Bayview Court

Steamed Shredded Chicken w/Spinach Dumplings

Bayview Court Chinese Restaurant offers a wide range of items in its diverse menu. We wanted to try everything, but owing to limitations on stomach space, settled for some fried rice, a couple of entrees and a bunch of items from the Dim Sum menu. I highly recommend the Dim Sum here, which is reportedly very popular in general, for its quality and variety. I found the Steamed Shredded Chicken w/Spinach Dumplings particularly interesting, featuring four greenish dumplings, the spinach content defining their unique color. The Beef Shumai topped with shrimps, while more traditional, wasn't bad either.

Stir Fried Beef & Fresh Mushroom w/ Green Onion

The Stir Fried Beef & Fresh Mushroom w/Green Onion, served on a hot platter was, at the same time, a delight to the taste buds, with a brilliant blend of spices and sweetness. The hot yet sweet sauce brought about an unusual (in a positive sense) and unique taste.

Our second entree, the Salted Fish & Diced Chicken w/Eggplant in Hot Pot was a perfect example of a book that you wouldn't want to judge by its cover. I was skeptical at first, owing to the bland look, but as I dug deeper and the coconut sauce began to surface, I actually started to enjoy the flavor. Note that this being a Chinese dish, the coconut content obviously wasn't as prominent as what you would find in a South East Asian (read Thai) cuisine, but, while not mind blowing, it actually turned out to be a pretty good pick.

Salted Fish & Diced Chicken w/Eggplant in Hot Pot

Last but not the least, the Fu-Kien Fried Rice deserves a special mention. The rice comes with an assortment of seafood pieces drowned (yes, literally, as you can see in the picture) in a very good ginger sauce.

Fu-Kien Fried Rice

Not to tell a cautionary tale, but another thing that I feel should be mentioned is the service at Bayview Court. It isn't necessarily the staff's fault, as the restaurant is almost always packed at peak hours (an indication of how good the food is), but service can at times be rushed. We had barely sat down and were looking at the menu when we were approached by two different people asking us if we were ready to order. Near the end of our meal, while I was helping myself to the last bits of food, a waitress literally snatched the dish out of my hand in an attempt, perhaps, to wrap things up fast.

Overall, I would say the food at Bayview Court is pretty different from what I am used to as far as Chinese food is concerned. The tastes are quite unique and I will definitely go back, albeit the small glitches in service. 

www.bayviewcourt.ca
1070 Major Mackenzie Drive East
Richmond Hill, ON
905-770-8663, 905-770-8623

Restoran Malaysia

Located just north of Toronto, Restoran Malaysia serves artistic food in an artistic setting. I spotted this restaurant one day when the wife and I were in the plaza across the street. Craving flavor, we decided to give it a shot, and flavor we got. We had a Malay Kari, an order of Penang Gulai Nonya and an Indonesian Fried Rice, topping it off with some Mango Rice Pudding for dessert, all excellent choices.

The Malay Kari consisted of chicken pieces and potatoes cooked in a thick coconut sauce, while the Penang Gulai Nonya was a beef dish in a very spicy tomato sauce. As with most entrees on the menu, you can pick what kind of meat (or seafood) you want with your dish.

The highlight of the meal was the fried rice (shown in the picture), containing shrimp, shreds of chicken, mixed vegetables and topped with fried eggs and shrimp crisps. The wife, though, would argue that the Mango Rice Pudding trumped all, indicating that this place caters to the needs of those with a sweet tooth as well.

www.restoranmalaysia.com
815 Major Mackenzie Drive East
Richmond Hill, Ontario
905-508-1432