I VISITED the Chinese restaurant in Christchurch that everybody knows about and cites their 'favourite' - but admittedly the one I’d never tried.
Introduced to Christchurch in 1998, Dragon Palace is a popular restaurant serving Chinese cuisine for both eat-in and take-away. A mid-week trip to the restaurant was enough to show me just why it has earned its well-loved status within the town.
I arrived with my partner shortly after 7pm on Wednesday, and we were both given a very warm welcome by owner Kathy Lieng.
On being shown to our table, I took time to appreciate the décor that filled the interior- Chinese lanterns, exotic plants, and traditional paintings.
The seating areas were also noticeably neat, with chairs tightly tucked in, and pristine tablecloths covering the tables.
Our drinks orders were taken, and brought out very promptly, leaving us to let loose on the food menu.
Immediately my eyes were drawn to the ‘all you can eat menu’- you pay £24.99 per person to enjoy unlimited Chinese cuisine, wherever that be chicken, duck, lamb, or beef dishes, tasty appetizers, soups, or vegetarian options.
Much to my partner’s disappointment, and probably not taking full advantage of the offer, I ordered in a selection of chicken dishes, including Hong Kong style sweet and sour, and chicken satay with peanut sauce.
Owner Kathy had spent time at our table boasting about the quality of their ingredients, and once tasting the dishes, I can truly vouch for her.
But as incredible as the food was, what stood out to me about Dragon Palace was the passion that its owners inject into it.
Kathy, alongside her husband Ditfor, evidently love the business they run, and it was obviously loved by its customers.
Whilst dining, several customers came in to collect takeaways, and they spoke with Kathy and Ditfor as if they were their own family members.
There are plans to demolish Dragon Palace in coming years to make space for flats. This is such a shame when you see how loved the restaurant is within the community.
Kathy spoke to me about Dragon Palace being her “baby”. Let's hope it sticks around for a while yet.
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