So, I’d been hearing whispers about this dim sum spot in Mayfair for a while. You know how it is, people say “Oh, you must try it,” and eventually, curiosity just gets the better of you. Mayfair, though, always makes me think twice. Fancy, and usually a bit of a hit on the wallet, if you catch my drift.
Anyway, a mate of mine was in town, and we figured, why not? Let’s give it a go. Getting a table wasn’t too bad, actually. Called them up a few days before, and they slotted us in for a weekday lunch. Probably easier than a weekend, I reckon.
Getting There and First Impressions
Made our way over there. Mayfair is Mayfair, isn’t it? Lots of shiny cars and expensive shops. The restaurant itself, well, it looked the part. Very sleek, very modern. Maybe a tiny bit… sterile? But clean, definitely clean. The staff were all very polite, a bit formal, but efficient. Showed us to our table pretty quick.
We sat down and had a look at the menu. It’s not your everyday local dim sum prices, that’s for sure. But then again, we were in Mayfair, so we sort of expected that. The menu had all the classics, plus a few things that sounded a bit more “fusion” or “gourmet.” We decided to stick mostly to what we knew, with one or two adventurous picks.
The Main Event: The Dim Sum
So, what did we get? Here’s a rundown of some of the bits we ordered:
- Har Gau (Shrimp Dumplings): These are always my benchmark. And they were good. Prawns were chunky, wrapper was nice and thin. Thumbs up for those.
- Siu Mai (Pork and Shrimp Dumplings): Also pretty solid. Good flavour, nicely steamed. No complaints there.
- Char Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Buns): These were… okay. The filling was decent, but I’ve had fluffier buns, if I’m being honest. Not bad, just not amazing.
- Cheung Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls): We went for the prawn ones. The noodle was smooth, sauce was good. A decent effort.
- Some fancy mushroom dumpling: This was one of our “adventurous” picks. It looked very pretty. Tasted alright, but I think I still prefer the classics. Sometimes simple is best, you know?
The tea they served was lovely, kept it coming too, which is always a good sign. Service was attentive; they cleared plates quickly, topped up water, all that jazz. You couldn’t fault them on that front.
So, Was It Worth It?
We ate, we chatted, we enjoyed the food. It was a nice experience, no doubt about it. The quality of the main dim sum items, like the har gau and siu mai, was definitely there. You could tell they used good ingredients.
Then the bill came. Oof. Yeah, it was Mayfair prices, alright. It wasn’t a shock, but it’s the kind of bill that makes you think, “Okay, this isn’t an every-weekend kind of place.” More of a special occasion spot, or if you’re really looking to treat yourself (and your bank account is feeling healthy).
Overall, I’m glad I went. It’s good to try these talked-about places, see what the fuss is about. The food was mostly very good, the service was excellent. Would I rush back? Maybe not immediately. There are other dim sum places that I love, which are a bit more down-to-earth and easier on the pocket. But for a posh dim sum experience in a fancy part of town? Yeah, it ticked that box. It was a good day out with my mate, and sometimes, that’s what matters most, isn’t it?