[Review] Curry Table at the Governor’s Residence

We arrive early to wander through the beautiful grounds and distinguished buildings. A wooden walkway leads you between pools, with classic colonial designs and architecture along the way. I had always heard that The Governor’s Residence was the best place to stay in Yangon and yet I was still impressed by its grandeur.

We follow the guiding hands of the smiling staff up the stairs to their restaurant on a large and elegant deck, putting us amongst the trees. The Burmese Curry Table dinner special is full and bursting of authentic foods from all around Myanmar. Each ethnic group contributes dishes to the spread, served up by the 21 cooks in the kitchen that play cuisine ambassadors. 48USD gets you all your appetite can handle and free flow draft beer and tea.

A tray containing this week’s drink special comes across as a tropical beach resort in a martini glass. Fresh-cut fruit float within, adding to the taste while concealing a quite potent gin. A string quartet plays softly while we contemplate what to eat. Tender river prawns? Baked sea bass with tamarind sauce? Red Snapper with any of the local sauces? Mango mutton curry, butterfish curry, crab-meat curry or any of the other curries in this incredible plethora? Should I go back and dig into the traditional salads, or head over to the Shan noodle stand? Should I just skip these and try out those coconut square desserts? The options were overwhelming, so we tried them all. Throughout all the diversity of the plates, one thing connected them all: superior quality and taste. Five stars deserved.

As we sat and digested over a Governor Collins (Tom Collins inspired drink using a three-week long infusing process with lime leafs), the wind picks up and the rain comes down through the trees. We sit comfortably as each sense is fully satisfied and thinking: You don’t come to the Burmese Curry Table for the food, for the drinks or for the service. You come for the whole experience that The Governor’s Residence is so famous for providing.

Type of food: Burmese
Price: Top end
Address: No.35 Taw Win Road, Dagon Township
Telephone: (+95-1) 229860
Website: www.governorsresidence.com