Dragon Lady at the Pacific Explorer

Ahoy there, fellow foodies! Our gastronomic adventure aboard the Pacific Explorer continues, and this time, we’re delving into the enchanting world of Asian cuisine at Dragon Lady.

Stepping into Dragon Lady is like entering an exotic realm filled with the scents of Asia. Dark walls, Large Asian themed portraits, mysterious ambiance, and a menu inspired by our Australian love for Asian flavours await. This is the third instalment of our cruise restaurant reviews, following “The Waterfront” and “The Pantry.”

Let’s dive right into the highlights of this culinary escapade:

Massaman Beef Curry and Green Chicken Curry: These curries are flavour-packed delights. The Massaman Beef Curry offers tender beef bathed in a rich, aromatic sauce, with a perfect balance of sweetness and spiciness. The Green Chicken Curry is a fragrant, creamy masterpiece, featuring tender chicken and vibrant green curry paste. Both are must-try dishes for curry enthusiasts.

Ramen Fried Chicken: Imagine succulent chicken pieces coated in a crispy, golden-brown layer. This dish is an exquisite blend of textures and flavours, with the crunch of the fried exterior giving way to juicy, well-seasoned chicken inside. It’s comfort food at its finest.

Fragrant Mango and Prawn Salad: A harmonious combination of fresh, sweet mango and plump prawns. This salad offers a delightful contrast of flavours and textures, with the sweetness of the mango complementing the savory prawns. A light, refreshing choice to start your meal.

Seared Salmon Tataki: Simplicity at its best. This dish lets the quality of the salmon shine through. The salmon is perfectly seared, leaving it tender and slightly smoky on the outside while retaining its natural flavour inside. Clean and delicate.

Garlic Fried Rice: If you’re a fan of garlic, this dish is a delight. Reminiscent of Filipino sinangag, this fried rice is packed with robust garlic flavour. It’s a comforting side dish that pairs well with the other bold flavours on the Dragon Lady menu.

The Not So Good:

Chicken Ramen Soup: Unfortunately, this dish didn’t live up to expectations. It lacked the depth and complexity typically associated with a good ramen soup. The flavours fell flat, leaving it tasting rather bland.

Tempura Crusted Uramaki Sushi: This sushi option didn’t quite hit the mark. The rice was sticky, almost like a rice cake, which can be a departure from the usual light and fluffy sushi rice. Additionally, the filling was insufficient, leaving the overall taste underwhelming.

Matcha Green Tea Cheesecake: Despite its enticing appearance, this dessert didn’t deliver on the matcha flavour. The green tea essence was faint, and the dessert didn’t capture the true essence of matcha’s earthy and slightly bitter notes. Plus, the topping looks very un-natural.

Prawn Laksa: Laksa is known for its bold and complex flavours, but this particular rendition missed the mark. It lacked the expected spice kick and depth of flavour that makes laksa a standout dish. The broth tasted more like a simple, uninspiring soup.

The ambiance at Dragon Lady is something to savour. The dark, upscale theme sets the stage for a memorable dining experience. While service was mixed on our previous visits, our final session was exceptional, with a waitress who served with a smile and offered helpful insights into the menu.

Like “The Waterfront,” Dragon Lady rotates its menu every three days, offering two distinct sets. It’s an à la carte restaurant, allowing you to indulge to your heart’s content.

The rest of the dishes we tried

So, if you’re eager to embark on an Asian culinary journey while aboard the Pacific Explorer, Dragon Lady awaits with its sultry ambiance and a menu that promises a tantalizing night in the Orient.