/ Reviews / Southeast Asian
Straight to the 3.Top
by Steph Wy Ng
on Friday, September 04, 2009 12:00 AM
As a boy, Mr Li, liked to play in tree houses and so when deciding on a name for his new South Asian fusion restaurant, he returned to his childhood for inspiration. Disliking the name treetop, he plumped instead for the similar sounding, but more unique, 3.Top.
3.Top's sophisticated exterior design matches its interior: tree designs and motifs feature throughout the restaurant, including lime-green velvet chairs and sofas. The large balcony has access to the adjoining park and free parking is available here after 7pm. During the day, it's a great spot to watch the locals playing chess outdoors. After dark, you can enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the subtly lit balcony in the company of the stylish bar's excellent wine list.
The menu is extensive and initially a little overwhelming - ask the waiter for recommendations, otherwise you'll be pondering for ages. There's a brunch menu, offering Italian, German and Mexican cuisines (RMB88-128), and even specially created fare for kids (RMB48). The set lunch taster menus (RMB78-98) seem the same at first; however after careful inspection there are more choices depending on the menu you choose.
For drinks, the Fragrant Angel, a sweet combination of yoghurt, banana, mango and honey, and the Gorgeous Lady, a watermelon, papaya and aloe smoothie, offer refreshing non-alcoholic respite.
3.Top's chefs specialise in Indian, Japanese, Thai and Chinese cuisines, which is reflected in the pan-Asian menu. The Charcoal Boiled Tender Pork (RMB38) is a recommended dish with a sweet and savoury crispy finish. Something different is the Cantonese Herbal Soup with Pork Rib and Mushroom which is a pungent healthy broth served from a teapot (RMB42 per person).
For main course, there's a strong range of curry dishes (RMB42-78) - though give the Tandoori Lamb Chops a miss, given the price (RMB128) the meat should have been far more tender and tasty. The seafood is a much better option - especially the Deep Fried Sunke River Fish (RMB88). The crispy skin and succulent meat coupled with a light soy sauce make it a definite must-try.
The Bottom Line: Though the volume of South Asian dishes makes ordering a little daunting, 3.Top is a tastefully designed restaurant and bar in attractive surroundings.
