Had a couple of e-mails asking us to review their web site and restaurant. Seems like we are worthy of being asked.

Max is going to try the www.mexgrocer.co.uk web site as he is into his spicy Mexican food whilst I will pop into Zafari African restaurant over in Boscombe.

We'll let our readers see our comments once we are done. 

After reviewing the Ocean City restaurant for efnic.co.uk, I had been back a couple of times and the last time was after a couple of weeks working on a large government tender response. Not the most interesting of things I can tell you.

Anyway, by means of celebrating I went for some lunchtime dim sum and had a bit of a feast. Feeling a bit knackered after it all, the work and the food, I thought I could relax and prepare for our 10th wedding anniversary party.

However, at the first roundabout someone abruptly stopped just in one of the exits so I safely stopped behind him a bit puzzled as to why and then some 4x4 trundled into the back of my. Great, I thought. I've only had the cart barely two months and now this. The funny thing was, well ironic, well whatever, it was the restaurant owner.

Anyway, after getting a quote for a new bumper he has agreed to pay for my repairs. Sorted, and quickly.

So, all in all, good food and total customer service. 

There are not that many places I have found in Bournemouth and Dorset region that does authentic Chinese dim sum. Through growing up, Chinese dim sum has always been a Sunday afternoon affair with the family driving through to Newcastle, a quick hour eating steamers full of the little delights and plates of noodles and rich dishes.

In Bournemouth it is, or at least was, a different affair. When we first moved down in '96 it was all the run of the mill Chinese restaurants and their Westernised menus. It wasn't until Oriental Express opened that dim sum, such as fresh Har Gau, Sui Mai or Cheung Fun became readily available as a sit down restaurant. Oriental Express was more of a cafe but had a makeover and became a bigger restaurant, called Oriental Garden, albeit only slightly bigger.

Jump forward to 2007. On my drives to and from work I had seen a hotel on Christchurch Road being renovated and it had a sign saying that a new Chinese restaurant and hotel would be opening soon. A strange combination I thought. It was even more interesting to hear that it would be doing dim sum.

The place is called Ocean City Restaurant. 

Meg and Rich said they had been, once it had opened, and said they enjoyed it. I thought I would give it the efnic.co.uk test and see whether it wins our seal of approval.

I actually went two days on the trot. Please note that they only do the full dim sum menu up till 5pm. I went they during lunchtime on Friday and then on Saturday. The weekend is probably the best time to fir it in.

The real test is whether on Sunday afternoon it is full of Chinese families. Not been on Sunday yet, but it is always a good sign if that is the case.