Located on the Venetian’s casino floor, this buzzing and popular northern Chinese restaurant has spacious tables and comfortable seating. North is dimly lit and the dark furniture is accented by the red decor on the walls, table settings and staff uniforms. The centre of the restaurant features the chefs hand pulling freshly made noodles and rolling freshly kneaded dumpling wrappers. What makes North unique are the sky-high ceilings, which are not often seen in traditional Chinese restaurants.

The menu features authentic traditional northern Chinese cuisine with a modern twist on dish presentation. The traditionally prized seafood items on the menu such as abalone and sea cucumber are very reasonably priced. However, to really get an item worth its value, be sure to order the Beijing-style crispy duck served with crepes and condiments. The crunchy golden skin is paired perfectly with the tender and juicy meat underneath. The crepes served alongside the duck are also hand-made in the restaurant and are slightly pan-fried before being placed on the plate. Another highly recommended dish is the old Beijing-style noodles with condiments that feature fresh chewy noodles served with the perfect amount of sauce and shredded vegetables for every bite to burst with flavour. Also a must-try is the fried long cabbage with aged Shanxi vinegar, which is seasoned with specks of chilli that give it a perfect kick to make your taste buds beg for more. This is in stark contrast to the mixed vegetable dumplings that had nearly no seasoning and needed a generous amount of the special sauce served with them to satisfy the palate.

The wine list is simple, but has some ultra high-end vintages from Bordeaux. Also offered are Chinese rice wines that go nicely with the dishes on the menu.

The waiters at North are friendly, helpful and enthusiastic about giving dish suggestions. They know the menu well, but as is sadly still the norm in Chinese restaurants, are not so helpful on giving wine recommendations to pair with the entrees.

A quality meal for two will come out to MOP300 a person, great value for an authentic northern Chinese experience.