Flame

Dining in a casino may sound like a bit of a gamble, but The Casino at The Empire is a glitzier affair than most &, as well as its shiny gaming areas, there are four bars & two restaurants. FuLuShou is the more casual dining option, serving a pan-Asian menu of dim sum & noodle soups, while the global menu at Flame, a dimly lit spot of twinkling chandeliers & shimmering wall features, is more ambitious. Starters such as prawn cocktail, tuna sushi & creamy sweetcorn chowder with fresh crab are executed well, but mains less so: nicely pink seared tuna was overwhelmed by its accompaniment of sauteed chorizo & a tender piece of beef seemed lost amid its many garnishes. Service is similarly mixed: sweet natured but somewhat clueless. All in all, Flame is a decent dining option for its location, but punters are only likely to visit if they’re also there for a flutter.