Review of Chinese restaurant Miss Song’s in Townsville

This Queensland restaurant’s duck pancakes aren’t served traditionally but these ones are just as good – and the rest of the out-of-the-box menu delivers, too.

“You’re so dexterous,” I exclaim in awe to Peter, our waiter at contemporary Chinese restaurant Miss Song’s at The Ville in Townsville.

Never before have I seen someone fill and roll up a duck pancake one-handed using just a fork and spoon.

But Peter performs the masterful technique like a magician with equal amounts of precision, skill and wonder.

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As we watch on, he informs us that the duck pancakes ($38) aren’t served like they would be back in his Chinese hometown where just the skin would fill the crepe, but Australian-style, with luscious, tender duck meat clinging to the lacquered skin alongside battens of cucumber and spring onion and a smear of hoisin sauce.

While perhaps not 100 per cent authentic, they are terrific, especially with an extra swipe through the sauce.

Duck pancakes at Miss Song’s.

The specialty is just one of many on the extensive menu that covers starters such as san choi bao and crabmeat and prawn curry fritters; dumplings and steamed buns, soups, live seafood from the tanks, and mains like kung bo chicken, barramundi and wok-fried scallops with broccoli, ginger and shallot.

Har gow prawn dumplings ($14) are pulled from the steamer in front of us by Peter, the dumpling skin glistening underneath the modern, elegantly appointed restaurant’s moody lighting. They pop with sweetness in the mouth, with the quality of the prawns evident.

Then arrives the crispy eggplant ($13) - lightly battered battens of the silky-centred vegetable doused in a rich and unctuous seafood sauce.

Prawn har gow at Miss Song’s.

Rock lobsters in the tank behind our cosy, circular booth, cooked with your choice of sauce, appeal, but we go with Peter’s pick of the scotch fillet hotplate with Cantonese sauce ($36).

The north Queensland-reared beef fillets cut like butter, with the sweet, sticky sauce bringing the traditional flavours of China to the dish.

Pair it with the Miss Song’s fried rice laced with prawns, scallops and lap cheong sausage ($22) and you’ll be lucky if you have any leftovers for a doggy bag.

Sizzling beef at Miss Song's.

Deep-fried ice cream holds a mandatory place on the dessert menu, alongside the likes of banana fritters and warm apple and ginger pudding. But you’ll be hard pressed to fit in something sweet thanks to beyond generous portions. The restaurant does offer half servings though.

While many Chinese restaurants fail with the wine, at Miss Song’s they take their vino seriously, listing wine matches below many of the dishes.

The classy interior at Townsville’s Miss Song’s.

Although the overall offering sticks mostly to popular labels, the food pairing is smartly done.

There is also an adventurous cocktail list for those put in the holiday mood by the restaurant’s view of the pool, boasting signature Chinese-inspired blends such as a Shanghai Shake and Hong Kong Spice Trade.

Classic cocktails and a variety of mocktails are also available.

Staff know who I am, so I am well looked after, but no more than any other guest, with the affable and charming team well-trained and knowledgeable.

While Miss Song’s offers Australian-Chinese classics like sweet and sour pork and lemon chicken, move outside the box. You’re sure to enjoy it.

MISS SONGS

Address The Ville, Sir Leslie Theiss Dr, Townsville

Phone [phone]

Web the-ville.com.au/dine/miss-songs/

Open daily from 5.30pm

VERDICT

Food 7.5

Service 9

Ambience 8

Value 7

OVERALL SCORE 8

Miss Song's, The Ville, Townsville.