This is a restaurant that I remember going to with my family for a Friday night treat.
One of the first questions that people ask when faced with the word 'Cantonese' is 'What makes food Cantonese, rather than just 'Chinese''? Cantonese is simply the kind of Chinese food that has made it over with immigrants to the UK. So, that's sorted!
I'm on a date tonight. The decor hasn't actually changed in The Rainbow since the 80s when I used to come here. There are statues on guard near the entrance, and paintings and prints of landscapes and characters adorn the walls. There's a well-stocked bar to the front of the restaurant.
I find there are three types of Chinese restaurants: The cheap and cheerful ones which offer little more that take-away on a plate, the ones that have full, lavish menus with lots of variety and unusual food, presented immaculately, and ones that fall in the middle. The rainbow is one of the latter.
My Monk's Basket (A vegetable dish served in an edible bowl!) was novel enough and tasty. My date's Spicy Shredded Beef was balanced so as to be not too mild and not too hot. However, it was delivered to her in a rather abrupt fashion, almost skimmed towards her from a slight distance, like a tamer version of the cowboy bar trick. This was enough to create a bit of tension where my date commented on it and I was put in the awkward position of having to say something about it to the waitress.
Our minor altercation aside, the meal was tasty and filling. Though if you are used to the huge portions of rice given with take-aways be warned that here a portion of rice is of the smaller size, served in a small bowl.
In the spirit of things and with a Zen-like manner, I'm holding no grudge against the waitress-People do have off-days. The Rainbow offer good Cantonese food in surroundings that make the meal. Chopsticks away! read more