Orchids

As well as serving everyone’s favourite Chinese dishes in the sit-down restaurant section, the open plan venue also has a large bar stretching along almost half the building and a chilled-out seating area complete with leather sofas.

“I wanted this to be a combination of a bar and a restaurant,” says owner Ping Cheung, who opened Orchids in April.

“Not only do you get quality Chinese cooking, you also get a bar doing cocktails.

“I like socialising with my customers and the bar allows you to do that.

I want to build up a reputation for good food and good service in a good place.”

Orchids is also a commemoration of Ping’s father, who used to run a Chinese restaurant called Orchids in Brighton’s North Street, where a pizza restaurant now stands.

“My father had his first restaurant in Brighton,” says Ping.

“I always respected my dad, which is why I wanted to use his name and keep the family name alive.”

In terms of creating a relaxing environment, Orchids scores big.

Its white walls and big windows make the whole space feel airy and bright, and there is plenty of room both in the bar area and the evenly spread out restaurant section.

Anyone who loves Chinese food will be in heaven when they see the menu.

“The reason Chinese food is so popular is there are more than 5,000 dishes,” says Ping.

“We have tried to keep the menu familiar to English tastes, while taking dishes from Chinese, Pekinese, Hunan and Cantonese favourites.

“We are attracting customers of all ages, from the young to the old.”

Anyone who has tried the sweet and sour pork on offer on The Argus’s Dine For £5 menu will see the difference between Orchids and other Chinese restaurants.

While most sweet and sour sauces are bright orange, this sauce is translucent but high on taste and free from artificial colours.

Other popular favourites on the menu include Chinese staples lemon chicken and crispy duck in plum sauce as well as seafood dishes, including the steamed seabass which is available at the season price.

“We are frequently changing the menu,” says Ping.

“If you stay still, it doesn’t work – people always want new things all the time.”

The restaurant also does free delivery on food within three miles, for anyone who doesn’t want to head into Hove.

But any takeaway customers would be missing out on the bar, which mixes a selection of beers, ranging from Peroni to Tiger, with an extensive cocktail list.

“Everyone who comes here and has a Mojito says it is the best Mojito they have had,” says Ping.

“If customers don’t see what they want on the menu, our barman can make it.

He hasn’t been caught out yet!” Ping has great plans for the bar and restaurant, including the possibility of special themed nights.

“One of my staff suggested we do a Halloween night,” he says.

“When Chinese New Year comes, we will do a big menu and possibly some lion dancing too.

We have got lots of ideas.”

Sample the menu

Starters
Vegetarian spring rolls £3.95
Salt and pepper chilli ribs £4.95
Steamed scallops £7.20
Quarter aromatic duck £8.50
Chicken and sweetcorn soup £3.50
Hot and sour soup £3.95
Main dishes
Chicken in black bean sauce £6.95
Lemon chicken £6.95
Fried shredded chilli beef £7.95
Peppered sirloin steak £8.50
Sweet and sour prawns £8.50
Prawn curry £7.95
Seafood asparagus £7.95
Chinese roast pork £6.50
Pork knuckle £9.95
Deep fried beancurd £5.50
Fried vegetables with egg £6.95
Aubergine in spicy sauce £6.95
Side dishes
Steamed rice £2.70
Egg fried rice £3
King prawn fried rice £5.95
Selection of set menus from £11.95 per head
Cocktails from £5.95

Open noon to 12.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday