10/2005

Open: Sun - Thurs 11.30am - 11.30pm; Fri & Sat 11.30am to 12 midnight.

Café Opium (the smaller new incarnation of the former Opium Den) does a good value a la carte menu (which includes some of the Opium Den old favourites) and an inexpensive Café Opium Express Selection.

The a la carte menu is extensive, featuring freshly roast duck, char siu and roast pork prepared on the premises (none of your prepacked frozen reheat versions) and a daily slow-cooked Chinese soup (very good for the balance of ying and yang in one's constitution).

The Express menu starts at £5.20 for a straightforward main (eg. sweet & sour pork with rice). Unlike other lunchtime offers, which can be a little restrictive in terms of choice, a wide range of noodle and rice dishes is available here.

The best thing about about the place is that it is open all day, and you can choose whether to enjoy a relaxed meal or just to drop in for a quick, inexpensive bite in the attractive contemprorary Chinese surroundings.

Teresa Leong