Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine London

 The hallmark of fine Cantonese dining

Dim sum feast

Thanks to Government's Eat out to Help out support, to offer diners 50% off (up to the value of 10 pounds) for any eat-in meal in August, I have taken the advantage to dine more often than usual. In August, I visited Imperial Treasure twice, once for its dinner for its legendary Peking duck, and the second time for a full-on dim sum lunch experience. On the back of COVID 19, I wanted to dine in a restaurant that can ensure safety and enforce social distancing. As much as I love some of the venuses in China Town, it just doesn't seem safe for now with tables so packed to one another, the no booking policy for lunch hours is also a minus for me. I was willing to pay a little more and Imperial Treasure fits my requirement perfectly. Below are some of the highlights from my 2 visits.

Beef Shank with Five Spice & Pig’s Shank with Rice Wine

Honey Glazed Iberico Char Siu Pork

Cantonese Roasted Duck

Signature Peking Duck

Sautéed Eel with Pepper and Black Bean Sauce

Lobster, Braised Noodle with Ginger and Spring Onion

The restaurant is famous for its Peking duck and I have written about it a few times already in the past. However, the Cantonese style roast duck is just as good, and at a far lower price. The skin was crispy with marinated to perfection, and the meat was super tender and every part falls off the bone wonderfully, it put Four Season China town's version to shame. The sautéed eel was just as good, the meat was very moist and sweet. The robust and bold taste of the black bean sauce offered a layer of richness that further uplifted the sweetness of the eel. Dim sum wise, the wagyu beef puff was baked masterfully, very buttery with a rich, savory filling, but doesn't fill oily at the same time. The steamed charcoal bun is another signature dish of the restaurant and is easy to understand why... the sweetness of the custard and the saltiness of the cured egg yolk strike such a fine balance, it was sensational.

Xiao Long Bao

Wagyu puff

Crispy Lobster Beancurd Roll

Braised Noodle with Mushroom and Truffle Oil

Charcoal custard bao and red date cake

Mooncake

Both visits have showcased the true hallmarks of fine quality of what Cantonese cooking is all about. None of the dishes I have encountered are creative or groundbreaking, just classic Cantonese dishes, done it a fine manner using good quality ingredients. For sure, the restaurant charge super-premium price and some might question the value for money factor. After eaten there 6 times, I found that there are questionable dishes that should never warrant such a sky-high price for sure, but there are also some truly fabulous dishes, such as the Peking duck and the poached chicken in spring onions.

Food 4/5

What I paid:
£46

Average cost without drinks and services:
£80

9 Waterloo Pl, St. James's, London SW1Y 4BE

http://www.imperialtreasure.com/uk/