Laura's Resto Diary: Macau

Showing posts with label Macau. Show all posts

Escada - Macau

While walking around the old city near Senado Square, we passed by this restaurant while looking for Caravela. We went back to it for a quick lunch before heading out of Macau.

I don't know much about Macau/Portugese cusine to know what to expect, but we heard that African Chicken in Macau is a must try. It didn't seem prevalent in any menus, so we thought that Escada is special enough to serve it.

The chicken was covered in a type of spicy peanutty paste. It was really good, and I wish I wasn't sick so I could have enjoyed it. If someone out there knows if this IS authentic, or what it's supposed to look like/taste like, please comment.

We also ordered a salted codfish. I saw this in most menus, and thought we would try. There were different dishes, but the waitress was suggesting for 'asian' people we would like 'wet' version, rather than the dry.

It was very very very salty. Too salty. Difficult to eat with out the side of white rice.

Is it supposed to be like this?

Haagen Daas Cafe - Venetian, Macau

After having dinner at City of Dreams, we wanted to find a place for dessert. Hoping to go to the food court at the Venetian, there were no dessert stands, nor anything that was open at 11pm. Not sure why.

We found only one place , a cafe in the middle that might have potential, but the menu was sparse, and only things like waffle and tea. Next door was a Haagen Daas cafe, ice cream, some desserts and seats!

I've tried the ones in Hong Kong before, and they usually have a huge menu.

We got a cheesecake.

And I got the Chocolate Love (?). They said it was milk with chocolate ice cream melted in it. I expected the ice cream to be floating in it but they actually mixed it in, which was disappointing. It was very good and sweet, and lighter than a hot chocolate.

Ji Xiang Yuan - Macau, City of Dreams

After receiving a lot of coupons for 15% off dining in the City of Dreams, we thought we would go check it out. Unfortunately, the coupons work only in restaurants OTHER than the Japanese place, and the huge food court upstairs. The rest of the restaurants aren't of much choice (a Chinese place, some cafes etc) and tough to find something to eat.

Aside: went upstairs to check out the big food court. It was only 8pm, but it was EMPTY. It seemed dead, and desperate for attention.

There are other restaurants inside the casino, that's if you want to sit under a cloud of smoke.

The City of Dreams hotel complex consists of the Hard Rock Cafe hotel, Hyatt and the Crown. The mall underneath has the same stores as most. It also has a distinct smell of flowery perfume that really irritated my cough. Their main attraction is the Bubble, which is a 3d show of some dragons, as the casino sits atop a mystical land.

The casino was okay. Less pretentious than the Venetian, and friendlier, as they constantly hand out small flyers that give you discounts on food, spa and a free spin on this giant wheel (we got a 15% coupon and a key chain)

We found a restaurant to our liking that served not cantonese food but 'hk style chinese food'. Essentially it was like Congee wong without the congee. I liked the confort food after a long day of walking around in the smoke.

It was set up like a small hk style tea house. I liked the decor, despite it was empty (okay, we went on a weekday, but still seemed like no one eats)

You choose the food from a menu on a clipboard. I guess trying to look authentic. Everything was in english. We ordered a noodles, some veggies, and this rice mixed with mushrooms and abalone sauce. it was yummy.

The waiter talks to much and some reason wasn't impressed with us. I really liked the rice.
Not so much the casino...

Caravela - Macau

According to Frommer's this place got 3 stars for a restaurant pick in Macau.

"This local Portuguese hangout serves as a bakery, cafe, restaurant, and informal gathering spot for friends, with both sidewalk seating and a small dining room. Professionals stop by for breakfast on their way to work, old men peruse newspapers over cups of Portuguese coffee, and office workers take advantage of the MOP$55 (US$7.15/£3.55) breakfast or the daily set meal for MOP$70 (US$9.10/£4.55) including soup, a main dish, and dessert. The menu itself is limited, offering a few dishes like chargrilled codfish and steak, but the bread is homemade, the pastries are irresistible (a typical Christmas dessert that resembles French toast is always on offer), and the atmosphere is a slice of Portugal in the heart of Asia. It's located in downtown Macau but is a bit hard to find, on an alley 1 block northeast of Avenida Do Infante D. Henrique, between Avenida Da Praia Grande and Avenida D Joao IV."

After walking around for a bit trying to find the place, we found in front of a store called JP, in a small alley that also had a small indian place.

We never saw many caucasian people or westerners around Macau, especially non tourists, but these locals seem to all gather at this place. Friendly hellos, and chatting made the place seem like an authentic place to eat. Price was pretty good too.

Since I was craving eggs and breakfast (it was 12pm) I ordered the American Breakfast. I also misread the above review, and when the menu said the breakfast came with 'French Toast' I expected this Christmas dessert he was talking about. I just got Toast.

It also came with a very fresh squeezed orange juice

Alexey ordered a fried rice portugese style (i think). i don't quite remember the listing on the menu. It was so good. We ended up switching.

For dessert, we took at the menu and as well as the ones displayed around the cases. The place is a bakery, so we wanted to try something baked. We found the French Toast looking thing and I got an egg tart (so addicted).

French Toast was good, and sweet, but not as flavourful as I'd like. The egg tart, I asked them to heat it up, and it was SO GOOD.

The Grand Buffet, Macau

My mom's friend found out about this 'mile long' buffet that was in the Grand Lisboa casino. Skeptical whether it was really one mile long, or if the food would be even good, we decided to go try it.

Longest Buffet Ever.

Walking down the aisle, it never stops. There's a salad bar, ridiculous amounts of seafood, soups, curries, beef, ham, chicken, mongolian beef, noodles customized, fruit bar, rice, dimsum, sushi, crepes, cakes, mousses. There's probably more, but I can't remember it all.

Check out the fresh shrimp you can grab yourself.