned and have ample cubicles, so there’s no waiting around for one to become vacant. They’re a little dated though, perhaps they were overlooked during the last renovation. ACOUSTICS Despite the fact that the place was full, we didn’t have too much trouble conversing. I guess that would be due to the carpeted and upholstered interior and the fact that there were simply no noisy or drunken groups. All our fellow diners were well behaved just like us. COST Our bill came to $189 (before the tip) for four people. For that we got three beers and a single glass of wine, a selection of entrees, four mains and fried and boiled rice, but no dessert or coffees. I guess that puts it at the higher end of restaurant prices but given the overall superior quality of the dining experience, it does represent solid value for money, even in these austere times. BOOKING Essential for any night of the week. PARKING/ACCESS You’ll find P.G. at 100 Alexander Street, near the corner of Holtermann Street. Whenever we’re in this part of the world, we always park at the little (and little known) Crows Nest Shopping Plaza car park, which you can enter from Atchison Street. It’s free at night and there are always plenty of spaces available. SUMMARY We had an enjoyable evening here and everything went off smoothly. The live seafood gig though with the poor condemned fish starring out at me from their tank is enough to put me off from going back. However if that doesn’t bother you, I have to give these guys credit for their professionalism, competence and skill at running a fine restaurant. It works well on every level: food, ambience and service.  Their long experience just shines through.

FOOD TYPE Chinese FOOD QUALITY Fresh, tasty, made with premium grade ingredients and prepared with love, care and attention to detail. Portion sizes are generous and it’s all delivered to the table piping hot, straight from the ovens on stylish white crockery. Four of us dined on a busy Saturday night. For entrees, we shared vegetarian spring rolls and dim sims ($5 each for a serve of two pieces) and prawn cutlets ($6 for a serve of two). I especially enjoyed the crispy spring rolls, filled with crunchy vegetables. For mains we chose a selection of dishes including boneless lemon chicken ($24), king prawns ($29), sizzling steak ($28), steamed vegetables ($18) plus a substantial plate of “special combination” fried rice, which had egg and prawn amongst everything else in it. You couldn’t fault any of these dishes. The lemon chicken was succulent and tender, cut into neat little squares and soaked in a tart lemon sauce. An unusual dish but a winner. The... read more

Its just a must great food great wine and people amazing .. love this place, They brought San chow bow to Australia and the fortune cooky !!

Worth coming here for the duck pancakes alone but all the food here is wonderful.  The staff here are stars, so friendly!  Highly recommended, it always seems to be busy and I can see why.  The place to be for excellent Chinese food, I love the hot towels as well.