Lai Wah Heen

Metropolitan Hotel
108 Chestnut Street
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1R3
(416) 977-9899
Google Map
http://www.metropolitan.com/lwh/

Date: April 15, 2006
Cost: $80 for 2 people (tea, tax and tip included)
What's on the menu: Dim sum, upscale chinese cuisine
Drinks: Good selection of chinese tea's, cocktails, sake, wine list
Atmosphere: Not quite fine dining, but elegant and serene

Review:
Mmmm... dim sum, something near and dear to CEO's heart (read stomach). If he had it his way, we would be having dim sum every weekend, but CFO's desire to try different cusine's has sadly prevented us from going on a regular basis.

Located in the Metropolitan Hotel, Lai Wah Heen is widely considered the top spot for dim sum in the GTA. On this Saturday morning there is plenty of parking available in the terrifyingly small underground lot. Swift elevators take you up to the 3rd floor restaurant. At the front, we are greeted by a smartly dressed Maître d', who suddenly makes us wonder if we're underdressed. Nonetheless, we're promptly shown to our table - corner window seat overlooking the street below.

As we get settled in, our waitress asks us for our tea of choice. Those who are familiar with chinese tea will find Lai Wah Heen's tea list (7-8 choices) a welcome suprise. Neighbouring tables ask to see a rather large wine list. We opt for a familiar tea, "Tien Kwan Ying" ($4.00/person).

While our tea is prepared we browse the menu. It is divided into sections - Chef Terence Chan’s Specialty Dim Sum, Lai Wah Heen’s famous Dim Sum and a section for rice and noodle dishes. From what we can remember we ordered, crystal shrimp dumpling, siu mai of pork, shrimp and scallop, baked mini puff pastry turnover with cured ham, shrimp and pork and a few others. Ingredients are very fresh and everything is made to order. One by one our dim sum dishes are brought to us in familar bamboo tray's or sleek white dishes . We admire the detail in the dishes, but it's the taste that wins us over. Each creation leaves us smiling with approval.

If you're looking to get away from Chinatown's loud and busy restaurants, Lai Wah Heen certainly provides a tranquil setting. Master dim sum chef Terence Chan dishes are truly unique in presentation, but the simple flavours and quality of ingredients are what separates him from others in the city. Cost aside, Lai Wah Heen is simply Toronto's best dim sum restaurant.

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