Located on the 51st floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, Lai Heen is the highest Chinese restaurant in Macau, with breathtaking views of Cotai and the city. The restaurant exemplifies the finest level of craftsmanship and highest service levels in luxury Cantonese dining and is a recommended restaurant by the “Michelin Guide HK Macau 2016″. With a new signature lunch set menu, Lai Heen invites you to indulge in their modern interpretations of classic Chinese cuisine in this elevated dining spot.
The experience at Lai Heen begins before the host or hostess even guides you to your table, as you walk through their electrifying entrance with incredible interior design—from astonishing chandeliers and lanterns to a wall of running water with remarkable reflective glasses. The atmosphere evokes a decorated elegance. Each and every dining table is inwardly spaced to provide the ideal amount of intimacy to enjoy a meal. For starters, enjoy their steamed vegetables dumpling with morel mushroom, marinated chicken in soy sauce, and steamed turnip cake with homemade shrimp paste. Every single piece is hand-glazed with meticulous care. Alongside are three types of sauce: chili red sauce, bell pepper chili sauce (recommended for the spicy lovers), and soy sauce with a side of garlic paste and XO sauce that goes well with everything and anything.
Next, sip their double-boiled sea coconut with dendrobium and herbs. The double-boiled technique is said to achieve the maximum extraction of flavor with little compromise to taste or texture of the ingredients. The result? A luxuriously fragrant broth. The taste of this tonic soup is pleasant and calming. Thrive on the long, slow simmer, seasoning and tasting all along the way until the flavors hit just that perfect comfort-food note.
As for mains, debate between three excellent choices:
Discover an ocean’s treasure with their simmered soft-shell crab with mixed herbs. The chef’s special is a braised pork belly with preserved vegetables. The pork is melt-in-your-mouth tender with well-balanced flavor, served with a side of rice crisp stuffed with dried preserved vegetables for some extra textures accompanied with steamed mantou bun to mop up every inch of the rich sauce. For a modern take on classic Cantonese cuisine, opt for the pan-seared prawn with pineapple in grain white wine sauce.
Their sautéed string bean with mushroom and black truffle is refreshing, with every crunch elevating the moment. But for a fully satisfying finish, their fried rice with bacon, vegetables, and umami-rich sakura shrimp is the perfect end note to the perfect lunch.
But of course, we can’t forget their signature dessert platter; the assortment includes a delectable chestnut jelly cake and chocolate mousse with a drop of white chocolate to complement your dining experience.
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Lai Heen 51F, The Ritz-Carlton, Galaxy Macau, Estrada da Baía de Nossa Senhora da Esperança, Cotai, +853 8886 6868, www.galaxymacau.com/lai-heen
