With the steady expansion of the Chinatown, we’re slowly seeing eateries move into the side streets, away from the busy Gouger Street cafe precinct. The new Taste Restaurant moves all the way to Wright Street, replacing the former Police office. The menu is a combination of traditional and fusion with a selection of noodles, wonton, dumplings, rice, seafood, cold dishes, vegetables, sichuan and modern dishes. The seafood dishes need to pre-ordered the day before. The seafood needs to be sourced and it makes sense to only buy as required.

The decor is neat and well presented with prominent use of black and white. The dining area is a large open space with very comfortable cushioned seating. There is a nice feature wall to one side which leads to some private function areas.

Tonight, I ordered the Mushroom and Meat Dumplings. The dish was ready after a 10 minute wait and was average in presentation. The steamed dumpling skin was firm and chewy, and nicely cooked. The filling was well refined with a rather odd artificial pink colour. Like most dumplings, they tasted quite bland by themselves, however the addition of vinegar dipping sauce made the dish more balanced.

The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the service was very good. The drinks and food arrived promptly and plates were cleared as I finished. They even opened the door for me as I left. The atmosphere was relaxed and the pricing was reasonable. The dumplings set me back $6.90 which was for a serving of six. With the exception of the market price seafood dishes, the average price for an item on the menu is around the $15 mark.

WHERE: 36-48 Wright St, Adelaide