Restaurant Review

Situated in the old "Calabash", or once-upon-a-time, the Longhorn Restaurant in Jubilee Hall in the Showgrounds, is one of the best kept lunch-spot-secrets in town. It's open in the evening, but no one seems to know that it's ALSO open during the day and the food is just as good.

There's nothing like a trip down memory lane, and I was very keen to see what the old Longhorn had turned into after eating there on a pretty regular basis over twenty years ago.

There's a very distinct smell of something delicious as one walks up the stairs and it's only after the meal is served with a variety of sauces that one recognizes the aroma of one in particular - the Sichuan sauce that many of the dishes are cooked in or served with. It's made from a mixture of black beans and spiced vegetables that look particularly non-descript but have an amazing taste when blended together. Sichuan food, according to the Manager, Mr. Liu, is one of four famous food schools in Chinese cookery that originated over 2,000 years ago. It is characterized by its strong hot peppery flavour and is known as "one dish one taste, hundred dishes, hundred tastes."

There is an excellent variety of dishes on the menu. Seafood is readily available and I had the most delectable butterfly prawns cooked in the Sichuan sauce and served on a bed of steamed noodles. Other specialities are Sichuan style chicken, beef, pork or calamari. We ordered a variety of dishes, including Sichuan style braised duck with a ginger sauce (deliciously spicy) and Gong Bao style pork (loved the name and it tasted pretty good!) . Prices range from K1,000 for a spring roll to K20,000 for a sweet and sour pork, chicken, prawn or beef dish with the trimmings. Excellent value we thought.

We have been there on three different occasions lately and it has always been quiet and peaceful and the service has been pretty slick. Masses of parking under the restaurant, or, if you have shopping to do at Manda Hill, it's within easy walking distance through the Showground gates.

There is no corkage fee so take your own wine if you're planning a lengthy lunch. The restaurant can cater for parties of up to 100 people. Book in advance by phoning 01 253-842.