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Asiana
Ph: 9696 6688; 181 Victoria Ave, ALBERT PARK 3206
Modern Asian, $$
Open Sun-Thu 6-10pm Fri-Sat 6-11pm; Licensed, BYO , Corkage $10 bottle; AE DC MC V
Chef Chuen Lo (5-12-08) Owner Randolph Cheung, Bee Yap & Chuen Lo (5-12-08)
Mietta's Review
Asiana, a favourite of the south of the Yarra chapter of the restaurant industry, is an excellent example of Australian Asian cooking. The dishes are of mixed Asian parentage but the menu, the presentation and many of the flavours are mainstream modern Australian bistro, but better. And, if you think the food is good wait until you see the wine list - fantastic. This is one of those rare places where everything you eat or drink has been thought out by someone with taste and knowledge. The setting is simple, the service can be a bit pressed but the prices, particularly for the quality, are very reasonable.
Other published opinions
Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 14/20 "Professionalism is the watchword at Asiana, one of Melbourne's quintessential modern Asian restaurants. It's present in all elements of the endeavour: from the write-home-about-it wine list, to the decor, with its clean lines and elegant linen-set tables, and the mature service"
Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 14.5/20 "A clever mix of comfort-zone and more adventurous dishes - coupled with calm, professional service and an outstanding wine list - has earned Asiana a loyal following"
The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 14/20 "Exploration of both food and wine is the raison d'etre of Asians, stylishly fitted with Chinese calligraphy prints and inlaid pebble surfaces. The elegantly presented pan-Asian dishes have been crafted to match wines plucked from the restaurant's lauded cellar."
Gourmet Traveller 2006 Australian Restaurant Guide "A local bloke's collecting his takeaway as we arrive and despite the classic white linen-and-dark wood interiors, there's a casual atmosphere to Asiana. Do let yourself be bullied by the cheerful waiters: following their selections from the simple pan-Asian menu pays off."
The Age Good Food Guide 2005 "The mood is lively, with dynamic staff, tables set with sharp white linen and cuisine that screams new world, not old."
Gourmet Traveller 2005 Restaurant Guide "From Japan's light tempura to Thailand's fiery amalgams, this pan-Asian diner delivers the best ofthe Orient in a modern package. The long shop is bare, barring framed Chinese scrolls on one wall. The rest is dark wood, subdued lighting and white tablecloths."
The Foodies' Guide 2004,Allan Campion & Michele Curtis,'Asiana is an interesting blend of Asian cuisines;the menu reflects many different cultures,but they are unified by the use of quality ingrediants and attention to detail.We recommend the Peking duck,the grilled lamb loin with soy bean paste and the Korean barbecued steak.The crispy skinned chicken is worthy as are the spicy,plummy mandarin pork ribs.'
SMH GFG 2004,'Then foodies found Chuen Low's food to be as good as most Asian in town.There's a strong Cantonese bias,such as the seafood sang choi bau,but Low combs the whole of Asia for inspiration.'
Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Australia 2004, Excellent wine list, Good vegetarian options,'menu is a document in two halves:creative cooking up front (augmented by a serious list of specials)and classic dishes of Asia at the back...The cooking is assured,using a Cantonese platform to springboard into Japan,Korea,Malaysia & Thailand.Staff give it all a contemporary context'
Vogue Entertaining, March April 2003
The Weekend Australian, Food&Wine, Cherry Ripe, June 21-22 2003
The Age Good Food Guide 2003. Score 15/20.
The Age, Sunday Life,28/9/03, John Lethlean
Herald Sun, City Style, 12/8/03
The Age, A2, 26/7/03, John Weldon
The Age (Epicure), 04/12/02, John Lethlean 16 ot of 20
Herald Sun, Weekend, Eat, Bob Hart, 2/11/02
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