Chaotic Apéritifs

The second installment in Wong’s “Hidden Dishes” series (following The Nameless Restaurant), set in Toronto, continues the enchanting tale of a magical restaurant where Chef Mo Meng offers mouthwatering dishes for eager patrons. The story opens during a time of great change; the restaurant has been discovered by “mundanes,” mortals who aren’t members of the magic community but adore the food. Owing to the social media efforts of Kelly, the front-of-house manager and the sole employee, the place is busier than ever. Mo Meng is mostly accepting of these changes but still wants to carve out space for his old regulars. The story is more tension-filled than the first book, partly because of the visit of two agents from the Department of Supernatural Entities and a powerful magical visitor who has just awoken from a deep slumber. Emily Woo Zeller’s narration is delectable. She ably differentiates each character, offering a calm tone that still captures the story’s dynamic cadence.