Petit Jardin is an accessible spot offering local and Cantonese grub in a chic dining room. We paid a visit to the new Crystal Galleria Mall branch during lunch and it was surprisingly - compared to the otherwise barren mall - a full house.
Part Canto, part ‘East meets West’ fusion, Petit Jardin’s menu is full of feel-good options like baked shrimp with cheese and chili in tomato sauce (RMB78), five hour slow-cooked pork (RMB58), mixed pork & shrimp burger (RMB38) and Tabasco omelets (RMB25).
We kicked off with the 2°C chilled tofu (RMB32, above). A sizable slab of cold tofu sat center stage, capped with crisps and surrounded by a large and rather strange ring of mustard foam. The tofu itself was a bit bland, but the creamy foam gave it a much stronger flavor.
Brûlée chicken roll (RMB68, above) tastes like traditional lotus leaf chicken (荷叶包鸡) with sticky rice inside. Cut into the crispy wrap and dip it in the three different sauces that come along. This was probably the high point of our meal – definitely recommended.
Don’t bother with the smoked duck (RMB48, pictured below), a fusion-y stab at the classic French dish duck à l’orange. This one’s orange reduction sauce somehow ruined the smoldering flavor of the duck. Steamed Chinese cabbages (RMB38) however, proved a success. Cabbages steeped in a pleasingly alcoholic yellow wine sauce/soup with delicate slices of pork belly and pungent little dried shrimp.
Still feeling hungry? Go for the flat pasta (RMB42) topped with black pork and sesame peanut sauce. We loved the chewy flat noodles and luscious pork, but almost drowned in the thick peanut sauce. Easy on the sauce there, cowboy.
Apart from requisite list of wine, beer and soda, special drinks made an appearance, such as the pineapple mojito (RMB22), honey jasmine tea (RMB18) and beer smoothies (RMB18). Rich and refreshing, the icy peanut smoothie (RMB22) was our favorite.
Despite its faults, all things considered Petit Jardin is a decent and return-worthy option for low-cost dining.
Price: RMB80-150 per person
Who’s going: Local office workers
Good for: Casual dining, small groups, Canto food
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