It’s Friday night and given I’m alone, I have the option of staying home and watching bad TV or brave the city and go solo. In a moment of confidence, I decide the latter and figure I’d try out Chin Chin, a restaurant everyone’s talking about and happens to be right near me on Flinders Lane. At 5:45PM, I’m still at work and mention to a friend that I’m going to head to this restaurant where I’m told there’s a kitchen counter which is perfect. She looks at me shocked. At first I assume it’s a pity shock, like a “you’re going ALONE?!”. Instead, she says “It’s 5:45PM, you’ll never get in now!”

Um, what?

She continues and explains that like many Melbourne spots, they don’t take bookings and people will line up from mid-late afternoon (mid-late afternoon!) to secure a spot at the new buzz place. She suggests I don’t even bother.

I leave work, still set on my solo dinner date plan and out of sheer curiosity I head to Chin Chin and there’s the line. At least 15 people deep and curling around the corner, I figure I’ll go through the motions and join the crowd.  They know they’re cool at Chin Chin – they expect this line, and have a light show projected onto the beautiful sandstone building across from the restaurant. I get to about 3^rd in line surprisingly quickly and overhear the maître d say casually, “table for 2? Sure! It’s about a two and a half hour wait at the moment so we’ll see you then”. The couple smile gratefully and after giving over the details happily walk out and begin their epic wait, apparently at the bar “Gogo” downstairs.

I have a date with a movie at the local cinema in an hour so as much as I want to try to place, there’s no way I’m waiting that long.  This is when I’m seeing the benefits of being alone though – i tell the man it’s just me and he says, very quietly, says “come straight in my dear” and ushers me straight to the bar in the middle of two couples.  Boom.

The place is so cool and it’s buzzing – I can see the appeal.

I look at the menu and its massive. I scan it quickly and realise it’s Thai…no Chinese…I mean, Indian. Hell, I suppose it’s actually Modern Australian! But the real modern Australian – it’s like the holy grail of Asian. You’ve got your Thai classics contrasted against contemporary gems with a side of quirk.

Chin Chin

I ask for a recommendation from the waitress who’s lovely and I order the Kingfish with lime, chilli, thai basil & coconut to start with some Sake.  I’m lucky I’m a chili fan because the kingfish packs a punch but it’s one of the best entrée’s I’ve ever had. It was like a sashimi with green curry sauce poured over with a hit of lime.  Amazing.  Next is chicken, sweet corn and shitake mushroom dumplings with spring onion and ginger dressing. The amazingness continues with this and when I’ve finished the dumplings, I’m left with a sauce in the bowl that I could drink! (which I do, as ladylike as I possibly can).

The downside of being alone is that was the end of the meal for me. The menu is designed to be shared and I vow to return with a crowd. Having said that, I also decide I will definitely go back alone and try to get through the A3 menu eventually!  I ask her for some recommendations when I come back and I jot them down on my iphone. A few seconds later the girl on my right turns to me and says , “are you a food blogger?”.  I explain that no, I’m just a lonely Sydneysider with a love for food.

chinchinrestaurant.com.au