Fodor's Expert Review Le Mandarin

There's no mistaking you're in a Chinese restaurant at Le Mandarin, situated in the hotel of the same name, just a block from the Pape'ete waterfront. Walls are adorned with frescos of rural scenes including peach blossom trees, pagodas, and fire-breathing dragons, and the ceiling is hung with lanterns. The food's good, too, and fuses Chinese spices with fresh local seafood. Try the spiced lobster if it's on the menu, or the wok-tossed Tahitian shrimp. Duck with Marquesan kumquat and taro-stuffed pork are local twists on classic dishes. A live band plays on Friday and Saturday nights.