Palms invites Cathay House in to keep customers
The Palms is near Cathay House, one of the most popular dim sum restaurants in town.
That's convenient for Palms guests who also are dim sum fans. It's not so convenient for Palms' restaurants. So owner George Maloof, tired of watching his customers leave the property to eat, did the only logical thing he could. He brought Cathay House to the Palms.
About two months ago, Cathay House opened as part of the hotel's cafe.
"We've been getting more of the Asian market," Maloof says. "We noticed they were all going across the street to eat instead of staying with us. They want to play with us and we didn't have the restaurant for them. It was as simple as that."
A portion of the cafe, about 120 seats, is exclusively Cathay House seating. Dim sum is served on rolling carts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. After that, dim sum is available from the kitchen.
Diners can sit anywhere in the cafe and order dim sum and Chinese food, Maloof says, but the carts deliver only to the Cathay House dining area. About 90 percent of Cathay House's menu is available at the Palms, including traditional dishes such as Peking duck ($39.95 for a whole duck, $19.95 for half), sizzling frog hot pot ($15.95) and chicken chow mein ($8.95).
Dim sum is a lot like Chinese tapas. Chinese dishes are served on small plates. It is the most popular dining option at Cathay House, Maloof says.
"I never realized how popular it is," Maloof says. "It's insane. Trust me when I say this, we have not had one slow day."
The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Specialties: sea bass congee, $12.95; Cathay House supreme hot pot, $28.95; salt and pepper pork chops, $9.95
Soups: salted duck egg tofu with pork soup, $9.95; wor won ton soup, $9.95; West Lake beef soup, $8.95
Appetizers: spicy chicken feet, $8.95; chicken with lettuce wraps, $8.95; fried shrimp balls, $6.95; pot sticker, $5.95
Dim sum: crystal shrimp dumpling, $2.88; pork and shrimp dumpling, $2.88; stuffed bean curd skin, $2.88
Information: 990-8888
