Restaurant Review - Doyu

Here is a restaurant review for the my journalism course....

Restaurant Review – Doyu

There is not much fanfare when it comes to this small, family-owned Chinese restaurant
yet the attraction to this establishment lies not in aesthetics but rather in its authenticity.
Inconspicuously situated down a side road in Rondebosch, a stereotypical Chinese
lantern is the only indicator of its existence.

The décor is somewhat Far-eastern 80’s chic, a few favourable reviews are pasted on
the windows and scribbling’s of past customers don the walls. It is an intimate venue of
roughly 10 tables, but such intimacy assures both good service and a quality meal.

Doyu knows their customer base well. The family supplies two menus, one
typically ‘western’ Chinese and another more traditional menu. If you aren’t feeling
adventurous stick to what you know, have your chicken Chow-Mein and you will no
doubt be wholly satisfied. But the treat of Doyu lies in the surprise. Ask the lovely
daughter of the owners, who works the counter, to suggest what is good and let it be a
surprise.

My meal of Cumin pork ribs, spicy bean curd and what can only be described as a sort
of large seafood spring-roll, left me both sufficiently full and blown away by the tastes
that I barely knew existed. Some delightfully subtle, others wonderfully invasive.

With meals being between R50 – R100, it is more expensive than the common Chinese
establishment; then again portions are so large you can have it again for lunch and
supper the next day. The restaurant lacks much atmosphere and this may see one
prefer a take-away.

Asian restaurants have become common and uninteresting; Doyu though has found a
niche in that it has stuck to an orthodox menu of Chinese cuisine. It is not about pretty
portions or romanticism here, it is about the food and the food is truly amazing.