THE owners of my chosen taste test restaurant probably chose the name because of its canalside location - Slow Boat neatly linking the gentle waterway and oriental food.
Having made an evening reservation based upon the recommendation of a friend my only concern was that the name was not going to reflect the speed of the service.
I was also blissfully unaware of how apt it was that I was taking my girlfriend to a restaurant inspired by the phrase taken from a 1940s romantic song - 'On a Slow Boat to China'.
First impressions can be deceptive as the Slow Boat stands in the less-than-romantic setting in the shadows of two large supermarkets and a car park.
The restaurant is within a modern red brick building with an oriental interior décor.
It caters for all kinds of clientele from business types to families and offers an extensive menu of Chinese cuisine.
The gateway to this Oriental indulgence is via a discreet archway and a side door entrance that leads upstairs.
Although the less than glamorous exterior may not shortlist it for an award in the restaurant vanity stakes, five minutes inside extinguish any concern, as a relaxing ambience and superb dining experience, awaits.
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