Dragon Boat

Dragon Boat

龍舫酒家 

203 Lt Bourke St

Melbourne, 3000

Ph: (03) 9662 2733

Web: Dragon Boat

Open Hours:

Sunday ~ Thursday

8:00am ~ 11:00pm

Friday ~ Saturday

8:00am ~ till late

Saturday night, we decided to try the new renovated Dragon Boat located in the heart of Melbourne's Chinatown on Little Bourke Street. We've walked pass there countless times but never go inside. The huge double storey restaurant which specialised in Cantonese Cuisine is decorated with Chinese influences such as the dragon print on the glass wall; Chinese water colour printings framed and hang on the wall; little tea pots display on the giant shelve unit. It's simple, bright, clean and very inviting.

It was around 9pm and the restaurant was not busy at all. There were only four tables when we arrived and the upstairs area was completely empty without patrons (restroom located upstairs). A senior waitress got us a table and we were left there with a menu.

We ordered three dishes. First the dragon boat combination in phoenix nest ($28.50). It was the chefs recommendations and there were prawns, scallops, white fish, chicken, mushroom and greens served in a potato flour deep fried nest. A bit disappointed as the dish was very oily and lack of flavour. From my photo you can see how shining the dish was and it was like spraying oil on it for special photo effect! The portion was small for the price paid as well.

Then we had the seafood fried rice. I couldn't believe how expensive fried rice costs nowadays. For $23.80 the dish we've got was totally overpriced. And again the dish has too much oil in it. The rice was too soft and the ingredients were so boring. A good fried rice should have chewy crystal rice not something tasted like soaked in water and oil. A disaster.  

Last the chilli and salt prawns ($32.80) was placed on our table when I almost wanted to leave the place.  It was brilliant in presentation and tasted amazingly great! It was golden brown in colour, crispy deep fried shells, the prawn was well cook, tasted so fresh and flavoursome. What I loved it the most was the spicy red chilli highlights the whole dish and gave it an exotic taste. Bravo! Finally got something nice to eat and it was probably one of the best chilli and salt prawns I've had in Melbourne. This dish totally made the visit worth it.

There are four Dragon Boat restaurants in Melbourne, we've tried three of them including this one. Their Knox City branch is huge and the interior was grand. Both the food and service was okay. We used to go to Dragon Boat Palace on Lonsdale Street quite often as the Yum Cha buffet was good value. The prices at Dragon Boat on Little Burke was not cheap, food was ordinary, services was lack of interests and there has nothing making me want to return except for the chilli and salt prawns. That was really delicious. However, I'm not brave enough to try their other dishes. I don't want to be disappointed again.

Cuisine: Chinese

Food: Average

Service: Average

Atmopshere: Good

Value: $$$

Recommend: Average