Ducktastic

Joined: Mar 27, 2010
Posts: 12
Review of Duck de Chine
4

It's a very Westernized place. You probably figured that out from all the other reviews already, but if you need it spelled out, there you go. I don't dislike that on principle or anything - I just dislike the fact that this means they've used this to cut a couple of sneaky corners.

In traditional places, there's three ways to eat the whole bird - Peking duck rolls, duck carcass (pepper-and-salted, stewed, whatever) and duck soup. RMB 238 (or whatever it costs) only gets you duck rolls. You have to tell the waitress you want your carcass (either takeaway for free, or add labor costs of RMB 38 for the second "way"). Duck soup is an egregious RMB 42 per person. What the hell, Duck de Chine? We forked out the RMB 38 and it wasn't even very good.

They also don't get all the meat off the carcass. Irritating.

HOWEVER - the duck itself was fabulous. Fabulous fabulous fabulous. Love the leanness, love that they've kept the skin crisp and oily. LOVE. I would come back for this duck time and time and time again.

Other dishes that we ordered were tasty (lamb, mushrooms) but a little overpriced. You do pay for the setting. We were sitting near-ish the door and lord, it was drafty.

10% service charge not really justified. Still, I would come back for the duck (and just the duck!)