High-end restaurants arrive in Macau casinos
A wave of long-awaited high-end Chinese restaurants have opened in Macau's casinos, writes Mischa Moselle
Perhaps only in Macau could it seem logical to spend US$14 million on a single restaurant - that's the investment in City of Dreams' Jade Dragon, which will officially open late next month.
The restaurant is the latest in a new generation of high-end venues in the territory. Restaurants are a way of offering a proposition that differentiates one casino resort from another. But the food is not just there to attract the gamblers. As Macau's government worries about diversifying revenue sources, casinos have found that the more dining tables they can offer, the more gaming tables they are allowed.
At one time, resorts planned to broaden their appeal with large number of restaurants offering regional Chinese cuisines. That has not happened but there are now several venues offering a variety of cuisines. The result of the resorts' willingness to spend is a large number of openings. Here are some of the better high-end experiences to be had by foodies visiting the city.
Where did that US$14 million go? The display plates, laid out at the start of the meal - but never to be used - cost HK$5,000 each, according to Kristoffer Luczak, vice-president of food and beverage at Melco Crown Entertainment, owners of City of Dreams. The restaurant's ornate murals were painted by two artists from Hangzhou. The venue, with its 11 private rooms, is on two storeys and an open kitchen takes up just over a quarter of the space. The restaurant has its own Chinese herbalist to concoct tonic soups.