When you first enter Yuan, you immediately notice the strong influences of Chinese design played out in the balance and harmony throughout the architectural and interior aesthetic. There are two seating areas–a step up style, also known as Principal House where Chinese nobility sat and ideal for larger groups, and the other with an atrium courtyard with a more sunny feel to it.

Merging the bold flavors of China’s Sichuan Province with a unique contemporary twist, Yuan’s Friday brunch is served directly at the table in elaborately designed portions of dim sums, Eastern-inspired salads, and authentic Chinese rice, noodles and wok styled dishes.

We began with flavorful Steamed Assorted Mushroom and Vegetable Dumplings and a bamboo basket of Steamed Barbecue Chicken Buns; these were a nice juxtaposition of sweet caramelized onions and barbecued chicken filling. The Crispy Shrimp Dumplings were delicate in flavor, set off by the pungency of the accompanying Wasabi mayonnaise. And the Crispy Chicken Salad with Pomelo in Mango Plum Dressing had a nice Chinese twist to it with strips of crunchy fried chicken alongside the salad leaves.

Other must-try dishes from their brunch menu included an almost too pretty to eat colorful fish, prawn, and vegetable steamed dim sums in shades of pink, maroon, and white. The Stir Fried Turnip Cake in Spicy King Soy Sauce was one of the best vegetarian dishes I have ever tried and gave a twist to an otherwise ordinary vegetable. The Braised Bean Curd with Mushroom and Vegetables was also rich and hearty and went well with the Yang Zhou Fried Rice. The San Bei Chicken Clay Pot was strips of tender chicken nestled in chili, spring onions, and basil and packed a nice punch. It went well with steamed rice and the basil’s flavor created a unique note.

Our desserts were authentic Chinese and my favorite was the Baked Hong Kong Egg Tart—or small egg tarts in a flaky pastry. The egg flavor wasn’t too overpowering and it gave off an almost creamy, flan flavor. For mango lovers, there is the Mango Sago with Pomelo, an almost soup-like dessert with a satisfying texture that was super refreshing for the warmer weather. And lastly, a huge hit among all of us was the Butter Cake Roll. This was not your usual Western cake, but steamed to perfection cake rolls that had just the right amount of sweetness. The best part of these desserts was they satisfied my sweet tooth but unlike their Western counterparts, only hinted at notes of sweetness and weren’t at all overpowering.

The Verdict: Yuan hits all the right notes with the superlative elements of a perfectly authentic Chinese brunch: quick service, an expansive brunch menu, not to mention a very hip and cool ambiance.

Contact: Yuan at Atlantis The Palm 04-426 2626