It is always wonderful to discover a restaurant that far exceeds my expectations, and it’s a pleasure I experience all too rarely. However, the little-known Hai Xiang, tucked away in the heart of Little India, is just this kind of a gem. It has been extensively revamped recently, and now has all the trappings of a fine dining venue: heavy silverware, crisp linen and fine china. And while the prices are down-to-earth, the Cantonese-style food (the chefs are all from Guangzhou) is out of this world. My sweet and sour pork served in a yam ring was fantastic - the creamy, sweet and fragrant yam perfectly contrasted the salty, crispy pork strips, while the tangy sweet and sour brought the whole thing together: brilliant. The baked honey glazed pork ribs with ginseng was another winner in my book: fragrant, sweet and sticky – great for those of us who like knawing meat off of the bone. Another dish worthy of mention was the live prawns braised in superior broth – sweet prawns, and hot, porky broth: delicious. And to top it all off the service was faultless: both professional and personal, the wait staff are eager to please, and very knowledgeable about what they serve.


WINE: A very limited selection from the hotel's bar. The only disappointment of the evening.