While Peony Jade can get quite busy at dinner time, it is pleasantly tranquil at lunch. The modern Chinese decor is tasteful and free of those twee and overly dramatic Chinoiserie flourishes that many other restaurants indulge in, and the food remains traditional. My typically Cantonese dish of cod steamed and served with crispy ginger was great – the crunchy pieces of zingy ginger contrasting the soft white flesh admirably. And the chefs' skill in Szechuan cuisine was demonstrated in my delicious, savoury dish of sesame chicken. The comprehensive menu included premium-priced classics like shark's fin, abalone, fish maw and sea cucumber, but this is another of those places where it’s better to go for the humbler dishes. A simple dessert of mango sago pudding, made with a generous amount of the silky, sunshine-orange fruit, was, for me, better than all the frog’s private parts and shark’s fins in the world. As an alternative, go for the delicate Szechuan red bean pancake oozing with rich red bean filling and paired with a ginger and lemongrass ice cream: another winner – the ginger and lemongrass perfectly cuts the over-sweet red beans.

WINE: The wine list is wide-ranging and varied, with New World wines predominant. The range allows for good pairings with the traditional Chinese menu, and some excellent dessert wines are available by the glass (go for one with the sago pudding – delicious).

My experience at Poeny Jade was none short of spectacular. This place is pretty cool, spacious, bright and tastefully designed. look at the pictures, they speak for themselves. I enjoyed the dishes served, every single bit of it. thumbs up!