Choi's

Ph: (03) 9818 2299; 186 Riversdale Rd, HAWTHORN 3122

Cantonese/Chinese, $$ -, ** for Food
Open Mon-Fri noon-3pm; Sun-Thu 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm, Closed Lunches on public holidays; Licensed, BYO, Corkage $3.30 person; AE DC MC V, Seats inside 110
Chef David Yap (7-11-07) Owner David Yap (7-11-07)

Mietta's Review
Choi's has become a central pillar of the Hawthorn restaurant scene, beloved by the BYO brigade for its very reasonable corkage charge. Some quite adventurous Chinese dishes are sprinkled through the Cantonese offerings, it is a warm light in an otherwise uninspiring area. With the recent opening of two new restaurants owner David Yap has gone on to build an empire with this its cornerstone. Bok Choy at 300a New Street, Brighton, 9592 0253 and Choi's Fitzroy at 262 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, 9419 0747.

Other published opinions

Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 14.5/20 "Even though it opened in 1990, the beat of the Flower Drum still resonates through this increasingly fine Chinese diner, echoing the owner's and manager's long-time experience at that Cantonese restaurant in the City"

Herald Sun Stephen Downes, 13-02-07 "A veteran, Choi's A maintains a predictably good culinary standard. Its I cream crab meat is a ripper dish, but nothing else is likely."

The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 14/20 "When the electronic doors at Chois glide open, you could be forgiven for thinking you're not in Hawthorn anymore. In the large dining room, with its glass panels, marble floors and an explosion of flowers, it's easy to imagine you are in a clamorous, glitzy restaurant in Kowloon, Owner and chef David Yap may have a wall full of accolades, but he certainly hasn't let it goto his head."

The Age Good Food Guide 2005 "THIS shiny chocolate box of a restaurant is a busy mix of brass, glass, framed opera masks, green marble floors and spectacular sprays of flowers. It's a local favourite, serviced by ever-efficient lilac-clad waitstaff and run by chef-owner David Yap"

The Age,A2,19/6/04,Matt Preston,'If you eat in,there's a decent wine list with flashes of good value,but service sometimes lacks personality and rigour.'

The Foodies' Guide 2004,Allan Campion & Michele Curtis,'it's a great solution to the perennial problem of what to have for dinner tonight.From their perfect dim sims to beautifully crisp Peking duck,this is one place where we would even recommend the sweet and sour dishes.'

The Age Good Food Guide 2004 Awards-1 hat, score 15/20, excellent wine list, wide selection vegetarian dishes

Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Australia 2004, Excellent wine list, Good vegetarian options,'It's fairly straight-up Cantonese,with those in the know choosing from the chef's suggestions up the front of the encyclopedic menu...Service is professional,though it may be a little intrusive for some people's taste.'

The Age Good Food Guide 2003. Score 15/20.

The Herald Sun, 24.08.99, Stephen Downes Score: 18 out of 20

The Age, 04.02.97, Rita Erlich