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Empress of China
Ph: (03) 9663 1883; 120 Little Bourke St, MELBOURNE 3000
Chinese, $$, * for Food & Ambience
Open Lunch: Sun-Fri noon-3pm, Dinner: 7 days from 6pm, Closed Some public holidays; Licensed, BYO bottled wine only, Corkage $3 person; AE, BC, DC, MC, V, Seats inside 110, Private room 45
Mietta's Review
This Chinatown institution has changed hands. Ken Louey founded it in 1971 when its was one of the first Chinese restaurants to make a grand statement. It is famous for incredibly attentive service and consistently good, traditional food. The wine list is reasonable, limited but not over priced and there are some impressive special occasion wines. The new owners intend to make some modest improvements but to keep the grand old dame more or less as she is.
Other published opinions
The Age Good Food Guide 2005 ""THIRTY-FOUR years on, the Empress is truly the grand old lady of Chinatown, and owner Ken Louey the elder statesman. The dark-wood interior, with the gilded Chinese character 'long life' patterned on the ceiling, has stayed fresh with regular cosmetic jobs.
Age Good Food Guide 2004 14/20
The Age Good Food Guide 2003. Score 14/20.
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