Our selections came with potato (plain or nicely seasoned stuffed), a mélange of julienne vegetables and, on some plates, a lovely gingery Asian salad.

That Asian salad or even the old-fashioned iceberg wedge with blue cheese dressing would be prudent.

A quintet of shrimp tempura set upon a fantastic Asian noodle salad and garnished with deep-fried ginger slices was another seafood success.

The salads are a large serving size for this Sydney-sider and make for an ideal main - the grilled Asian salad is fresh and delightful.

On the other hand, the pith becomes sweet and intensely red; it can be eaten uncooked in this state, and is a popular ingredient in some Southeast Asian salads.

Witness the Asian smoked ostrich salad: thin slices of rosy meat with mango, fresh soybeans and greens in a red ginger vinaigrette.

A grilled hanger steak was tender and juicy but overwhelmed by its platemate, a soy-dressed Asian salad of hearts of palm, tomatoes, celery, radish and watercress.

Mix-and-match Pan Asian fare revolves around skewers, noodles, soups and Asian salads.

Add some rinsed canned beans, avocado slices, a tablespoon of feta cheese, and drizzle with a flavorful Asian salad dressing.

Calamari was beautifully presented but greasy; better are the meaty Peking duck wontons over an Asian green salad.