Frankie meets Mr Lau

Too often do people allow Chinese New Year to slip through their fingers, meekly satisfying their taste buds with another below par takeaway. But I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be that way!

Tucked down the cobbled Warrington Springfield Street, is Mr Lau’s. A super trendy, loft-esque restaurant which promised a divine evening to welcome in the Year of the Monkey; 4 courses, live music and entertainment, I was sold quicker than you can say Kung Hei Fat Choy!

The decor held the perfect ambience to welcome in a prosperous new year. A jaw-dropping floor-to -ceiling bar heartily stocked with impressive potions and a sleek open-view kitchen are positioned on opposite sides of the restaurant. Takeaway cartons brimming with crackling prawn crackers, glowing red lanterns and patterned Chinese purses holding ferrero rocher were just some of the welcoming trinkets which added to the evening’s radiance.

Servers in beautiful silk Chinese attire passed by the tables holding bamboo baskets piled high with some of the most damn-fine dim sum I have ever had. An array of delicately crispy, melt-in-the-mouth appetizers circled around us as we eagerly pierced our selections before popping them into our mouths to devour.

Spring rolls, prawn toast and crispy wontons were the usual suspects among the dim sum, but like you’ve never tasted them before. A far cry from the greasy mock-ups often found at a takeaway, these bite-sized morsels packed flavour from the finely minced prawns in the toast to the soft, powdered crab in crunchy wrapped shells. Diner’s eyes lit up in delight at the sight of these reappearing baskets which tided over any trace of hunger ready for the entertainment portion of the evening.

We were escorted outside to witness the bright and enchanting Chinese Festivities which included a traditional Lion Dance assisted by the Laughing Buddah. Firecrackers crackled as they brought in good luck and warded off evil spirits, dancing to the percussion which filled the quiet Warrington side street with majestic sounds.

Residing back to our tables, the entertainment continued as we worked up an appetite watching performers demonstrate impressive Kung Fu moves, mentally noting them to use on opponents who tried to make a move on my dim sum.

Our second courses of Golden Nugget Water Dumplings and Real Crab and Cream of Corn Soup arrived at the table. Steamed dumplings bobbed happily in my partner’s soup like pork-stuffed lanterns, deliciously more-ish the meaty and chive mouthfuls worked excellently against the refreshing miso-flavours of the broth. The soft and sweet flavours of my crab and corn soup made it the most sensational treat, the plump texture of crab meat married effortlessly with the silky kernels of sweetcorn creating a fantastic balance of sweet and savoury flavours with each spoonful.



The mains were perfectly proportioned to bring more joy to our already satisfied appetites. Personal sized platters of Chicken Gar Lay and Jumbo Tiger Prawns with garlic and ginger arrived at the table alongside steaming portions of sautéed Young Lau Rice and seasonal vegetables. The juicy bite of silky and succulent prawn in its smooth and ever-so-slightly sweet sauce was the exact Chinese-home-comfort dish I had hoped for. Fluffy bundles of rice stuck deliciously to each mouthful with mild zings of spring onion, enhancing the flavour of the meaty prawns alongside the welcomed crunch of bean sprout and long stemmed broccoli which found their way onto my chopsticks.

The Chicken Gar Lay was a classic curried dish with chunks of smooth chicken and shards of soft onion relaxing in a spicy bath of warming flavours with ginger and garlic. Total comfort food.

We wolfed down our mains with an inability to control ourselves and took a breather before our final course arrived.



My partner went for the sweet and simple Banana Fritter dessert. Light and golden in colour, the pudding was packed with rich and syrupy flavours and contrasting textures as you bite through a crunchy deep fried coating to reveal the sweet-soft banana. A stark contrast to the previous savoury courses, this dish satisfied any lingering sweet cravings and was perfectly presented with vanilla ice cream and powdered sugar for a finishing touch.



Ever the chocolate fiend, I couldn’t resist the Salted Caramel Cake which I had eyed on the menu before crunching my first prawn cracker. Rich gooey caramel ran through the hazelnut chocolate truffle which made the base of the cake. Each biscuit-y bite was filled with deep tastes of cocoa balanced beautifully by crystals of sea salt which were speckled throughout the slice. I tried to control myself, I swear I did – but no sooner did it appear in front of me was it inhaled out of sight in a flurry of sweet, sweet decadence which I am not proud of (I totally am).

Overall, all I can say is you truly must get acquainted with the wonderful servers and food of Mr Lau’s as soon as you can to witness the bountiful spread for yourself. So should you rally up your favourites and book a table for the weekend? Yes, yes you should.

In all truthfulness I am now spoilt for life after consuming one of the best Chinese banquets I’ve devoured in years, destined to spend all future Chinese New Years’ (and birthdays...and anniversaries...and Thursdays...) at Mr Lau’s.

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Posted: Friday 19th February 2016
ID: 10062 - 1596