China Tang has an enviable reputation as one of London’s most glamorous and celebrity-filled Chinese restaurants, and it isn’t at all hard to see why. When you enter the establishment, the atmosphere is equal parts 30s Shanghai exotic chic and up-to-the-minute metropolitan style, with some quirky touches thrown in to surprise and delight, such as the recordings of actors reading poetry in the loos. The fabulous bar is also well worth a visit, to sip on a sumptuously prepared Singapore Sling or Pineapple Julep and cast an eye over the beautiful people around the place.
Nonetheless, this experience is very much about the food, as it should be. A couple of dim sum make an ideal bite to start, perhaps with a glass of Louis Roederer, as such dishes as prawn cannelloni and roast pork buns act as the perfect hors d’oeuvre to a memorable dinner. Depending on how experimental you want to be, either choose from chef recommendations such as suckling pig platter and salt and pepper lobster claw, or go for more familiar favourites such as excellently cooked stir-fried beef in black pepper and the set-piece favourite of classic Peking duck. Whatever you order, it’s sure to be excellent.
It’s also well worth venturing through the extensive wine list, which offers a superb selection of both Old and New World wines, and the ever-obliging sommeliers are on hand to guide you through the perfect bottle to accompany your meal. If you want to go somewhere and be made to feel special, China Tang is ideal.
The Dorchester Hotel, 53 Park Lane, W1. www.thedorchester.com/china-tang
