Lazy summer afternoons in the city are always a lovely thing. Except they're rarely actually lazy in London since it's always so bustling and lively. A year ago the wife and I decided to take advantage of the nice weather to have a stroll around Knightsbridge (inevitably ending up with shopping) and through on to Hyde Park (inevitably ending up with a meal.)
We decided some dim sum was in order, so we tried Shanghai, situated on the Old Brompton Road and with a suitably serene, tranquil atmosphere within. It was a nice break from the packed, sun-bathed streets and dim sum is a great afternoon food whatever the location or season.
We went for mixed noodles and these were definitely worth the visit (left). A properly balanced array of squid, prawns and scallops, these were moist and substantial. The vegetables were all well-cooked, retaining some crunch but with a nice sheen from the sauce. Despite the heat, this was on the money. Mixed noodles from a decent Chinese restaurant is one of those mythical dishes: simple enough to make but rarely ever executed well enough to be enjoyable.
As with any (and I do mean any) dim sum meal, dumplings and buns had to be ordered (left and right respectively). These were unfortunately not on the same level as the dumplings: over-heavy, under-seasoned and a long way from the wholesome comfort eating they should have been.
This is perhaps the biggest risk of eating anywhere in Knightsbridge: the price. Whilst the noodles were a bit toppy, they were fine since the delivery was great. Dishes like this just aren't worth the extra couple of quid you get charged at places like this. We also ordered a couple of miscellaneous side dishes of vegetables and white radish but none of it could compare with the noodles. The best places to be for food like this on any given London day in the sun are in Chinatown and Bayswater.
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