Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 11 and Version 1 of East Meets West, CR0 4NZ

Version 11 Version 1
== Line 0 == == Line 0 ==
Dongbei (North-East Chinese) restaurant in the Wing Yip complex in [[Locale Croydon|Croydon]]. It opened in late 2013. It also does takeaway, delivery, and online ordering [http://hungryhouse.co.uk/east-meets-west-croydon via Hungry House].
 Dongbei (North-East Chinese) restaurant in the Wing Yip complex in [[Locale Croydon|Croydon]]. It opened in late 2013.
== Line 2 == == Line 2 ==
[[Kake]] has visited a couple of times now, in the company of various friends. On a Saturday lunchtime in January 2014, it was almost empty when we arrived a little before 12:30pm, but an hour later it had filled up, though there were still a few free seats. On a Sunday evening in February 2014, there was only one other party when we arrived, and no others turned up while we were there. Music was playing on both our visits, not too loud, but a little cheesy at times (and bizarrely featuring Christmas music on our February visit).
 [[Kake]] and three friends visited on a Saturday lunchtime in January 2014. When we arrived a little before 12:30pm, it was almost empty, but an hour later it had filled up, though there were still a few free seats. Music was playing, a little cheesy at times, but not too loud.
== Line 4 == == Line 4 ==
Sliced potato with sweet &amp; chilli sauce (&#29079;&#25292;&#22303;&#35910;&#32114;; &pound;5 in Jan 2014) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12207641624/ photo]</small> was a generous portion, served cold and refreshing, with the potato retaining the crunchy texture characteristic of this dish. Another cold dish, preserved egg and tofu salad (&#36786;&#23478;&#30382;&#34507;&#35910;&#33104;; &pound;7.50 in Jan 2014) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12207217625/ photo]</small> was also nicely done, using a relatively coarsely-textured tofu to ensure that the flavourful sauce penetrated well.
 Sliced potato with sweet &amp; chilli sauce (&#29079;&#25292;&#22303;&#35910;&#32114;; &pound;5) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12207641624/ photo]</small> was a generous portion, served cold and refreshing, with the potato retaining the crunchy texture characteristic of this dish. Another cold dish, preserved egg and tofu salad (&#36786;&#23478;&#30382;&#34507;&#35910;&#33104;; &pound;7.50) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12207217625/ photo]</small> was also nicely done, using a relatively coarsely-textured tofu to ensure that the flavourful sauce penetrated well.
== Line 6 == == Line 6 ==
Moving on to hot dishes, stewed green pepper, potato, and aubergine (&#22320;&#19977;&#39854;; &pound;7 in Jan 2014) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12207812116/ photo]</small> had a richly savoury sauce, and lovely texture on the deep-fried potatoes, though the aubergines were perhaps verging on too soft. Fried pak choi with Chinese mushroom (&#39321;&#33735;&#27833;&#33756;; &pound;7 in Jan 2014) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12207227885/ photo]</small> was fine.
 Moving on to hot dishes, stewed green pepper, potato, and aubergine (&#22320;&#19977;&#39854;; &pound;7) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12207812116/ photo]</small> had a richly savoury sauce, and lovely texture on the deep-fried potatoes, though the aubergines were perhaps verging on too soft. Fried pak choi with Chinese mushroom (&#39321;&#33735;&#27833;&#33756;; &pound;7) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12207227885/ photo]</small> was fine.
== Line 8 == == Line 8 ==
Sauteed shredded pork with sweet and spicy garlic sauce and bean curd sheets (&#20140;&#37292;&#32905;&#32114;; &pound;7.50 in Feb 2014) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/12728208213/ photo]</small> was a savoury tangle of shredded pork in a dark sweet sauce, served on a bed of shredded spring onions with beancurd sheets to wrap it up in.
 Our sole meat dish, Sichuan shredded pork with spicy garlic sauce (&#22235;&#24029;&#39770;&#39321;&#32905;&#32114;; &pound;7.50) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12207608444/ photo]</small>, was sweeter and less spicy than it would have been at a restaurant specialising in Sichuan food, but nevertheless competently prepared.
== Line 10 == == Line 10 ==
Deep-fried lotus root with pork mince (&#34261;&#30418;; &pound;7 in Feb 2014) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/12728247683/ photo]</small> was delicious; served hot and greaseless, with a lovely crunchy texture from the lotus root. (It should however be noted that when ordered for delivery in May 2016, this came with a much thicker batter than previously, which in [[Kake]]'s opinion completely ruined it.)
 The staff were happy to give advice on which dishes were suitable for the vegetarians in our party. They were also careful to check that the non-Chinese members of our party had eaten preserved egg before. Our final bill <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12207182485/ photo]</small> including auto-added 10% service charge came to &pound;11.50/head, though we noticed later that they'd forgotten to charge us for two of our bowls of rice and one cup of tea, and hence undercharged us by a fiver.
== Line 12 == == Line 12 ==
Although the restaurant specialises in Dongbei food, it also does some Sichuan dishes. Of these, we've tried three: Sichuan shredded pork with spicy garlic sauce (&#22235;&#24029;&#39770;&#39321;&#32905;&#32114;; &pound;7.50 in Jan 2014) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12207608444/ photo]</small>, Sichuan chicken salad with chilli oil (&#21475;&#27700;&#40388;; &pound;7.50 in Feb 2014) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/12728545124/ photo]</small>, and Sichuan style spicy noodles (&#25812;&#25812;&#40629;; &pound;4.50 in Feb 2014) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/12728551854/ photo]</small>. These were generally competently prepared, but sweeter and less spicy than they would have been at a restaurant specialising in Sichuan food. The chicken was also lacking in umami, and the noodles were a little too soft and lacked sufficient chilli oil.
 [[Kake]]'s verdict: I already have plans to come back and try the rest of the menu &#8212; though this is partly because it's the only place in Croydon doing this type of food, and I've been missing having it locally since I moved here.
== Line 14 == == Line 14 ==
The staff were happy to give advice on which dishes were suitable for the vegetarians in our party. They were also careful to check that the non-Chinese members of our party had eaten preserved egg before. Our final bills <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12207182485/ photo from Jan 2014]</small>, <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/12728261283/ photo from Feb 2014]</small> included auto-added 10% service charge. Not counting drinks or service charge, and correcting for an undercharge in January 2014, our food came to &pound;10.50/head in January 2014 and &pound;15/head in February 2014.
 Child-friendliness: They have at least one high chair (which was in use during our visit).
== Line 16 == == Line 16 ==
[[Kake]]'s verdict: I've been several times now and have plans to come back and try the rest of the menu &#8212; though this is partly because it's the only place in Croydon doing this type of food, and I've been missing having it locally since I moved here. I think I'd stick to the Dongbei dishes on future visits, since I prefer my Sichuan food spicy.
 Accessibility: Step-free entrance to the Wing Yip building and the restaurant, and no steps inside the restaurant either. Can't remember if there was an accessible toilet, but it was certainly step-free to the regular ones.
== Line 18 ==
Child-friendliness: They have at least one high chair (which was in use during our first visit).

Accessibility: Step-free entrance to the Wing Yip building and the restaurant, and no steps inside the restaurant either. There is an accessible toilet and step free to the others.
== Line 23 ==
* Photos of menu as of January 2014: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12204684734/ p1], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/12204890746/ p2]
== Line 26 == == Line 21 ==
<div class="last_verified">Food last sampled by [[Kake]] and [[bob]], May 2016 (takeaway delivery). Last visited in person by [[Kake]], [[bob]], [[Ewan]], [[Kat]], et al., April 2014. Opening hours taken from takeaway menu collected in January 2014.</div>
 <div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]] et al., January 2014.</div>
== Line 28 == == Line 23 ==
category='Accessible Toilet,Chinese Food,Featured Article,Restaurants,Step-Free Access,Takeaway,Takeaway Delivery,Takeaway Order Online,Vegetarian Friendly'
edit_type='Minor tidying'
 category='Chinese Food,Restaurants,Step-Free Access'
edit_type='Normal edit'
== Line 37 == == Line 32 ==
major_change='0'
 major_change='1'

Dongbei (North-East Chinese) restaurant in the Wing Yip complex in Croydon. It opened in late 2013.

Kake and three friends visited on a Saturday lunchtime in January 2014. When we arrived a little before 12:30pm, it was almost empty, but an hour later it had filled up, though there were still a few free seats. Music was playing, a little cheesy at times, but not too loud.

Sliced potato with sweet & chilli sauce (熗拌土豆絲; £5) photo was a generous portion, served cold and refreshing, with the potato retaining the crunchy texture characteristic of this dish. Another cold dish, preserved egg and tofu salad (農家皮蛋豆腐; £7.50) photo was also nicely done, using a relatively coarsely-textured tofu to ensure that the flavourful sauce penetrated well.

Moving on to hot dishes, stewed green pepper, potato, and aubergine (地三鮮; £7) photo had a richly savoury sauce, and lovely texture on the deep-fried potatoes, though the aubergines were perhaps verging on too soft. Fried pak choi with Chinese mushroom (香菇油菜; £7) photo was fine.

Our sole meat dish, Sichuan shredded pork with spicy garlic sauce (四川魚香肉絲; £7.50) photo, was sweeter and less spicy than it would have been at a restaurant specialising in Sichuan food, but nevertheless competently prepared.

The staff were happy to give advice on which dishes were suitable for the vegetarians in our party. They were also careful to check that the non-Chinese members of our party had eaten preserved egg before. Our final bill photo including auto-added 10% service charge came to £11.50/head, though we noticed later that they'd forgotten to charge us for two of our bowls of rice and one cup of tea, and hence undercharged us by a fiver.

Kake's verdict: I already have plans to come back and try the rest of the menu — though this is partly because it's the only place in Croydon doing this type of food, and I've been missing having it locally since I moved here.

Child-friendliness: They have at least one high chair (which was in use during our visit).

Accessibility: Step-free entrance to the Wing Yip building and the restaurant, and no steps inside the restaurant either. Can't remember if there was an accessible toilet, but it was certainly step-free to the regular ones.

See also:

Last visited by Kake et al., January 2014.

List all versions