Meet The Bund
Meet The Bund establishes its upper and lower limits. My initial experience at Meet The Bund was marred by service issues, leading to an unpleasant dining experience. Despite this, due to the quality of the dishes, I revisited the restaurant three times within a month.
Objectively, the dishes at Meet The Bund do not fall short when compared to those of Xin Rong Ji, and some even surpass the latter in quality. From a culinary standpoint, Meet The Bund firmly maintains a one-star standard, potentially aiming for two. Most dishes are commendable right off the bat, though it seems the consistency of the ingredients can waver, as indicated by my last visit where several dishes were unavailable, and the quality of available dishes had decreased.
After several visits, two dishes made a lasting impression: The "Old Radish Steamed East Sea Ribbon Fish" featured exceptionally succulent and tender fish, enhanced by a radish sauce of restrained flavor, marking it as an exquisite dish.
Another notable dish is the "Red Pepper Baked Eel in Casserole," where I encountered the German red pepper for the first time in a Chinese culinary context, creating an intriguing combination with the eel's marine flavors.
Furthermore, the clay pot rice at Meet The Bund consistently impresses, especially the "Betel Nut Taro Clay Pot Rice." The taro rice, accompanied by crispy taro chips, provides a delightful textural interplay.
Appetizers like "Pan-fried Taihu Fish" and "Chicken Soup Blanched Clams" are also worth trying. The Taihu fish, a common cold dish in Teochew cuisine, becomes more palatable when pan-fried. The clams from Zhangzhou Harbor are tender, and the chicken soup is clear, suggesting a Western-style clarification method that leaves no trace of fat or bubbles.
As crab season wanes, while other establishments focus on drunken hairy crabs, Meet The Bund opts for heavy-shelled crabs. These crabs are packed with meat under their shells, offering a denser texture than hairy crabs. The crab meat itself tastes similar, but the roe of the heavy-shelled crabs is subtler.
The dishes I've mentioned thus far set Meet The Bund's lower threshold, assuring quality that meets a one-star standard and aspires for a second. The upper threshold, however, is defined by the restaurant's operational strategy, service delivery, ambiance, supply chain stability, and kitchen consistency.
Upon my return visits, I noticed a marked improvement in service warmth: diligent attention from the staff, complimentary crisps after a casual compliment, proactive fruit refills, and even a personal greeting from the chef. Yet, this enthusiastic service does not seem to extend to all patrons. It does not appear to be due to my frequent visits but rather an attempt to avoid further criticism. This overzealous service can actually discomfort guests, as it comes across as too deliberate and unnatural. In service terms, Meet The Bund tries hard but does not quite reach excellence.
