Perched on the fourth floor of Rupsha Tower at Banani-11, New Cathay Restaurant is the revamped edition or, one could say, resurrection of the restaurant much to the glee of its previous customers following a period when the popular eatery was closed.
Very chicly decorated with black marble floors and tables set apart spaciously, this place lives up to the expectations if one is looking towards some elegant dining. Warmly lit contemporary interiors accompanied by the soft murmur of conversation and the tinkle of cutlery add to the ambience and the experience.
Entering the restaurant, one is greeted by enthusiastic servers who will show you to a table and attend to you throughout your stay, remaining close enough to arrive at a call yet not intruding on your privacy.
New Cathay Restaurant still serves Chinese food as it used to prior to closing down, with the food coming from the kitchen of chefs whose hands have had more than 20 years of experience in the business.
“I always used to come to this restaurant and I have always loved the food here; I was really disappointed when they closed down. But, now it's good to have them back,” says Liza Ibrahim.
The menu boasts a collection of appetisers, soups, beef, chicken, prawn and fish dishes followed by the usual variety of rice and noodle dishes to go with the aforementioned. A little distinct feature of their menu is the spicy indicator beside items that are spicier than usual.
When starting your meal here do try the spring rolls, which are deliciously crispy and served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce and the chicken cashew nut salad which is accompanied by a hint of green, perfect for those who are not big fans of fried food.
One of the soups that should be tried out here is the sea-food soup and the lemon soup if you are looking for a little change from the usual corn soup. If you like your soup spicy, then the hot and sour soup will be something that you will love with chicken, tofu, bamboo shoots, egg and mushrooms, balanced with hot white pepper and vinegar. The fried rice at the New Cathay is good and conforms to expectations and industry standards. The quantity is enough to serve two if you are really famished otherwise it suffices for three.
For those who are into peanuts the Kung Pao will be a delight. Among the chicken dishes the Szechuan and Kung Pao Chicken are for spicy food lovers while the sesame chicken and lemon chicken go easy on the buds. A must-try here is the Hunan Beef teamed with broccoli.
The jade fish served at New Cathay is exquisitely soft and the sizzling squid is cooked just right and does not end up with a burned taste, a hitch that often occurs in sizzling dishes. Their cuttlefish and the chilli crab in red chilli pepper sauce are also worth a shot. Prawn lovers will definitely like the garlic prawn tossed in garlic sauce.
For vegetarians New Cathay has a separate collection of rice, Chop Suey and Chow Mein dishes along with Hunan and Szechuan vegetables among others.
Finally, if you are looking to have something different try New Cathay's Peking Duck which the restaurant has titled as its special dish. The Peking Duck has to be ordered at least 24 hours prior to your visit, so do remember to order early if you want it.
New Cathay stays open every day for lunch from 12pm to 3pm and for dinner from 6pm to 10.30pm and is located at House 72, Rd 11, Block D, Rupsha Tower (4th floor; beside Hot Breads), Banani Model Town, Dhaka. Call them at 0176 780 3333 and 9857023-4 for reservations, ordering and other queries.