Who would have thought a couple of years ago that along the dark, narrow streets south of Hollywood Road (SoHo), a flood of restaurants would suddenly appear? There is now enough variety that diners can eat in this area on a regular basis without getting bored. Coinciding with the handover (certainly this was no coincidence), Red Star Cafe joined the SoHo food scene as its newest addition on July 1.
At the entrance is a tiny bar, which sadly lies empty (no liquor licence yet). The walls are covered with announcements touting the merits of their own Red Star beer.
The dining area is only a few steps away, and a helpful woman in a dark Mao outfit leads customers to their table.
Two colours dominate the decor: light grey accented by bright red. The liberal use of stainless steel and grey textured walls gives a cold, minimalist feel that is further enhanced by silent televisions hanging from every corner.
Asian accents take the shape of bright red lamps on the walls and fans on the backs of the stainless-steel chairs; this contrasts sharply with the modern decor.
The menu boldly boasts of 'revolutionary Chinese cuisine' which attempts to fuse Chinese food with Western influences.
The menu is divided into five main categories: appetisers, crispy salads, noodles and stir-fry, entrees and steamers. There is also a small selection of side dishes and desserts.