China Syndrome

By The Editors
April 16, 2012 9:00 am
China Syndrome
DANIEL KRIEGER

Taking business associates to a high-end Chinese restaurant can be impressive, but only if you display complete confidence in what you order — because nothing says “you can totally trust me with your money” like “you can totally trust me with your 中國式烤全乳豬!”

Display that level of culinary bravado at just-opened Hakkasan, the luxurious, marble-bedecked Cantonese restaurant that provides a decorous retreat for business parties.

Decadent delicacies abound, so demonstrate your savvy by ordering for the table:

First course: Try quail the way it was meant to be enjoyed (fried crispy) with pickled veggies. Or if you’re feeling particularly flush, order the $888 braised Japanese abalone with black truffles. You know, either way.

Second course: The stir-fried lobster and mushrooms in “XO” sauce (dried seafood, spices, sesame oil) was developed exclusively for Hakkasan’s New York location, nice for some “locals only” street cred.

Third course: The wok-fried Wagyu beef with spicy peanut sauce and sesame seeds should satisfy any parties still sulking over not going to Peter Luger.

The 200-deep wine list also features brilliant and lesser-known varietals (we recommend the smoky, citrus-tinged Greek Moschofilero), plus a sweet-tooth’s nirvana of desserts.

So now you’ve got some much needed confidence in your Chinese. Or as they say in Chinese, “you da man, baby.”

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