I recently discovered Lychee Cafe through a friend who claimed the vegetarian menu was interesting and delicious. Personally, I love meat. I eat animals from the rooter to the tooter (although not always at one go).
I’ve sworn against eating out with vegetarians after a few rather unpleasant veggie restaurants I’ve sampled in the greater Wellington region, and though skeptical I’d enjoy a purely vegetarian meal, I went along with my good friend and we turned to the cafe for dinner. I figure time spent with good company is never a disappointment even if the meal is. I was pleasantly surprised when they rolled out the pan-fried dumplings for our entree. The skin was perfect, the veggies inside were finely chopped and seasoned Asian greens and not the usual array of cabbage, shredded carrot, or worse, a Watties frozen mixed bag of western veggies crammed into store-bought wonton skins (shudder). The dumplings came with a sweet soy and garlic dipping sauce. It was the outstanding dish of the night.
A few days later, when I had another craving for Chinese food (this time for the specialties with meat), I dragged my husband with me to dinner. Having lived in Asia for many years, my husband knew a few items on the menu and was able to practice his Mandarin with the staff. It was an outstanding meal with the Peking beef rolls (Chinese sesame flatbread with sliced braised beef, scallions and hoisin sauce rolled into what looks like an Asian burrito) and Taiwanese-style beef noodle soup the stars of the evening. The beef they use is perfect: fatty, tendons and some gristle attached for a nice bounce when chewed. It never ceases to amaze me why some people complain about having a little fat and gristle with their meat. If cooked properly, these things add wonderful flavor and texture. We had one rather forgettable dish, the three cups chicken, but we ate everything else with gusto. They have Tsingtao Beer (yay), a limited wine list and a nice selection of Chinese teas. The tea list is very good if you enjoy this kind of stuff.
I recommend going for a casual meal and introduction to Taiwanese cuisine in Wellington. The owners are from Taiwan, I hear, and the staff are very friendly and provide great suggestions if you're one of the uninitiated in this regional style of Chinese cooking.
