Homely north China specialties

Northern Taste Dumpling Restaurant, located in Nanshan, serves warm and homely specialties of north China along with northern Chinese hospitality.

"Elder brother, elder sister, welcome to be a guest at our home." This is how diners will be greeted by waiters and waitresses with beaming smiles. House specialties include more than 40 types of dumplings, buns and noodles and chicken stewed with mushrooms. Inside, the restaurant resembles a typical countryside courtyard with huge grinding stones and a windmill. For diners looking for warm and hospitable Spring Festival spirit, this restaurant is the place.

Add: Dongbin Road, Nantou area, Nanshan District (南山区东滨路西侧东北人风味连锁饺子坊)

Tel: 2640-3063

Buses: 223, 217, K204, K105 (get off at Renrenle Supermarket 人人乐下车)

Parkhaus European cuisine

The interior resembles a European wine bar, with large wooden tables and benches ideal for groups to sit and share a meal. There is a variety of imported goods displayed on shelves including Caviar, 150 yuan, a ready to cook paella dish including the pan, at 185 yuan and bottles of olive oil at 105 yuan each.

Wines range in price from a 240 yuan for a bottle of Underagga Cabernet Sauvignon or Sauvignon Blanc to 4,880 yuan for a bottle of 1991 Philip Togni (Napa Valley) Cabernet Sauvignon.

The sole is lightly fried to maintain its texture and the potatoes are cooked to perfection. Other European classics on offer include bruschetta and garlic bread (40/30 yuan), fish and chips (80 yuan), Burgundy style beef with spaghetti (108 yuan) and Croque Monsieur (50 yuan).

Add: Basement, Coco Park, 3 Fuhua Road, Futian District (福田区福华三路购物公园下沉广场)

Tel: 131-4755-3932 (English)

Metro: Coco Park Station (购物公园站) Exit C

Old Shanghai, taste delights

Named after the famous garden in Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, the upmarket Liu Yuan Restaurant recreates the atmosphere of old Shanghai with golden interiors, carved stone lintels, billowing drapes and dim lighting.

Liu Yuan's food blends old with new, putting a modern twist on traditional Shanghai and Hangzhou cuisine that will appeal to adventurous diners.

Sea cucumber slices are prepared in pickled chilli with a little cilantro, and crispy eel has a slight sweetness that blends well with the light coating of sesame seeds. Cream spiced beans, made with green broad beans with fennel, cinnamon, salt, sugar and cream, are recommended.

Add: 3/F, The MIXc, No.5001 Shennan Road, Luohu District (罗湖区深南东路5001号万象城三楼)

Tel: 8269-1333

Metro: Grand Theater Station (大剧院站) Exit D

Jurenye, seafood heaven

Jurenye makes no bones about promoting oysters as the house specialty, so much so that diners are shown a booklet entitled "Nine Secret Ways to Cook Oysters,” which roughly resembles a martial arts training manual.

Three oyster dishes are recommended: stewed oysters with spring onion and ginger (48 yuan, US$6.32), fried oysters with chopped spring onion, and poached and stewed oysters (both 48 yuan each). Also recommended is an omelette comprising shrimp and bitter melon (22 yuan), which makes a great side dish.

For those living in Futian and Nanshan, Jurenye's location might seem a bit distant but the food is certainly worth the trip. For further information, including menus and reviews in Chinese, visit their Web site www.jurenye.com. And if you love seafood as much as we do, head down there pronto.

Add: Jurenye Restaurant, 3033 Bao'an Road South, Luohu District, opposite Tiandi Building (罗湖区宝安南路3033号举人爷，天地大厦对面）

Tel: 2611-2244