The Chairman and Yip. Coming highly recommended from Melbourne colleagues, the Chairman and Yip was the scene for a family reunion of sorts. Of course it involved excessive amounts of high quality food.
On first appearance I baulked at the semi-fine dining layout, the ambiance was much more relaxed than a formal restaurant. The staff were young and friendly, not as stiff as in similar restaurants across Australia.
After reviewing the specials and entrees a strategy was decided upon. It was to be four entrees and two mains.
We started with the Chairman's duck pancakes. Absolutely delicious. Not traditional peking duck, but a superb dish.
This was quicly followed by lightly battered calamari, which was tender and tasty.
The third entree was six wantons with chili paste. They were perfect.
By the third entree we were both full, but when the mussels came out I couldn't say no. Being used to small tasteless mussels in recent times, it was a pleasure to bite into these large, flavourable mussels.
So after three extremely satisfying entrees it was time to recuperate and prepare for the main courses. The waiting staff were extremely helpful during this period. My glass was rarely empty for more than 30 seconds. And they were of great assistance while we were ordering.
The first main was the spicy lamb special. Boiled overnight and then deepfried before severing, the fat leaves the lamb meat but the dish is incredibly rich. Another delicious portion. The final adventure was the beef and scallop pepper hot pot. Perhaps the least satisfying of the six dishes, the beef was cooked to perfection.
The Chairman and Yip was everything that a formal restaurant should be. Fantastic food, fresh ingredients, comfortable surroundings and everything created by a staff and clientele that are still prepared to laugh at themselves.
Mietta's Review of Chairman and Yip
After all these years this restaurant is still consistently recommended. It is an important part of the Canberra dining scene and perhaps the most eccentric of the city's established restaurants. With communal tables and open spaces, this is a good place to enjoy interesting Chinese influenced food. The wine list is not large, but is selective and offers good value.
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