Harden's survey result
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Summary
“Never failing to impress my Chinese wife or anyone we invite here” – this “very professional and impressive” 8th-floor operation is not only one of London’s very best Chinese dining rooms, but – “despite being in a hotel” – it also manages not to be blighted by its “stunning views” (“go in daylight to get the best of the panorama over Kensington Gardens”). “If you want excellent dim sum or Peking duck look no further”: the food is “fresh and totally engrossing” – particularly the wood-fired duck which is “incredible” – and “given the quality and freshness of the ingredients it is money well spent”.
Summary
“Sensational views” set the scene at this “very plush” 8th-floor dining room, bordering Kensington Gardens, which – with its “fantastically fragrant and subtle” Chinese cuisine – offers one of the capital’s best all-round experiences. Top Menu Tip – “the absolutely delicious, wood-fired Beijing duck is a must!”
Summary
“Peking duck to die for”, “fantastic dim sum”, and “a superb panorama as a bonus” – that’s the “rare combination” at this 8th-floor dining room overlooking Kensington Gardens, which – as one of London’s top Chinese destinations – breaks all the rules for rooms with a view.
Summary
“The best Peking duck ever, plus breathtaking views over Kensington Gardens” – the potent recipe for success at this “exciting” 8th-floor dining room – one of London’s foremost Chinese restaurants, and all the more remarkable for “breaking the rule that rooms with views are always dire!”
Restaurant details
Min Jiang, The Royal Garden Hotel Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Excellent Peking Duck and the stunning view over the park make this place a real star. Otherwise the food is good but not exceptional and the atmosphere is slightly spoilt by having hotel guests treating it as though it were a coffee shop."
Harden's says...
Min Jiang W8
A grand Chinese restaurant, with impressive panoramic views of Kensington Gardens and, in the distance, of many of London's major landmarks; duck, served three ways, is the house speciality, but we think the dim sum a more reliable, and better-value, attraction.
They make a big deal about duck at this smart Chinese restaurant, on the tenth floor of a modern Kensington Hotel. Such a big thing, indeed, that they ask you whether you'd like to order one (or, perhaps a half) when you book. Here's a word of advice: don't.
Not that there's anything wrong with the duck, you understand, just that they make such a song and dance of it that you can't help noticing that - even if it is carved at your table, and presented in three services, one of which is classic pancake style - it's not really quite worth all the fuss that goes with it.
Avoid the duck, though, and this is a really good all-round destination of a type you don't find many of. Especially if you go for the lunchtime dim sum, which are both tasty and extremely good value. We're not talking Chinatown prices, of course, but you do get one of the best restaurant-views in London thrown in. Even on gray days, there's a sort of watercolour charm about the distant prospect of almost all the central buildings of note. Service is charming too, and the décor veers just on the right side of glitzy.
At the moment at least, the place still seems a bit of an undeservedly hidden secret. Among those who have sniffed it out, though, there seem to be a lot of orientals, which is encouraging. What the remaining diners have in common is that few of them seem to be Londoners. Which is shame, as - for a family celebration lunch, say - this place is hard to beat.
We haven't been by night, but we'd guess that, in the evening, the window seats would be well suited to romance too.
2-24 Kensington High St, London, W8 4PT
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Opening hours
LUNCH 12.00 - 15.00 | DINNER 18.00 - 22.30
Last orders: 10 pm
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