Beijing Impression Haymarket — Restaurant in Sydney

(4.5 stars) The first time I tried to reserve a table at Beijing Impression they hung up on me. The second time, I got someone who was able to communicate that reservations only apply for groups over eight people. Arriving on a Friday night we were able to get a table straight away, though, by the time we left, every table in this vast, well-decorated space was full.

Being first time visitors, we hit up the signatures—a wonderfully green rendition of cumin-infused BBQ lamb ($28.80) served on a sizzling platter, and premium roast duck ($78). There was a bit of a queue for duck service, so it arrived at the end of our meal, with great fanfare. Presented as crisp skin dipped in sugar and Pop Rocks, breast meat you wrap in pliable pancakes with crushed garlic and carrot pickles against chilli sauce or hoisin, and leg meat that’s pushed into fried buns, it’s a grand adventure that kicks off with the back story and slicing at the table on a drum. For a ten buck add-on you can take the bones as deep fried with chilli and onions (it’s worth it) to consume your whole bird. I haven’t had better, less oily whole duck in Sydney, even during BBQ King’s heyday.

While the market is undeniably Chinese, staff are very warm to other diners, keeping the Yanjing ($7) and Harbin ($7) beers flowing, and checking in about what we enjoy (which is actually everything). Double flavour prawns ($26.80) team mouth-numbing kung pao with “lemon custard” crustaceans. The latter is a lightly battered quality prawn with lemon sauce and mayonnaise that eats better than it sounds. Black fungus with vinegar ($10.80) is a good digestion aid, with toothsome fungi. For some greens, the fried pork with pan seared green chilli peppers ($22.80) teams thin bacon-like slices of pork with vividly green and fleshy low heat green chillies that have been lightly seared.

Even smashing back two bottles of Jiangxiaobai ($18) (Chinese vodka) with our bevy of beers, and eating to our full capacities, the three of us got away with paying about $80 each. As we navigated our way out of the restaurant, though wooden screens, fruit trees, and sculptures reminiscent of Mark Ryden’s work, I was already planning what to eat on...

... well I cant say nice things about the experience on this one.....

So my partner took me out for duck. Our total bill was 120

We was seated i requested not to be seated next to people as i was not 100 pct well . The place was empty they said sure no problem... the next customer that came in got sat right next to me.. Minor issue but thats where all the issues started

My partner ended up getting the 80 dollar duck talking in chinese to the waiter and confirming that there would be cutting at the table as a little display and show as a traditional chinese experience. They confirmed this

The duck was cut 4 tables away we didnt even notice they had started cutting our duck because they sat someone to close to us... mean while other tables that ordered the duck got a gong introduction and an explanation on how to eat The duck. And cutting right at there table

The experience was so bad that after initial order we realised they didnt ask us our drink order. We took 20 minutes trying to wave down staff to come to our table to take our drinks order .. I myself got very frustrated I ended up calling the front service desk and telling them i needed service. As the wait staff was ignoring me despite being 3 wait staff on the floor and maybe 4 customers total

I felt like being the only white guy there that they was ignoring me on perpous Only speaking chinese in service and directly at my partner never at or to me it felt very rasist and discriminating

As if this wasnt bad enough every single plate and glass we had. had chips out of it posting photos that was fun to take and laugh at how bad it was considering for 2 people it cost us over $120 dollar

The good The food was cooked. not raw i had never tried duck i though it was dry my partner said it was well over cooked....

Oh and apparently pop rocks are...

Seriously below the standard chinese food i have ever had! Very excited when you come in as their decoration and ambience is pretty good, but leave with a huge disappointment with the quality of food! First, when you had a seat, staff unattended, we’ve been sit there for half an hour, no one will come and serve you or make an order for you. It’s all right maybe just busy. Later on, we made an order for the crab meat with egg white, liver stir fried and other thing, oh my goodness, never had such bad chinese food from my heart. Liver soup is obviously not freshly made when you order, they must have a big tank of that and just get you a bowl when you order—- that is why the liver taste like a rubber not tender soooo overtook! I can’t ever find more than 5 pieces of liver in that soup! and all the five pieces are smaller than the fish food. Crab meat with egg white, suppose my favourite and they label themselves Beijing Cuisine, so crab meat with egg white should be like their famous dishes, however, they make you even disappointed by put the whole egg including the yolk and just cut small piece of crab and stir and mix, that’s all . Are you serious? are we stupid like we haven’t had this before or we don’t know how does it taste like? Strongly suggest this restaurant focus on how to improve the quality of the food provide not on making a scene like you are very demanding...