Hyde Park Corner, Chinese Restaurant Guide

“Gorgeous” decor taking inspiration from 1930s Shanghai (particularly in the marvellous, small cocktail bar) has always won admiration for this deluxe basement (originally created by the late Sir David Tang). When it opened in 2005, it was a pioneer of serving dim sum at any time of day, but there’s also a full menu offering blow-out dishes to share for £200-£300 including Peking duck with caviar, suckling pig, abalone and seafood hotpot. Complaints about pricing were absent this year, and praise for the cuisine and “romantic” atmosphere on the up.

2021 Review: The very acme of dining glamour when it opened in 1968 – the late Sir Terence Conran once hailed it as a breakthrough in restaurant design – this expensive Chinese stalwart in Knightsbridge is now showing its age. “I used to love this place but the food is now old-fashioned and hasn’t kept up with the times” is the politest of the last survey’s feedback. Other reporters are blunter: “remarkable it continues to have any customers…”

“We went there a mite apprehensive that we would be overwhelmed by pretension… but the dining rooms are beautiful!” – Samyukta Nair’s Shanghai-inspired two-year-old occupies a three-story Mayfair townhouse decorated in an elegant, classic style based on a fictional ‘Empress Mimi’. The chicness of the surroundings helps compensate for some “slightly overpriced” dishes, as does the generally excellent level of service. Top Menu Tip – “the fabled Peking duck is one of the best in town”.