by Hanna Fowler
Usually, my Chinese meals are eaten from the comfort of my own home, out of a takeaway box and in front of the TV, so it was a pleasant change to go and enjoy the cuisine at the newly opened Chy restaurant on Renshaw Street. Hoping to expand from its popular presence on Lark Lane, the city centre location is perfect for old and new customers alike.
Instead of the traditional oriental décor you might expect, Chy has an elegant, modern style; with a sleek black and purple colour scheme, leather booths and intimate tables to relax and enjoy your meal. It’s a luxury twist on Chinese dining.
My guest and I arrived and were welcomed by the manager and our waiter, who led us to a window table. Although midweek, the restaurant soon began to fill up with hungry shoppers, families and couples. The service throughout was great, the staff were attentive, friendly and more than happy to help you chose which dishes to go for.
Chy offer diners well-loved dishes you would expect to see; Chinese favourites including sweet and sour chicken, crispy duck and chow mein. My guest and I decided on the set menu, which offered four courses with a variety of options to pick and choose from.
To start, we both couldn’t falter from our own Chinese ritual: the chicken and sweetcorn soup. Tried and tested many times, this soup had a good consistency and was a nod to the quality we would enjoy all evening.
Next to arrive was our second round of starters; salt and pepper wings and pork spring rolls. The wings had just the right amount of kick to them and the spring rolls were much the same – not greasy but crisp and full of flavour.
At first, I thought four courses was a little optimistic, but the plates of food that arrived were fresh, delicious and not too heavy and my guest and I soon found ourselves eagerly awaiting the next course.
For our mains, we selected beef with green peppers in black bean sauce and crispy shredded beef in chilli sauce; both served with fried rice. Chy’s presentation and attention to detail lifted these Chinese classics and gave them a new lease of life.
The best was definitely kept till last, and the amazing desserts were not what I had expected from a Chinese restaurant. My guest decided on the toffee apple; deep fried apple pieces coated in toffee sauce, served with vanilla ice cream – it was as decadent as it sounds.
I opted for the chocolate spring rolls, mostly out of curiosity. The warm chocolate filling inside the flaky pastry made the perfect contrast and it was a novel way to round off a great evening.
Chy stands out amongst the many Chinese restaurants in Liverpool; they have refined the experience and given a modern, elegant twist on many people’s favourite cuisine. But it’s not just its look that sets it apart, the high quality food and service are anything but ‘run of the mill’.
