Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 7 and Version 6 of Pearl Liang, W2 6EZ

Version 7 Version 6
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category='Chinese Food,Dim Sum,Featured Article,Restaurants'
category='Chinese Food,Dim Sum,Restaurants'
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host='213.165.225.132'
host='217.147.80.147'

Chinese restaurant in Paddington offering good quality dim sum. They do soup dumplings! (Although we missed out on these on our visit because I'd forgotten they're also called Shanghai dumplings, and so failed to find them on the menu. They are there, and they cost £2.50.) thelondonpaper suggests that dim sum is available in the evening as well as at lunchtime.

Unusually for a dim sum place, they offer a nine-piece dim sum taster platter (annotated photo) for just under £10, making it feasible to eat here alone or in a small group while still getting the chance to taste a variety of things.

We visited on a Friday lunchtime; we hadn't booked, but this wasn't a problem as there were several free tables. We ordered a dim sum taster platter apiece, and supplemented this with an order of chicken's feet and one of sticky rice with mixed meat in lotus leaf.

The taster platter wasn't bad at all, though it was composed entirely of steamed dishes — really, a dim sum meal should include both steamed and fried items, to give contrast. If I'd realised this before we ordered (which I should have, since the contents of the taster platter are listed on the menu), I'd have chosen more complementary side orders.

The only thing on the platter I really didn't like was the seaweed-wrapped glutinous rice, which was like some kind of greasy sushi; not good. The side order of sticky rice with mixed meat in lotus leaf was similarly greasy, and the small prawns in the "mixed meat" were overfried to the point of being hard. The steamed dumplings, though — pretty good, obviously freshly prepared, and with a very nice emphasis on vegetables. I think the spinach dumpling was my favourite, but it was a close call.

The service was neither notably good nor anything to complain about. The decor (not-brilliant photo) is very fuchsia and a bit glittery; they've done well to work around the lack of natural light, though. It's worth pointing out that the toilets are to be found out the back, through an unmarked door.

We paid £42 for an ample meal for three people, including service (which is automatically added to the bill) and limitless tea (which we were charged £3 for, unlike Dos Hermanos, who got it for free).

Worth another visit? Yes, if only to try the soup dumplings. And the taster platter would come in very handy for a solo lunch.

Getting here: Sheldon Square is a relatively new development behind Paddington station. Getting here can be slightly complicated, although it really is very close to the station. The easiest way is to start from platform 8 of the station (you won't need a ticket; there are no barriers to get onto this platform). Walk along the platform, go up the steps or ramp, turn right along the walkway, and follow along until you hit the canal towpath. (If you see signs in the station for the PaddingtonCentral development, that's what you're aiming for.) Turn left along the towpath and go along a bit until you see the sign for Sheldon Square; follow this sign (left between two tall buildings), then continue forwards and head down the steps into the grassy sunken amphitheatre thing; Pearl Liang is ahead of you on the other side of the amphitheatre.

Note that taxis often have trouble finding Sheldon Square.

Reviews:

Last visited Friday 27 July 2007 by Kake, ilmari, and hatter.

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