Chin Chins - Melbourne CBD

Atmosphere:  ****/5
Food: ***/5
Drink: **/5
Service: **/5

Wow, there is nothing like a restaurant like this to remind me that I have been living in Adelaide for a long time.  There is just so much going on here beyond the restaurant experience, with dj's, projections on the wall and a no booking system which makes for long waiting times and a lot to see and do before you even sit down at the table!

As we came here for a friends birthday and visiting here on the way back from my fathers celebration of life we decided to go all out and ask the waitress to 'feed me,' a sixty dollar banquet special in which you get the chefs specials of the night.  I wouldn't order any other way here, as the meals are quite expensive anyway you may as well go all out with a ridiculous six or so courses (we lost count) which also includes dessert.

The first thing I noticed about the food here is that it is so fresh.  The advantage of paying for a quality meal here is that you get it.  Unlike so many other Asian restaurants there was not one meal that made us feel sluggish or bloated, we did that ourselves, by eating too much!

The waiter/esses were very efficient and friendly.  They quickly took us through each of the many meals that they brought out. However, due to the the full house and a long line of people waiting for a table I got the feeling the efficient service was mainly due to the fact that they needed the table as soon as possible.

Chin Chins is a must try, when people ask me for something different when visiting Melbourne I suggest this restaurant, and I have had mixed reviews.  Some of the people I have recommended Chin Chins to have left before waiting in the line as the concept of waiting for an hour for a table astounds them and some have waited it out and loved it.   As much as I loved the meal here it is not somewhere that I will be coming back to regularly.  This is a place you come to, so you can have a new experience and say you have been, not somewhere you feel a connection to with the noise, the lights and the high priced menu its somewhere you should tick off your list and move onto the next exiting adventure!