Latest favourites and wishlist by london

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by misstravelbug

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:55:23 +0000

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by misstravelbug

Rating: 3.3

Location: 45 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 6969

Website: http://www.pingpongdimsum.com

So it's not the most authentic chinese dim sum restaurant it's more asian fusion and caters to western tastes. The decor is always cool and the service is great. The dim sums are fairly hit and miss...a bit overpriced for what you get. The jasmin tea with the opening flowers is pretty cool. It's a classier joint that your typical chinatown dim sum restaurant.

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by AndrewS

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:49:23 +0000

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by AndrewS

Rating: 3.3

Location: 45 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 6969

Website: http://www.pingpongdimsum.com

Tags: chinese

Food tastes OK, but not fresh, food like you buy in supermarket,then put in microwave......

Jewel Bar - review by Weeboo

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:30:15 +0000

Jewel Bar - review by Weeboo

Rating: 3.2

Location: 4-6 Glasshouse St, W1B 5DQ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7439 4089

Website: http://www.jewel-bar.co.uk

Tags: relaxed, young professionals, glamorous, house, trendy, friendly

Jewel doesn't look like much from the outside. In fact, considering its location right on the edge of [the not-so-trendy side of] Soho, this particular nightclub looks vaguely seedy. However inside it delights with its mixture of oversized chandeliers and ethnic furniture, an interior that seems to be ageing quite well versus other nightclubs in the immediate area (No 1 Leicester immediately springs to mind). Its also a very convenient venue, being situated immediately opposite one of the exits/entrances to Piccadilly Circus tube station. Ideal for when you need to catch that last train home and you might be a bit unsteady on your feet.

The atmosphere in here is always buzzy and fun, there's a good mixture of music (in my opinion) and the service is pretty good even when its packed. The menu contains the standard fare, but who cares...you're there for the alcohol.

Eiffel Tower - review by sarah101

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:40:28 +0000

Eiffel Tower - review by sarah101

Rating: 4.6

Location: Champ de Mars, 75007, Paris, France

Website: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/

Went here two weeks ago and after the advise of a friend I booked a table at the first floor restaurant which is well worth doing for more than just the view! Although it is fairly expensive around 35euros for lunch and around 50 for dinner. You get a fast pass ride up to the first floor which saves hours in queuing! On the down side is it only includes a lift to the first floor and you have to pay more to go up further. If I was to go out of high season I would skip the restaurant as the queues would not be as bad as early August. If you do plan to go book in advance for the restaurant as it is nealry impossible to get a late reservation! The other downside was all the police with guns which did frigthen the children a bit so be prepared for that if going with children. Also the queue for the toliets downstairs is longer than you can imagine!

Bar Soho - review by ravstar11

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:55:28 +0000

Bar Soho - review by ravstar11

Rating: 3.4

Location: 23-25 Old Compton Street, W1D 5JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7439 0439

Website: http://www.barsoho.co.uk

It was really late at night, and where we live in my aream not many places are open and 1 am in t5he morning. So we all decided we want to go out no matter what, and we went to centrel london, came accross this bar, and it was fantastic!

The lights, entertainment and just in general smooth atnoshphere it had to deliver to us as thier guests/ravers!

Highly reccomend it.

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by chrisp

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:22:39 +0000

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by chrisp

Rating: 3.3

Location: 45 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 6969

Website: http://www.pingpongdimsum.com

Tags: lively, good value, chinese, crowded

It's not world-beating, the food isn't stellar and the prices aren't rock-bottom. But for good-enough dim sum in a central location, washed down by some rather nice cocktails, you can do a lot worse. Of the two major dim-sum chains in London I'd say Dim T just about has the edge, but I've always enjoyed my experiences in Ping Pong. As other reviewers have pointed out, it's perfect for a boozy lunch or evening with a group of mates (it's huge so you're likely to get a table, at least) and if you treat the dim sum like glorified bar snacks and don't worry too much about their providence, you can't go far wrong.

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by topruss

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:42:31 +0000

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by topruss

Rating: 3.3

Location: 45 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 6969

Website: http://www.pingpongdimsum.com

ive never tried dim sum before but loved what i ate here , the resturaunt looked cool and quite a funky crowd

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by ilovelucy

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:50:58 +0000

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by ilovelucy

Rating: 3.3

Location: 45 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 6969

Website: http://www.pingpongdimsum.com

Tags: lively, good value, chinese, crowded

Having heard my friends rave about Ping Pong and declaring it to be the best, I thought I should better give it a go.

Arrived hungry at noon with cousin Jacky at the Great Marlborough branch last Sunday. We decided to go for the Lazy Sunday deal where you can eat as much as you like off the menu - excluding the specials and signature dishes for Â£16.50.

Excitedly we started ordering off the menu - ticking off about 12 dishes on the dim sum sheet they give you. Soon enough they arrived - we asked them to come in two batches so as to clutter our small table.

Good points
- Ingredients, in particular the seafood and meat were very fresh. The dumplings are handmade unlike some Chinese restaurants.
- Service was good and friendly - although they first of all charged us the full price which we had to rectify
- Innovative dumplings - great choice of fillings
- Unlike a lot of chinese restaurants, they have lots of choice of vegetarians

Bad points
- Smaller portions and more expensive. Sticky rice came in 3 small wraps - and hardly any meat or prawns were in it
- Vietnamese spring rolls - tiny and burnt in some places
- Steamed tofu and wasabi - tasted really odd
- Choi sum came in a tiny little dish
- Tables were so close to each other - and people were seated right next to us even though the place was empty
- Pastry for the dumplings had a thicker texture and therefore stuck to the baskets
- Not sure about the glass for the tea - was too hot to hold it

All in all it was good to try Ping Pong, I think if you had never eaten dim sum in a traditional restaurant before you would think it was great. The place does look modern and sophisticated, the waiters in their uniforms blend in beautifully and little touches such as the golden teapot and the flower tea made the whole experince very pleasant -not what you'd expect from somewhere in Chinatown. I do give the Ping Pong team credit as they have pulled off a great marketing feat in promoting a cuisine that has been in the background for some time. Even the chinese restaurants have profited from the burst in the cuisine's popularity and started to serve dim sum later and later and places such as New World - have encouraged Westerners by hiring English speaking staff. Hopefully it will give novice dim sum lovers the courage to try the more traditional restaurants such as the Royal China chain, Imperial China and Phoenix Palace.

Bad points
-

Jewel Bar - review by Thomasinho

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:40:52 +0000

Jewel Bar - review by Thomasinho

Rating: 3.2

Location: 4-6 Glasshouse St, W1B 5DQ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7439 4089

Website: http://www.jewel-bar.co.uk

This bar has potential of being so much more, the staff are a little slow behind the bar, the door staff are friendly enough, and the decor is ok..
This bar is a bit of tourist trap, next to the exit of picadilly tube, so good for guys looking to pull tourists, same sort of feel as the terrible ZOO bar, but better maintained..

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by Coffeegeek

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:54:34 +0000

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by Coffeegeek

Rating: 3.3

Location: 45 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 6969

Website: http://www.pingpongdimsum.com

Tags: chinese, cheap eat, business

Great concept but the food just isn't good enough. The dÃ©cor, cocktails and staff uniforms are great but if you want good dim sum try elsewhere.

The food is prepared in a "centralised kitchen" (which is what I would call a factory) then delivered to the restaurants to be cooked. As a business concept this works well as it means smaller kitchens and more room for tables and paying customers, however, the food suffers. This chain was quickly established and the owner has already sold the business.

I guess itâ¬"s good to get people to try dim sum but thereâ¬"s much better to be had in London.

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by SiReine

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:29:54 +0000

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by SiReine

Rating: 3.3

Location: 45 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 6969

Website: http://www.pingpongdimsum.com

Tags: lively, oriental, good value, crowded

A bit like Chris I don't thing foodies would be overly impressed by the cuisine at Ping Pong.
I guess with such a name noone can take them seriously for a start!!
It's just a nice canteen for Liberty's shoppers and staff from local media companies.
It is great fun as a group, but ask to be sat downstairs on one of the round tables.
It's also perfect for a light girly lunch, you'll each leave around Â£10 lighter having had a good gossip and a giggle!

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by ChrisHarrison

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:26:49 +0000

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by ChrisHarrison

Rating: 3.3

Location: 45 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 6969

Website: http://www.pingpongdimsum.com

Tags: lively, good value, chinese, crowded

The dimsum might be westernised, but it's still tasty, plentiful and solid value. Despite having a cocktail and a few beers around the table, the bill was surprisingly reasonable.

We went in a large group and it was definitely the best way to experience it, go nuts ordering a load of dishes and everyone can pile in. I'd second others' suggestion of not ordering everything at once - stagger it, not least because it is all more filling than you think.

The food is mostly freshly cooked, the steamed dishes all seemed especially fresh.

It won't blow your socks off or convert the unconverted, but if you like this kind of stylish Eastern eating you'll feel right at home.

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by ollym

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:47:28 +0000

Ping Pong Dim Sum - review by ollym

Rating: 3.3

Location: 45 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7851 6969

Website: http://www.pingpongdimsum.com

Maybe I'm difficult to please, but I wasn't blown away by Ping Pong. Important things first: the cocktails were delicious, packed with fresh fruit juices and herbs, authentic but in my opinion too ice-y and lacking punch (perhaps I'm too much of a seasoned drinker).

The venue looks fantastic - all high ceilings and dark wood.. although the rather cramped seating arrangements, so common in these places, mean that eating here is very much a shared experience (in my case, it meant sharing a table with a rather amorous couple).

To me, there is something clinical about ordering food by just tagging meals off a list.. but it arrived quickly and tasted fresh. Dishes are between Â£2 and Â£5.. for three dimsum parcels, or a small bowl of noodles/soup. I'm not sure I'd consider this great value, it was enjoyable and fresh, but just not fantastic.. I was expecting amazing things and left slightly hungry and slightly disappointed.

Eiffel Tower - review by julien

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:32:30 +0000

Eiffel Tower - review by julien

Rating: 4.6

Location: Champ de Mars, 75007, Paris, France

Website: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/

Tags: amateur, broadway

class the eifel tower

Bar Soho - review by Miss_Piggy

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:12:32 +0000

Bar Soho - review by Miss_Piggy

Rating: 3.4

Location: 23-25 Old Compton Street, W1D 5JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7439 0439

Website: http://www.barsoho.co.uk

We were there for a Theatre Companys launch and it was a good venue for it.

Staff were good and the amosphere was cozy and intimate (candles). There was a DJ which was at the right volume to allow people to speak without shouting and comfy chairs and sofas.

I had a wonderful time!