Address:Trnavská cesta 23/a
Phone: 525 4267
Hours:11:30 - 23:00 daily
Cuisine: Another chinese place
Prices:Sk Sk Sk
Reservations:Recommended
English menu: Yes (German)
Credit Cards: Yes
Recommended:Give it a try
Let's face it, Chinese restaurants in Slovakia are pretty much the same. They all tend to have the same menus, whether its called Monk's Food, or Buddha's Delight, or Eight Treasures, or Special Dish. We were hoping for variety at the newest arrival of Chinese cuisine to Bratislava - Tsing Tao. But we didn't find much, yet we found some other things that make it worth a trip.
Tsing Tao is located next to Zimny štadión (hockey rink) where the Rock Café used to bring us Frank Sinatra or U2 impersonators. Newly renovated, the interior is fresh, clean, stark, and comfortable, and the background music is exclusively Chinese.
Unfortunately there is no outside seating for warm evenings. The most noticeable feature is that you are not greeted by a fog of smoke coming from the kitchen which appears in most Chinese restaurants in Slovakia, usually the result of not changing the cooking oil frequently enough. At the moment a no smoking section doesn't exist.
Parking is available close by, but it is going to be difficult when there are events at the hockey stadium. The restaurant is spacious and looks as though it could easily accommodate large parties. One delightful feature is a balcony table for six for a private gathering.
The staff is warm, patient, quick and speaks English. They perform multiple tasks in addition to waiting tables, from tending bar to ironing and folding linen napkins. If there any mistakes are made by anyone, they are graciously corrected.
For the lunch crowd, unfortunately there is no Dim Sum offered, but there are some daily menus offered at reasonable prices. This restaurant is perfect for if you work in the neighborhood.
Getting down to food, there are the usual orders of pork, noodles, vegetables, dofu (tofu, the "d" just appears on the menu), prawns, soups, and rice dishes. A unique feature is the set menus for 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 people. You can order Tsing Tao beer - watch your wallets, it is almost three times the price of regular beer - and other Chinese wines and spirits, including plum wine.
We sampled some tofu dishes which were refreshing and savory, especially the Tofu a la House. Vegetable dishes such as the cabbage with mushrooms was less exciting, but filling. Eight treasures comprised of eight different types of meat and vegetables topped over white rice. While the idea was great, it was over-salted with soy sauce. Finally, the crispy duck is believably the best in Bratislava; the duck lays over a fantastic bed of vegetables, don't leave this one off your list.
Order by the number listed on the menu, it saves time, and makes it infinitely easier for the staff to expedite your requests.
Dinner for two including one drink and tip: 770 Sk
Author: Michel Litt, Graham Wood
