Fan's, Bridgtown

The warm welcome from the moment diners set foot through the homely front door is largely responsible for its impeccable reputation which has kept regulars going back for the last 20 years.

There are no guises - it quietly boasts being a fine restaurant with an emphasis on ensuring customers are happy and the food top-notch rather than on filling seats and getting as many people as possible in and out of the door.

Owner William Fan has been at the helm for the last two decades and his brother Jimmy Fan has been the restaurant's chef for the entire stretch.

I have never met a restaurant owner more passionate about his job than Mr Fan and his dedication to making each customer feel like a friend is admirable.

He is choosy about who he has in his restaurant and strives to achieve the perfect balance of clientele to ensure everyone has a good dining experience.

Mr Fan said: "A lot of restaurants have opened in the time we've been here and some have closed. A lot have to offer deals throughout the week such as two-for-ones to get people in, which I don't blame them for, but it is something we have not had to do.

"We have people come in, sit down and all they need to say is 'the usual' and we look after them.

"We know we owe a lot to the people who have stuck with us for 20 years and we want to look after them well."

The restaurant, which opened in 1986, is within a Georgian house on Walsall Road, Bridgtown, and retains a wealth of features including its 80-year-old staircase.

The owners have not given in to decorating trends and it retains its elegantly sophisticated decor that makes it instantly recognisable among customers who have visited over the years.

On a recent visit we were led to a large round table in a bay window overlooking the garden area and a vase of large fresh lillies on the next table gave a pleasant and relaxing aroma.

A variety of set meals for between two (£34) and five or more people are the jewel in the restaurant's crown as they feature some of the favourite dishes from the menu.

I started my meal with the satay chicken (£4.50) which was absolutely delicious.

Others in our group plumped for the crispy pancake roll with prawn filling (£4.50) which had a crisp, golden batter and the hot and spicy spare ribs (£4.50) which, unlike so many others, were surprisingly easy to eat with minimum mess.

The fried king prawns with pineapple (£9.50) caught my eye as a main course and a tangy sauce, generous helping of prawns and delicious large slices of pineapple made it a real treat.

My mom's special curry (£10) had a perfect balance of meats and vegetables so not to hinder the flavour and my dad's hot and spicy king prawns (£9.50) were delicious and certainly got the seal of approval.

My boyfriend's crispy roasted half duck, Cantonese style, (£11) was presented on a bed of refreshing lettuce and was cooked to perfection. Fluffy egg fried rice proved the perfect accompaniment to our main meals.

We all polished off our plates, leaving little room for dessert but liqueur coffees went down a treat.

Tucked away behind tall trees, it is easy to drive past Fan's Cantonese Restaurant without a second glance but people who do so are really missing out.

There is a reason it has managed to stay in the area for 20 years and still be a massive success.

It is no surprise it has such an army of fans who would not consider dining anywhere else on special occasions.

I would definitely recommend the restaurant.

ADDRESS

Fan's Cantonese Restaurant, Walsall Road, Bridgtown, Cannock

Tel: 01543 502080

By Michelle Pearson