Park Chinois

Weekend Chinese lunch in style

Madagascar Organic Prawn cooked in seafood stock

Lockdown no2 was short, but not dining out for a month is a pain for me. While stuck at home writing my must-visit list of restaurants to go to, Park Chinois was high on my agenda. This post marks my 10th visit to Park Chinois, this luxury fine dining Chinese restaurant is a personal favorite of mine. The cooking and the use of ingredients are exceptional, and easily is the best Chinese restaurant in London. For my 10th visit, I headed back for a lazy Sunday lunch, seated in the main dining room with lovely live jazz music playing in the background from a 3 pieces band. I had a selection of classic dim sum dishes, as well as some off the menu dishes that I was lucky enough to try.

Hokkaido Scallop Dumpling

Xiao long bao

Black Truffle, Crispy Beancurd Cheung Fun

Pan-Fried Black Truffle Bao

Truffle and aubergine tart

The lunch became a bit of a truffle party, I really enjoyed the rice roll which was filled with a crispy bean curd layer that wrapped in a very smooth rice sheet, topped off with shaving of truffle which delivered such an inviting earthy aroma. I always got a soft spot for xiao long bao and for me is a must-order dish when I have dim sum, and the Park Chinois' version was sensational. The pork filling was loaded with such an overwhelming level of umami joy, and the pastry layer was just thin enough to hold up. This was easily head and shoulder above Ding Ting Fong's xiao long bao. The diced wagyu beef egg fry rice with truffle salami was Chinese fry rice at the highest order. The wok aroma was great but not overpowering, and the lovely fattiness of the salami and beef spread evenly across the dish, with a hint of truffle flavour that balanced the richness, it was perfection. 

 

Supreme Seafood Dumpling

Wagyu Beef Bamboo Charcoal Bao

Wagyu Beef, Truffle Salami, Ginger, King Soya Fried Rice

Sweet Custard Bao

Park Chinois once again delivered a sensational meal, the food is always great, and the use of the quality ingredient clearly showed. I also like the fact the restaurant is adding a touch of the modern creative take on some dishes to offer something interesting, but always maintain the traditional Chinese cuisine element and stay true to it. The only thing that let the place down is the level of service, while it wasn't rude or clumsy, it does lack refinement and professionalism that make the restaurant truly special, and that might be the reason it is holding it back to gain a Michelin star.

Food 4.5/5


Average cost without drinks and services:
£80

17 Berkeley St, Mayfair, London W1J 8EA

https://parkchinois.com/