Low on frills and high on freshness and flavour, Macau is an authentic Chinese restaurant on Belfast’s Ormeau Road which has been going strong for almost a decade. It started out as one room and has since doubled in size due to its popularity.
Fairly run of the mill in terms of décor, it sports silver flocked wallpaper and a massive painting of a Chinese temple; there is muzak playing and the lighting is nice and low. So far so familiar.
The Chinese staff have been there for ages, so they know their regulars and are welcoming to newcomers. They show you to your table immediately, take the drinks order and remind you it’s cash or cheque only.
The menus are handed to you straight away along with complimentary prawn crackers, chilli oil and a delicious garlic/ginger minced paste. They also bring a fresh carafe of water with lemon.
Macau’s real USP is obvious as soon as you notice how good the flavours are and how authentic the dishes are. Although there is no mention of local suppliers or provenance, the menu is very firmly rooted in the food that Chinese people eat.
It’s well presented into easily definable sections and the chef favours hotpots like monkfish and ginger and steamed fish like turbot and sea bass (there are seasonal prices for the steamed fish).
All of the usual offerings are there, but house specialities like monkfish hotpot and aubergine stuffed with prawn paste are well worth trying. Presentation is rustic-style, piled on the plate - the emphasis is on freshness and flavour, and the rice is generous and wonderful.
Kids are not catered for, unless they want smaller portions of the dishes on offer. It’s a little pricier than other places, but it’s worth it for the fantastic fresh food; there are no generic sauces and the service is excellent. It’s BYO (there are off-licences close by) and the £2 corkage goes to charity.
