LOCATIONMelbourne CBD.
PROFILED BY GROOTS MEDIAThere’s something very reassuring about Bamboo House. After all, it’s one of the long-running successes in Little Bourke Street. There isn’t much to see from the outside, apart from the big black door surrounded by cuttings of the restaurant’s namesake. Mirrored glass affords diners privacy from passers-by on the street, making it a firm favourite for corporate lunches. There is a certain elegance that presides over Bamboo House, though it isn’t a terribly formal restaurant. The interior is predominantly white and black: tables set with white cloths and paper overlays, dark bentwood chairs, a bold red painting on one wall and a marble topped bar. Delightful morsels including noodles, buns and spices are the hallmarks of northern food. Some of the most tempting dishes on the menu at Bamboo House are the spring onion cakes, the pot-sticker dumplings and spicy braised bean curd. Even simple dishes like steamed oysters are superb here. One thing you must try is the wonderful tea-smoked duck served with steamed buns, but be warned – it’s addictive. The waiters are also more than happy to suggest some dishes and you should take their word – these guys know what they’re talking about.
Rita Erlich, May 2008