Set in the popular Unley Road cafe precinct amongst other popular eateries is Chu’s. There are a decent selection of Chinese and Vietnamese dishes on the menu, although I did notice a few Thai dishes thrown into the mix.

Set in a long and narrow floorplan, the decor is modern and elegant. The black and white colour scheme is prominent with a few reds thrown in here and there. The low hanging light fittings on one side add interest with asymmetry while the cabinet on the other side is more traditional. The black leather seating is comfortable and the white table cloths adds to the class of the place.

Tonight, I ordered the Chilli Duck. The meals came out 15 minutes after ordering and all  meals arrived at the same time. The dish was well presented and the serving size was generous. The vegetables were fresh and crisp, and the dish itself had contrasting flavours. For the most part, the oyster sauce made the dish sweet and savoury, while other parts had a mild heat to it. The duck was tender and succulent, and really well cooked. The downfall were the bits of rubbery duck skin, but otherwise a very well executed dish.

My dinner partner had the Sweet and Sour Pork. I’ve seen more contemporary versions of this dish which I quite like because they use thin slices of lean pork, however, this one was just the classic version. The pork was tender on the inside and cooked in a nice thick batter. The sweet and sour sauce had a nice thick consistency and was well made.

The staff were friendly and inviting at the beginning of the night, but then the reception started to get a bit cold when I started taking photos of the food. A similar statement could be said about the service. Really attentive at the beginning and then it all dropped off by the end of the night. The atmosphere was relaxed even with the busy traffic on the outside. The pricing was average with my dish being just under $18. My dining companion paid under $17 for her dish but I wouldn’t personally pay that much for Sweet and Sour Pork.

The food is really good here. The ingredients used are fresh and of a high quality, and the chef out in the kitchen knows how to cook. The dishes were well balanced and full of flavour. I would go so far as to say that they do just about everything right here. If it wasn’t for the cold reception and the inconsistent service, they would have got a perfect rating.

WHERE: 40 Unley Rd, Unley