Posh Chinese restaurant in that London?

bakerlonglegs

bakerlonglegs

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Hello Southeastern folkies,

Please may I ask for your collective advice? I need to book a Chinese meal for a big group for my parents 60th wedding anniversary and they want to go to London. It’s kind of central for everyone. Yes, I will trawl through Tripadvisor but I never know if you can trust the reviews on there and I’m up in Retford so too far to pop in and try it out. Please can anyone recommend a posh Chinese there from experience?

Many many many thanks :beerjug:
 
Have to say, there isn't one - that I have found.
 
theoneandonly said:
i seduced a woman after taking her here , https://www.goodearthgroup.co.uk/?modal=locations it wasn't cheap 20 years ago.
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I have been there a couple of times (on co. expenses I hasten to add) taking out customers. Absolutely excellent…..don’t know if it is still trading.
I remember (vaguely, there was a lot of alcohol involved) starting with the astronomically expensive lobster starter. A little later, my MD turned up from a meeting he had to attend with another co. as we were on the desert course and he ordered another couple of lobsters as he had missed out. It wasn’t as good 2nd time round in the same sitting.
Excellent venue though. Service was exemplary.
 
There used to be a good floating one called the Lotus next to Harbour Exchange Square which could cater for large numbers. Perhaps the local experts could comment? The company i worked for used it a lot as we had offices in Harbour Exchange.
 
Not posh at all, but to seat a massive group, Phoenix Palace might be an option.
It’s in Marylebone station.
 
Question one? What is a big group? Ten, 20, 40 or more?

Question two: Chinese is a meal best shared, for which a round table is best. That aside, round tables are always best, for social gatherings. Hence question one.

Question three: Is everyone’s idea of a good Chinese, a bowl of rice, sweet and sour chicken, three prawn crackers and a round of crispy duck?

Question four: How much do you want to spend and where in a huge city?

My favourite and it’s been open for years is Hunan, in Pimlico. But when I go I am generally not paying and I wouldn’t go there if a lot of people expected to answer “Yes” to question three. That said, for a special event meal (call them up) they may well pull all the stops out and suggest something pretty interesting…. For a sizeable bill.

At the other end of town, as it were, is Yi-Ban, close to the City of London airport, which is good for big groups. Busy (usually) at weekends and can be empty mid-week.

Chinese is odd, really, not least as the ‘best’ restaurants can be very regional (ie no sweet and sour chicken). My two favourites were: Tai-Pan in Limehouse (good all round, no nonsense run-of-the-mill) now gone and the City Fiends, now gone, too. I hear some good things about Cloud Land in the City but haven’t been.

PS Good Earth, mentioned above, is good, too….. though pricey. That said, the menu is pretty much ‘safe’. It might well be the best suggestion.

But good Chinese (as opposed to the one on the corner of most High Streets, with their safe menus) generally are expensive, especially in London. Soho, for all it’s touristy wonders, can often be just gloopy shite.

PPS My favourite, almost run-of-the-mill menu wise, is out on the north north east corner of London, in Brookmans Park. Oddly, if I were having a social birthday, I might well go there and drive. It’s called, China Red. Well run and very popular.
 
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Wapping said:
Question two: Chinese is a meal best shared, for which a round table is best. That aside, round tables are always best, for social gatherings. Hence question one.
Click to expand...

No it's not. It's best when you order what you want to eat and no fucker else gets any. If they want something they order it.
 
Wapping said:
Question one? What is a big group? Ten, 20, 40 or more?

Question two: Chinese is a meal best shared, for which a round table is best. That aside, round tables are always best, for social gatherings. Hence question one.

Question three: Is everyone’s idea of a good Chinese, a bowl of rice, sweet and sour chicken, three prawn crackers and a round of crispy duck?

Question four: How much do you want to spend and where in a huge city?

My favourite and it’s been open for years is Hunan, in Pimlico. But when I go I am generally not paying and I wouldn’t go there if a lot of people expected to answer “Yes” to question three. That said, for a special event meal (call them up) they may well pull all the stops out and suggest something pretty interesting…. For a sizeable bill.

At the other end of town, as it were, is Yi-Ban, close to the City of London airport, which is good for big groups. Busy (usually) at weekends and can be empty mid-week.

Chinese is odd, really, not least as the ‘best’ restaurants can be very regional (ie no sweet and sour chicken). My two favourites were: Tai-Pan in Limehouse (good all round, no nonsense run-of-the-mill) now gone and the City Fiends, now gone, too. I hear some good things about Cloud Land in the City but haven’t been.

PS Good Earth, mentioned above, is good, too….. though pricey. That said, the menu is pretty much ‘safe’. It might well be the best suggestion.

But good Chinese (as opposed to the one on the corner of most High Streets, with their safe menus) generally are expensive, especially in London. Soho, for all it’s touristy wonders, can often be just gloopy shite.

PPS My favourite, almost run-of-the-mill menu wise, is out on the north north east corner of London, in Brookmans Park. Oddly, if I were having a social birthday, I might well go there and drive. It’s called, China Red. Well run and very popular.
Click to expand...

Thank you for all your advice! Much appreciated. Agree Rich, years ago I was a more frequent visitor to Chinatown and it usually was the same safe gloopy stuff as you say. Some answers:
Q1: 10 to 12 people.
Q2: agreed, round would be best but not essential, the family are into the whole sharing thing (sorry EPG!).
Q3: a bit more refined than that. Mum & Dad have been going to Chinese restaurants since I was a lad and spent time out in HK for work so do know their stuff. Plus this is a big occasion (dunno whether they will see their 70th anniversary :() so want to choose wisely.
Q4: gooood questions. Where in London - say within Zone 2. That Brookmans Park option is a good shout but changes the whole plan. Budget £100-£150 a head all in.

Will take a look at all suggestions and thanks again for the advice :beerjug:
 
Decompressing said:
Wong Kei in Wardour Street, Soho is good for creating the right impression with your family..... if you do go, do let us know how it went! :ROFLMAO::LOL::ROFLMAO::LOL:
Click to expand...
'how many', 'upstairs' is the usual opening conversation. Last time I went in a group of 10 they refused to take an order, 'sit down, we bring food' was the only option. Plus plenty more surprises if you do venture there :censored:
 
Wapping said:
Question one? What is a big group? Ten, 20, 40 or more?

Question two: Chinese is a meal best shared, for which a round table is best. That aside, round tables are always best, for social gatherings. Hence question one.

Question three: Is everyone’s idea of a good Chinese, a bowl of rice, sweet and sour chicken, three prawn crackers and a round of crispy duck?

Question four: How much do you want to spend and where in a huge city?

My favourite and it’s been open for years is Hunan, in Pimlico. But when I go I am generally not paying and I wouldn’t go there if a lot of people expected to answer “Yes” to question three. That said, for a special event meal (call them up) they may well pull all the stops out and suggest something pretty interesting…. For a sizeable bill.

At the other end of town, as it were, is Yi-Ban, close to the City of London airport, which is good for big groups. Busy (usually) at weekends and can be empty mid-week.

Chinese is odd, really, not least as the ‘best’ restaurants can be very regional (ie no sweet and sour chicken). My two favourites were: Tai-Pan in Limehouse (good all round, no nonsense run-of-the-mill) now gone and the City Fiends, now gone, too. I hear some good things about Cloud Land in the City but haven’t been.

PS Good Earth, mentioned above, is good, too….. though pricey. That said, the menu is pretty much ‘safe’. It might well be the best suggestion.

But good Chinese (as opposed to the one on the corner of most High Streets, with their safe menus) generally are expensive, especially in London. Soho, for all it’s touristy wonders, can often be just gloopy shite.

PPS My favourite, almost run-of-the-mill menu wise, is out on the north north east corner of London, in Brookmans Park. Oddly, if I were having a social birthday, I might well go there and drive. It’s called, China Red. Well run and very popular.
Click to expand...
Yi ban is indeed good, jnice location once you get there. Been for a wedding there. Loads of different food not seen on many menus. But we weren't paying..
 
The Wong Kei when in London on business when I used to work for a living. It used to be quite basic but I believe it's had a facelift. Then on to the Tatty Bogle Club. Happy times.

Wong Kei
020 7437 8408
41-43 Wardour Street, London W1D 6PY

https://g.co/kgs/yCQBjXq
 
adventuredon said:
still isn't cheap! The knightsbridge one is between sloane street tube and Harrods. Just opposite the Natural History museum..
Click to expand...

Your compass needs recalibrating, :D
Decompressing said:
Wong Kei in Wardour Street, Soho is good for creating the right impression with your family..... if you do go, do let us know how it went! :ROFLMAO::LOL::ROFLMAO::LOL:
Click to expand...

Eating in Wong Kei used to be hilarious.
But they had a makeover.
The staff are no longer extremely rude, just indifferent, and the food (no one ever went there just for the food :D) isn’t as good.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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