Tea Garden 红茶小厨 — Restaurant in Melbourne

Found this cosy restaurant for a last minute craving for Yum Cha. They were able to accommodate a table where other usual places were booked out. The decor was fresh and contemporary.

First thing I noticed was the clientele. The majority were Western. This usually makes me a bit nervous about authenticity of food. I've seen this regularly where, over time a restaurant will adjust ingredients to suite Western pallate. It's also made fresh to order, not point to a dish from a cart. The size of the venue makes the logistics of a cart impractical.

In this case, I think Tea Garden have tried to maintain traditions but did notice a few dishes where this has occurred. Notably the pan fried chicken dumpling where the filling seemed to have missed the mark and lacked the crunchy meaty bite and depth of flavour I'd expect. A case of over substitution of flour rather meat in the filling mix. Similar case with thr Sui Mai. The chicken feet was too sweet for my liking but every place makes it slightly differently.

All the other prawn dumpling variations were tasty and enjoyed by the family.

Overall, the family and I really enjoyed our meal with the usual go to dishes for Yum Cha.

Given the clientele, I think they have reduced the variety you would usually have at other venues which is understandable.

Where the restaurant has erned an extra star is in it's friendly service which I feel is carried by the Service Manager. He was was fantastic from the initial greeting, till our departure. I feel he has made a really effort to raise the bar in service relative to what you would get from a typical Chinese restaurant. Other service staff take his lead but think without him, the service level would drop almost instantly.

I would recommend to give Tea Garden a go. What it lacks in variety is made up in atmosphere, cleanliness...

This little gem tucked away in a corner of a major intersection in Chadstone/Oakleigh is worth a visit. If you want to snag a parking space, then maybe come for an early dinner. The food is really good, but parking can be a problem.

I've been several times over the years here, and the food is always consistently good and satisfying. The service is sometimes a little slow and not always do the meals come out at the same time. There has been a time or two in the past when one person at the table was forced to eat ahead of the others because their meals weren't out, and it kind of defeats the purpose of going to eat out together, but of late, it has vastly improved. Perhaps they've changed hands, but either way, it's definitely better than years ago (so give it another try if that put you off coming here).

I usually order the Battered Chicken in Mandarin Sauce (pictured here but without capsicum, which is why it looks bare), or the Chicken Fried Rice. Also pictured here is the Deep Fried Ice Cream which I love. Not the best I've ever had, but quite good for sure.

I think the pricing of the food is good, the polite - if not spotty - service is good (overall), and it's not one of those restaurants where you're rushed out of the door. If you're looking for homey/comforting Chinese food, then this is the...

I have been coming to this place for more than nine years or more its my go to place when i want good Chinese food.. I specially love the yum cha.. I came to celebrate good time today with my family.. which we did.. all loved the food..

But one staff she told me off for asking a glass of water i needed it for my medication.. she said we can’t offer water as we have to much drink anyway.. I thought water is free or even if you charged i be happy to pay.. i don’t understand why it is necessary to say you can’t have water.. most places offer water always.. I was soo scared talk to her again that she will tell me off..

Not all people are Indians we could be other nationalities or born overseas please don’t be racist please treat everyone equal.. The gentleman at the counter was very friendly and very kind :) not all staff are bad..

Anyway this not first time i got told off by staff.. but it won’t stop me from coming back.. although my family think i should not .. the food was always good only reason I will be back..

Please consider offering a water when i asked please many of us whom come do suffer from cancer and diabetes whom need take medicine with food..

Sorry for this...