Silky Apple

Whether you’re a smooth operator looking for a place to convene for a perfectly romantic rendezvous, a family looking for a smooth spot to sit down and dine together, or a Melbourne city slicker looking to host a business lunch or function, Silky Apple has 30 years of hospitality industry experience and the Chinese cuisine to grease the wheels when it comes to good eats. BYO or order refreshments from Silky Apple’s ample cellars – they’re fully licensed – while you peruse the long list of traditional Chinese delights. Look out for special menus for special occasions, and let yourself be tempted by the lavish banqueting options at this hotspot down Armadale’s High Street.

There are more dishes on the menu at Silky Apple than you can shake a spring roll at. Entrees range from duck san choy bow through to steamed crystal prawn dumplings via beef and chicken dim sum and then you have the entrees – wasabi king prawns, Shanghai-style pork dumplings, fried quail with chilli and Chinese spices, and braised tofu with enoki mushrooms. Soups, rice and noodles, and dishes comprised of fish, calamari, scallops, prawns, pork and lamb, beef, chicken and duck round out the main courses, but it’s the house specialties you’ll want to indulge in. Silky Apple’s kitchen in Melbourne’s Armadale has an uncanny ability when it comes to Szechuan-style beef and barramundi, kung po chicken with cashews, barbecued pork with beancurd and, of course, Peking duck.

If your appetite isn’t already whetted, perhaps Silky Apple’s banqueting menu will when you’ve got a good excuse for a celebratory feast. This Chinese restaurant in Melbourne’s Armadale can hold up to 120 people in its spacious and elegantly outfitted premises along High Street – book it in part or in its entirety and indulge in a menu specially prepared by the expert team in charge. Four options are available, including a kiddie-sized banquet, two for two or more people and the most lavish for four or more. This latter begins with seafood san choy bow and a basket of mixed dim sum, classic Chinese chicken and corn soup before hitting winners such as Peking duck, tai chi prawns (for a meditative meal), chicken bird’s nest (ideal for lucky hen’s nights), black pepper beef fillet (another house special), special fried rice, Chinese-Singaporean noodles with banana fritters or fried ice cream to cram in at the end. Put it this way, you’re going to need the calmative effects of Chinese tea if you opt for this, and whatever way you choose to dine you’ll need to book ahead.