Absolutely love the owner here! He’s super friendly and awesome to talk to! The food here is pretty good. I really like the desserts here - definitely recommend the red bean pancake
If Peacock Gardens isn't the best Chinese Restaurant in Sydney, then I want to know which one is better. The menu is sensibly limited to a range of signature dishes, rather than offering every Chinese dish ever imagined over a menu that goes on for days. But everything on the Peacock Gardens menu is worth ordering. We keep coming back to the Szechuan style fillet steak, the honey pepper pork ribs and the king prawns in garlic sauce. But whatever you do, make sure you order the mixed stir fried vegetables (crisp and clean, not swimming in gloop as at so many other Chinese restaurants) and the special fried rice (far and away the best in Sydney). The wine list is good too, and reasonably priced. And the service is always good. If only they'd open a spin-off restaurant across the bridge.
It's hard to pick what's better at this Crows Nest institution - the friendly and attentive service, or the food. The duck pancakes, spring rolls, King prawns and sizzling fillet steak were all to die for. Definitely will be back.
First of all, the food here is magnificent. The service can be a little on the aloof side but it is efficient, professional and friendly enough. But, back to the food....wow. I usually go for the honey king prawns, Mongolian lamb, crispy skinned chicken or the sizzling beef. The salt and pepper calamari is wonderful also. Not an inexpensive dining experience but well worth paying that little bit extra.
This place has been around for years! Probably one of the best Chinese restaurants in Sydney. The service is immaculate and they clean your dishes and bring you new ones as you eat. Every dish we had was delicious and the waiters are absolutely lovely and are making funny jokes at times. The special fried rice and the duck san chow bow is divine! They have a great and pricey wine selection too! I had the Marlborough Babydoll which was beautiful 🤗 definitely a place I’ll re-visit!
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.
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 !!
Stephanie_treetops@hotmail.com
+4.5
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.
What a great place! The food is delicious and the service is outstanding. I think this is one of the best restaurants in the area.
How good is this place. We just had a bub, so wanted delivery to NSP. They wished us merry Xmas and congrats, and rushed the order to us in 35mins to our room in the maternity ward. Outstanding.
The Szechuan beef was tops. The Singapore noodles and the s/sour pork both yum. But the san choy bow was the highlight. Food really good.
Can't recommend this place enough.
Best Chinese. Great food well worth the visit. No favourites just all good. A Crows Nest institution. Get back whenever I can.
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