Hainan chicken — it looks so bland and regular, I didn’t understand it at first. Knowing that Savoy Kitchen makes a killer Hainan chicken rice, I had to give it a try. But once I got to the restaurant, I was skeptical. Savoy, which for the most part felt like an Italian restaurant, did not seem like a place to get authentic Hainan chicken. I was wrong.
The Hainan chicken came out, and from the looks of it, it looked bland. The plate was white and beige, and lacked color. I surely did not eat with my eyes. Once I took a bite, I was pleasantly surprised. The chicken was moist and had a rich flavor. What makes this dish though, are the sauces. My favorite was the ginger sauce — it just went perfectly with the chicken. Mixing it with the soy sauce was good too. Taking a bite of rice and chicken with sauce was a perfect mix of flavors. Such a simple dish, but delicious.
The shrimp rolls were good too, but kind of small. It had a nice crunch and seafood flavor. Dipping it in the sauce was even better. I would order these again as they were a nice appetizer.
I was impressed with the creme brulee. I didn’t know Asian restaurants had creme brulee, but I must have forgotten that this was also an Italian restaurant. The dessert was perfect. The custardy inside was gooey. I love breaking that caramelized hardened top. This is a must get after a nice meal at Savoy.
In hind sight, this is a weird restaurant. It’s more of an Italian restaurant than anything else, but they serve some of the best Hainan chicken rice around. I don’t understand it — I just accept it. Don’t ask questions, clear your mind, and just eat. There is a wait sometimes, as the inside and outside seating is small and cramped. I am curious about their Italian dishes though. I hear good things.
