Pacific

...I can assure you that Pacific is certainly in the top two – and it’s a close run thing between the Yang Sing and The Pacific for the top position… I really couldn’t choose between them. So let’s just say that both restaurants are excellent, and very well worth a visit.

Pacific is a restaurant with a difference, though. It has two separate restaurants, each with a separate team of chefs: one called China, ...
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Actually, Pacific is a restaurant with more than one difference… The owner Raymond Wong, is very enthusiastic, and adventurous, with big ideas that work perfectly. His latest venture is the Extreme Food Club, whereby at a cost of £29.50, members who are interested in an “eclectic and challenging menu” will get the opportunity to sample a six course banquet, with dishes such as Spicy Boneless Chicken Feet with ... more

I have visited many of Manchester’s Chinese restaurants, and I can assure you that Pacific is certainly in the top two – and it’s a close run thing between the Yang Sing and The Pacific for the top position… I really couldn’t choose between them. So let’s just say that both restaurants are excellent, and very well worth a visit.

Pacific is a restaurant with a difference, though. It has two separate restaurants, each with a separate team of chefs: one called China, and one called Thailand, on the floor above China. I have only visited China, so far, but I do hope to sample the delights of Thailand before too long.

Actually, Pacific is a restaurant with more than one difference… The owner Raymond Wong, is very enthusiastic, and adventurous, with big ideas that work perfectly. His latest venture is the Extreme Food Club, whereby at a cost of £29.50, members who are interested in an “eclectic and challenging menu” will get the opportunity to sample a six course banquet, with dishes such as Spicy Boneless Chicken Feet with Pickled Vegetables, Sweet Potato and Quails Eggs… the kind of things you don’t usually get chance to pick up from your local Chinese takeaway, basically. The cost also includes wine. Details on www.pacific-restaurant-manchester.co.uk or telephone 0161 228 6668).

Ventures like the Food Club are an indication of the ethos of the restaurant – the staff want you to enjoy your food. And they also know a thing or two about food, and will be happy to advise you on what you might enjoy most. The setting is based around Feng Shui principles, again designed to make the eating experience perfect. If, for example, you notice the large pottery vase with goldfish swimming around in it, you can be sure it’s placed in that location for a purpose.

The service is excellent, from the point when you are greeted at the door until your departure you will be treated like you are someone special. The restaurant is well staffed, with I would say at least 6 waiters, and even if they are not serving customers you can sure they are attentive, in case someone does require assistance (even if they just feel you may want another cup of tea, someone will be along), but not to the point that’s it’s intrusive. The important thing is that the staff are dedicated – you wouldn’t catch any of them sloping off to read a newspaper or phone their mates.

There is a good mixture of tables, making it the kind of restaurant for almost any occasion. There’s one very large table, seating 12 or 15 (with 2 food turntables on it), and some medium sized tables, with one food turntable, for up to 8 people, then there are plenty of smaller tables too. So whether it’s a large office party and or a family banquet, you’re well catered for.
The tables are immaculate, with clean tablecloths, and candles.

On to the food, then.
The range of banquet menus is very good, and includes vegetarian. This will set you back at least £20 a head, although it looks a worthwhile option, if your group has a good appetite and is keen to try out lots of dishes.
I have usually gone with my partner only, so we tend to go for choices from the a la carte menu, if dining in the evening. Here, the choice really is yours. You can chose from a list of meat and fish (which includes scallops, sole, monkfish and lobster), and also choose an accompanying sauce and vegetables, so it’s very much a “mix and match” experience. The latter are helpfully grouped into milder options (including cashewnuts, seasonal vegetables and so on) and spicier versions (such as ginger and spring onion, chillis, etc). I opted for the scallops with ginger and spring onion, and it really was delicious – the most perfectly cooked almost melt-in-the-mouth scallops I have ever had with a wonderful sauce. My partner’s monkfish with seasonal vegetables was equally wonderful – it also included just two or three small slices of delicately sculpted carrot, and a colourful flower (which we weren’t brave enough to eat, but it may have just been a garnish, anyway!)
If anything the portions may be slightly on the small side, but I certainly wouldn’t complain about the proportion of fish, and there was no ‘filling out’ the dish with lots of carrots or bamboo shoots, as is frequently the case.
The dessert menu is limited, but they were very tempting, so we finally opted for sticky toffee bananas, and a selection from their lovely flavoured ice creams (mine were strawberry, and red orange)

Our meal, without starters, and sharing rice and noodles – so, when it comes down to it, it was a fairly light meal – and it came to just over £30.00. And we that's without alcoholic drinks, just Chinese tea.
So it isn’t cheap, but it really was worth it, trust me.

It’s a restaurant you’d be most likely to visit for special occasions, and if it’s quality you’re after, I definitely recommend Pacific.

 

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