Indulgent Chinese Delights at Park Chinois in Mayfair
When spring arrives in splendour in London, it’s like a whole new world has opened up. People seem to undergo personality changes overnight (me included) and can’t wait to get out in the sunshine. London really sparkles under blue skies. So today was the perfect day to venture into Mayfair and treat ourselves to a special lunch at Park Chinois.
The affluent central London district is known for its elegant Georgian townhouses, luxury boutiques, exclusive hotels and top-end restaurants. It’s also home to beautiful Berkeley Square, which today was filled with happy people soaking up the sun. Our destination is in Berkeley Street, just off the square.
The iconic, large red door of Park Chinois is impossible to miss and sets the tone for what’s inside. The restaurant is decorated in stylish shades of red and gold inspired by the glamour of 1930s Shanghai.
The menu offers a range of Chinese specialities, and today our decision-making is made easier as we’re eating off the set lunch menu. It is particularly great value at just £25 a person – enough of a reason in itself to visit.
For this great-value price, we get to choose two starters, a main course and a dessert each. There’s a good dumpling selection, as dumpling fans, they’re impossible to resist. Shrimp wontons are luscious and juicy and served with plenty of savoury sauce, the Szechuan vegetable dumplings have a really chilli kick and the beef shumai are dense and meaty. We also can’t resist some crispy duck rolls, perfectly crispy with plenty of gorgeous duck filling. The set menu also includes a light and savoury broth packed with vegetables. All making for a great and substantial start.
For mains we love the Mongolian glazed king prawns – crunchy and tender at the same time with a delectable, spicy dipping sauce. And our final choice the Szechuan Kung Pao corn-fed chicken is packed with flavour, tender chicken and plump cashew nuts. We completed our main course selection with a bowl of simple, but tasty, egg fried rice.
Feeling somewhat replete, we went for the lighter pudding option – pistachio ice cream and mandarin sorbet. The perfect way to finish off our tasty lunch and celebrate the arrival of spring.
Words by Sandy Cadiz-Smith
Find out more at www.parkchinois.com
Park Chinois is at 17 Berkeley Street, London W1J
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