Asian-fusion has always had a place in the hearts of Cantabrians. We're always pretty eager to savor the finer tastes of the east (especially when they one-up the flavours of the greasy local Thai takeaway). Indochine was first of this kind on the Christchurch market, but has somehow lost it's cache over recent years with the arrival of Moji and Chinwag, both of which remain bustling day in and day out today. Silk Road is a new contender to the Asian-inspired scene, situated on the corner of High and Manchester Streets. It has a similar decorating theme to the others; textured wallpaper, buddha motifs, leather stools, intimate lighting – but the similarities stop there. Silk Road in Chinese in influence, with the owners having more than a passing interest in Eastern culture. After travelling through the likes of Tian’an Men Square, Forbidden City , Confucius Temple, Lama Temple, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs and the Great Wall, they have returned to Christchurch aiming to bring some of the unsampled tastes of the Orient to New Zealand.
The main difference I notice between Silk Road and it's Canty counterparts is the presence of light. Yes, folks, Silk Road is aimed at daytime patrons as well! While the interior emits warmth and intimacy, the restaurant is basked in sunlight every hour of the day – and the large bi-folding doors and windows don't try to hide any of it. Sure, I love a cosy quiet bar, but when it's 3pm on a Sunday sometimes all you want is a cool glass of wine and a little sunshine on your face.
I was therefore pleased to see that Silk Road is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, every hybrid meal in between, offer a huge bar selection and even act as a coffee mecca. Phew, these guys are busy. Needless to say, there isn't one aspect of hospitality that Silk Road don't offer – and they offer it all every day of the week (another super-ceding feature to Silk Road over its competitors).
Dinner on a Wednesday night was a quiet affair, but Silk Road is so well laid out that it only needs two full tables to make the place feel buzzing. With casual dining at high chairs available on the bar side, and fireside traditional seating through the interconnecting vestibule, I liked being given the choice of atmosphere for my dining experience. After just seconds at Silk Road, I'm privy to several offerings of brilliant service, something which continues throughout the night. Indochine could certainly take a few tips from these folks.
Passing on the large selection of delectable looking tapas, ranging from Mongolian San Choi Bow (juicy wild pork) to coriander Japanese prawns (all of these small bites are around the reasonable $12 range), I went straight for my main. I ordered the lemongrass pasta, which is a fresh linguine made especially for Silk Road. Folded in chilli-infused olive oil and tossed with parmesan and corriander, this is a nice light option for a pasta dish with a lot of vegetables. It has a reasonable amount of chicken for just $21.50, but next time I'd probably ask for extra. I order the wok-fried vegetables and chilli jam in addition to my main ($8.50), which were crispy and healthily done on a wok, definitely my kind of side.
My waiter is friendly and knowledgeable about everything on the menu, a great change from the “I haven't tried it but heard it's, uh, really good” schoolgirl remark I often getting when enquiring at a lot of Christchurch restaurants. He recommends the sticky rice pudding ($12.50) for the vanilla cognac sauce, but as I was after something lighter I went for the licorice and basil ice-cream with edible flowers and a special order of the vanilla sauce on the side ($11.95). This ice-cream, my friends, might just be the best I've ever had. Ever. I've tasted a lot of ice-cream (having a particular affection for the gelato bars of Sydney), and the deep, chewy chunks of licorice juxtaposed by the sweet hint of basil made this dessert the highlight of my meal at Silk Road.
For a great morning, afternoon or evening out, Silk Road is a must-try for anyone with a love for Asian flavours and fantastic service. Open every day until late, and located in the heart of the fashion district at 215 High Street.
By Lee Suckling - Christchurch
