Lunch Under the Eiffel Tower

Mom always insists on having tea wherever she goes. No problem, we booked a table at a Chinese restaurant online. Due to time constraints, most popular spots like Dragon Court, Tian Yi, and Zi Yi Xuan were fully booked. We ended up at Parisian Garden, a Black Pearl one-diamond restaurant. Well, it worked out since I hadn’t visited before. So, we decided to enjoy a lunch under the Eiffel Tower. We ordered a few dim sum dishes. The shrimp, scallop, and crab meat dumplings were half blue, half white, with golden edges—delicately crafted and luxurious. The filling was generous, as expected, and dipping them in a bit of XO sauce made them even more enticing. Another steamed dish was the Parisian Garden Crystal Blue Shrimp Dumplings, likely their signature item. Made with sashimi-grade blue shrimp, I’ve seen similar quality at 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana. The dumplings came in three different colors, beautifully shaped, and adorned with gold flakes—presentation was top-notch. However, the colored wrappers didn’t differ in taste, and the sticky texture of the dough made them a bit tricky to eat. The Swan Radish Puff was incredibly lifelike, with the "feathers" on the swan’s body being the most realistic I’ve ever seen. While the texture wasn’t the flakiest, it was still acceptable, and the sweet radish filling added a nice touch. Taro dumplings are my favorite, and the addition of abalone on top made them irresistible. Unfortunately, the abalone was slightly chewy, which affected the overall experience. The BBQ Pork Rice Rolls were made with Spanish Iberico pork, which isn’t new, but the addition of Japanese pickled cucumber brought a hint of tanginess that I quite enjoyed. The Crispy Almond Shrimp and Vegetable Dumplings were like an upscale version of potstickers. They retained the expected texture, with the almond flakes adding a flaky crunch and less oiliness. Combined with the elegant plating, they’re worth trying. Mom worried she wouldn’t be full, so she ordered a bowl of handmade spinach noodles in rich chicken broth. The chewy noodles and truly flavorful broth earned her high praise, calling it the MVP of the meal. For dessert, we kept it simple with purple sweet potato mochi. This dessert is always delicious, and its vibrant color and elegant appearance made it a satisfying end to the meal. Enjoying beautifully presented dishes under the Eiffel Tower was undoubtedly a luxurious experience. Restaurant Info: Parisian Garden 6th Floor, Eiffel Tower, The Parisian Macao