Harden's survey result
For 25 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. This year diners have submitted over 60,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK.
Summary
“Fast paced, seductive, club-like” – these “wonderfully vibey” operations may be “so busy and very noisy” but have founded a global brand on the strength of their “feel-good” ambience and “brilliantly executed Chinese/pan-Asian cuisine”. However, even some fans concede that they can also seem “hideously expensive” and “brusque” service (“we were kept waiting, only then to be hassled to order or risk being kicked off the table at the end or our 2-hour slot”) is a perennial gripe. Top Tip – “Their Dim Sum Sunday is exquisite”.
Summary
For a “classy” night out, these “noisy”, “nightclub-style” operations (the seeds of what’s now a global brand) have a huge reputation, with their “clever Chinese/pan-Asian” cuisine and “theatrical” Bond-lair styling. “Eye-popping” bills and “up-itself” service have always been hazards here, but accusations that they are “over-hyped and ridiculously over-priced” grew this year.
Summary
“Dark”, “seductive” and “very sexy” styling – “like a nightclub” (and with “loud” noise levels to match) – provide a “funky” backdrop to a meal at these “dramatic” venues (the cradle of what’s a growing global franchise). Though “not cheap”, the Chinese cuisine’s “top notch” too, especially the “superbly original” dim sum.
Summary
These “dark and brooding” nightclub-style haunts “elevate westernised Chinese food to a new level” – despite their crowds, noise, “snotty” service and “out-of-this-world” prices, they are the bedrock for what’s now a growing global brand; “to avoid a second mortgage, check out the extraordinary dim sum at lunchtime”.
Restaurant details
Hakkasan Restaurant Diner Reviews
"It hasn't changed since it opened, but still manages to exude a chic and moneyed aesthetic which, together with the slick service, is what many of the diners are seeking. Whilst varied, with the exception of the delicious duck salad, many of the dishes lacked the full flavour demanded of top notch Asian cuisine. The additional insult were the astronomical prices. Okay to attend for a showy off night out, but the culinary experience can be found elsewhere for better value."
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Opening hours
lunch noon - 3.15 pm, Sat 4.15 pm, Sun 4.45 pm dinner 5.30 pm - 11.15 pm, Fri-Sat 12.15 pm
Last orders: 11 pm, Thu-Sat midnight
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