Chinese food is superb in Singapore; but to upgrade its excellence, the PINE COURT is currently "importing" cooks from Hong Kong. The best in the world, according to the gourmets ! 
The dinning itself, as huge and impersonally luxurious as a top class chinese restaurant has to be, has its proper style. Fully booked the day of our visit, with an active and friendly staff slaloming between the large tables, it gets a warm and authentic Chinese atmosphere. A lot of local guests, indeed: proof of authenticity. Some foreign businessmen also, who certainly came here for the prestige of the place. A lot of celebrities visiting Singapore also drop by regularly.
We started with DEEP FRIED SEAFOOD ROLLS, much richer thought not much more expensive (SN$3.50 per portion) than the ones available from the street stalls in Bugis. We advise you to have their delicious PAN-FRIED BEAN CURD SKIN WITH SHRIMP ROLLS which, in the same range of much affordable price, offers a gourmet pleasure one would just find in a three star Michelin restaurant in Paris ! These appetizers are listed in the "Dian Xin" express menu, together with the STEAMED CRYSTAL CHIVES DUMPLINGS and the STEAMED SCALLOPS WITH PRAWN DUMPLINGS, we also warmly recommend.
Chinese like soups; we too ! Mostly when it comes to the aristocratic BRAISED SHARK'S FIN SOUP WITH CRAB MEAT AND ROE, a real delicacy enjoyed on special occasion. We were once more surprised by the price: SN$25. We paid more in Bangkok, reputed to be a cheap destination, for a meal with the same name but not the same savour at all.
When it comes to seafood, do not hesitate and have their SAUTÉED PRAWNS WITH SPICY SAUCE. Take, at least, a medium portion (SN$38): as they are simply superlative. This was actually the course we preferred. The giant prawns were al dente: the texture being as important as the taste (a perfect one !) for the real Chinese gourmet. Extracted from their aquarium, they are cooked alive with some honey and black pepper. A curious mixture, which tastes like Cognac: strange and palatable, indeed. Prawns are treated quite well also, together with squids, with the more popular though fine CRISPY EGG NOODLES WITH SEAFOOD (SN$27 for a medium portion).
Meat is also excellent. Of course, it is difficult to miss the TRADITIONAL BEIJING DUCK SERVED WITH HOME-MADE CHINESE PANCAKES. This is kind of a show to see the cook coming by your table with a trolley, and prepare the whole duck (SN$50) according to the rules. First of all, the well roasted and crispy skin is removed carefully. Then, the skin is rolled inside what they call pancakes, but which actually rather looks like the Greek Pita bread. Much enjoyable: both for the eyes and the palate. Then, the duck meat is chopped, and served with some sunflower seeds. That wonderful specialty can be enjoyed as a main course: a duck can generously accommodate four hungry people. Another alternative is the MARINATED BACKED LAMB, prepared just like in Beijing: well grilled, and crispy. A medium portion is SN$30.
We know they serve the most prestigious wines and Cognac, but we preferred to enjoy the all lunch with a selection of their best teas: the Chinese way !
As a dessert, you can either try that very special CHILLED HERBAL JELLY, extremely popular in Singapore. We had a lot of it during our stay, and this strange thing (half dessert, half drink...) could be enjoyed by some of you... They also have DOUBLE BOILED BIRD'S NEST WITH ROCK SUGAR: an expensive (SN$50) "delicacy" we successfully succeed to avoid during our multiple visits to Chinese restaurants. As one already understood, we are not fond of Chinese desserts ! We preferred to have an Italian ice-cream (prepared by a French chef) at the TOP OF THE M, the unique revolving restaurant in town. From the 39th floor of the MANDARIN SINGAPORE, we could enjoy our dessert and our expresso while discovering a dramatic panorama over a city which, after all, looks greener than one could imagine from the ground. The Indonesian islands are not that far, and we can see Malaysia quite clearly. Just for a coffee or, better, for a romantic dinner, it is worth visiting the place.
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