FIVE-STAR Nanhai Hotel's Swallow Nest Restaurant is probably like none of the other restaurants in town. As its name suggests, it is situated on the top floor of the 10-story building, with three sides made up of French windows, overlooking the harbor of the South China Sea and much of the Shekou area.

Location, food quality and atmosphere are the three things Herman Lee, the hotel's food and beverage director from Hong Kong, listed to throw light on the restaurant's strength. "Everybody knows that Shenzhen is a coastal city. But in how many restaurants in town can diners get a sea view?" he asked.

Lee stressed one of the strengths in the restaurant's food quality was that it never used frozen seafood. "And we import all our beef," he said.

Maggie Luo, the public relation chief of the hotel, described the restaurant's atmosphere as both romantic and unique. "When night falls, candle lights are on the tables, while the sky outside looks somewhat purple. It is an ideal occasion to propose to a lady," she said.

A Mr. Zheng from Hong Kong has been a regular diner at Swallow Nest for more than a decade. He never minced his words when he found something not matching his taste. He said what made him come back again and again was that his requests could always be met in the restaurant.

An American, also a regular guest, who did not want his name released, happily remembered his successful proposal to his now Chinese wife. "Part of the reason for the success goes to the romantic environment," he said.

Swallow Nest is a little secluded as being set apart from the rest of the hotel. It is quiet and therefore oozes a tinge of privacy. Looking at its surroundings, you can immediately learn that it is an ideal place for private functions. Actually it has had many, such as executive conferences, weddings and training sessions from the various foreign companies across Shenzhen, according to Lee.

Feng Daming is the assistant executive chef of Swallow Nest. "Our food style is European continental," he introduced. A recent diner survey shows that the most popular food of the restaurant includes baked burgundy vineyard snails and baked lobster soup in pastry. Its menu also features such things as crabmeat cocktail, French onion soup, Caesar salad, grilled jumbo prawn in butter sauce and grilled lamb chops.

Adding to the luster of Swallow Nest is that Nanhai Hotel has just finished refurbishing its executive floor rooms. "We're the oldest five-star hotel in Shenzhen, 18 years old," said Luo. "Oldest for us also means foremost and best."

A tour of the renovated rooms can remind you of the rooms of the most recently opened five-star hotels in the city. "You know a coincidence is that the restaurant that the executive floor guests frequent most is Swallow Nest. Why? According to a French guest whom I asked, he said he found home there," said Luo.

 
Editor: Wings