Lunch @ Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant

The deal: This stalwart Cantonese establishment has been dishing out scrumptious Chinese plates since 1995. It’s won a slew of awards and is a regular haunt of society’s elite. With its glitzy rep and prime location on Orchard Road in the Marriot Hotel, dinners here can be pretty pricy. So going for the $68 (seven courses) and $88 (six courses) executive lunch sets is a great way for plebs to get a taste their fine fare.

The venue: Always busy but never rowdy, the restaurant—outfitted with cushiony walls—boasts great acoustics: It’s the perfect spot for an intimate tete-a-tete. The space also includes a number of tables in cozy little alcoves, which feel real comfy and private. The main dining room is swanky, featuring a dramatic gold and black color scheme, artistic calligraphy on the walls and antique displays.

The menu: The $68 set starts with dim sum (think delicate siew mai, golden barbecue pork pastries and deep‐fried shrimp rolls) crafted by Hong Kong native chef Chan Lam Pang, while the $88 option includes luxurious creations like chilled premium abalone with century egg, and braised superior shark’s fin with crabmeat and conpoy. Everything is elaborately and beautifully plated, and feels fit for imperial royalty. It’s a great experience for the price.