Wild Ginger

Ever-so-trendy Wild Ginger has recently seen Jeem Han Lock move into larger premises next to the concert hall, from its original Western Avenue site and achieve commercial success at the expense of what matters: the food. The vast, low-ceilinged, bar and dining room now extends over two floors, and there is no doubting the popularity or noise levels of the place. However a reasonable beef satay also next to it was served alongside a virtually inedible “Princes’ prawns”, marinated in galangal and coconut. The apparent speciality, “fragrant duck”, had four distinctly chewy Chinese-style steamed buns, and rather over-cooked duck that had too strong a flavour of star anise (10/20). Locals assure me that it was much, much, better prior to its move. Service was bustling but good.