We are happy to report that this 27-year-old stalwart doesn’t disappoint despite a busy lunchtime crowd. Crystal Jade Palace checks all the boxes for an upmarket Chinese restaurant. Apart from a superbly central location, it serves up friendly, efficient service, and quality Cantonese cuisine, which are why reservations are a must.

The dim sum selection is very decent here. Staples such as chee cheong fun, or rice flour rolls, are freshly prepared and nicely executed. But the real gems are to be found in the a la carte menu. The restaurant built its reputation on its roasted meats, so be sure to order the barbecued combination platter to savour the selection. The roasted pork with its crispy wafer-thin skin held up by nicely marbled meat is a must, as is the roasted duck with its rich flavours and tender meat.

As per Chinese restaurants of its calibre, there are plenty of premium seafood on the menu, from lobster to live fish,prepared to your liking. The daily special (ours was the dragon garouper) is a sound bet for freshness and value. For a humble satisfying option, choose the crabmeat fried rice that comes studded with crunchy sakura shrimps and laced with wok hei.

Desserts run the gamut of Chinese standards. The standout is the rich pumpkin cream spiked with black glutinous rice for crunch and topped with coconut ice cream.