Review: Simon’s Peiking Duck Restaurant – Blackburn / Box Hill South

Simon’s Peiking Duck Restaurant
197b Middleborough Rd
Box Hill South, 3128
(03) 9898 5944
www.simonpeikingduck.com

Between this year and last, I’ve eaten more Peking Duck than I ever have in a lifetime.

And I couldn’t be happier.

But when word got out that Simon, the Duck Nazi who was previously the mastermind behind the peking ducks at Old Kingdom had set up his own restaurant, I was immediately raring to go.

The restaurant itself has a nicer and cleaner fit out than Old Kingdom. It does boast the round tables that I so adore, but they have no eftpos or credit card facilities. And there’s no ATMs either on that strip of shops, so bring cash and be prepared. The dinner session is split into two: 6pm session and 8pm session. On the day I went, the 8pm session was full but the 6pm session had at least 3-4 tables empty. But which lucky person finishes work before 6?

The service was a bit on the not-so-good side. Possibly the lack of English fluency had to do with it but it took 3 waiters/waitresses before the message that we’d like to order was conveyed across. But that was the only frustrating bit of the night. Once we got the service to understand that we were hungry and wanted food, they were quick with bringing it up.

I was quite impressed when I noticed that Simon himself was servicing the floor. He came to our table and demonstrated how to wrap up our pancakes to form the peking duck roll, and then proceeded to distribute the duck skin amongst the diners. Except it was done with quite a flourish and who knew dead and cooked duck could fly? He pretty much frisbee’d the duck pieces to each diner’s plate and didn’t miss a single one. Colour me impressed!

And how was the duck? Hands down, the BEST in Melbourne. And having gone through multiple #duckfest, that’s a huge claim. But it was juicy, it was succulent, it was tasty, it was mouth-watering and it was incredibly appetizing. Oh lord help me but I’m drooling just thinking about it and I’d love me some duck right now

We ordered 3 ducks between 9 people, but I reckon we could have up’d it to 4 ducks and still be able to devour everything. The pancake was impossibly thin and yet it was so soft and had a good bite to it. How do you do it, Simon? I’d love to know!

If I had to complain, then I’d say there’s a tad too much meat on the duck pieces. The aim is to eat the skin after all, so why so much meat came with it?

The soup, unfortunately was nothing to write home about. It was pleasant, but nothing mind-blowing. The noodles were handmade noodles but you are given the opportunity to pick the noodles of your choice when you order. These were nice. The noodles had a good bite to them and it tasted good. Still nothing mind-blowing but definitely more memorable than the soup.

Overall, it was a really pleasant night out. I don’t actually know what else is on their menu – if there’s anything else on the menu. But why would you go to Simon’s restaurant and not order peking duck? He is the Duck Nazi after all!

If you have the chance, do head over there. Remember to place a booking tho – and to bring cash!