Dim Sum at Cherry Garden

Before the BFF flew out for her year end trips, she called for lunch together. Dim sum it was at Cherry Garden! Sure thing. I hadn't had a dim sum lunch for a looong time. I don't always eat everything in a dim sum menu, and many items usually hold prawns, of which I try to avoid. I don't take antihistamines if it's just regular meal. So to me, having dim sum is about eating the same boring things at different restaurants. Hahahah. 

It has been ages since I stepped into Cherry Garden (樱桃园). The restaurant has been renovated and given a fresh and brighter look as opposed to its previous dim lighting and dark wood hues. Its dim sum menu is super limited. But I'm not exactly here to eat all of it anyway. If you like your dim sum to taste traditional, don't pay S$118++ for it here because the kitchen does the non dim-sum items way better. We chose to lunch here today because we always eat at the usual venues. We didn't mind a more limited menu and such. 

Servings are small and catered to per piece per pax. I love it actually. Then there's no stress about being unable to finish the food. We can always order more if we want to. We had two servings har gow and siu mai. Also had two servings of siew yoke, and braised chicken feet. I ate all the chicken feet since the BFF didn't want any. Hahaha. 

The BFF was sad that the custard bun wasn't with gooey golden custard although the menu stated '流沙包'; the filling was black sesame. At least she had a complimentary starter of warm egg tart with bird's nest. She loved the dessert of mango sago with pomelo (楊枝甘露). She said it was actually pretty good. I didn't get any chilled or sweet dessert since I didn't fancy any of those on the menu. My dessert was a second serving of siew yoke. LOL

Cheong fun lovers, Cherry Garden doesn't offer the steamed version. There's only the pan-fried version which tasted exactly like... stir-fried kway teow. I know riiiight. Travesty. I judge all dim sum restaurants by their steamed rice rolls. The chok here was disappointing — it was bland and not thoughtful. Canton Paradise's congee is superior to this. Even Ah Chiang's is. Imho, go to Asia Grand or Wah Lok at Carlton if you really want dim sum. The daily soup of pork rib and lotus root was fine. The beef tendon and brisket with radish came in the cutest claypot and was super flavorful.