My favourite girl shaped American and I, headed out of the
comfort of the East End, into a cab and up to the West End. Now, I had been
warned that the place I was being taken lacked a certain, um…je ne
sais quoi, but I didn’t let that put me off as the places with less sparkle,
tend to have the best non-poncy food.
Dumplings Legend stands tall in the centre of China Town on
Gerrards Street, and at first glance, really doesn’t look like anything
special. We went fairly early as we had a curfew (put in place to stop binge
drinking) and as you walked in, if you didn’t know you were in China Town, you
would probably think you had taken a wrong turn into a dental surgery. The
entrance is very clinical and the further you go into the dining area, the more
you realise, this restaurant doesn’t want anything colourful to upset the mood…which
is, lacking somewhat. As you walk through the first section of the dining room,
there is a little glass style box with a couple of people making fresh dim sum
before your very eyes. It’s pretty cramped and actually, a little bit weird,
but it’s nice to know it’s made on site and the makers, wear gloves
and hair nets. Hairy dim sum is not an experience I wish to get involved with
again.
The menus are adorned with pictures of food (that I can only assume they found
on the internet and infact, this is one of my pet hates, but I took this one in my stride) The
tables are laid with paper table cloths, because, let’s face it, you’re going
to get messy, especially with Xiu Loung Bao on the menu. Now, if you’re pulling
the ‘WTF?’ face, then let me give you a briefing. Xiu Loung Bao is a style of
dim sum that contains a layer of broth inside the casing. You bosh it on a soup
spoon, pop some vinegar and ginger on top of it, and then plop it in your mouth
for what can only be described as a taste sensation. (Yes, I went there,
embrace it.) Oh, if you’re weird about textures, I’d go for this in two bites,
because honestly, I really wasn’t sure what was about to happen. It’s like that
moment when the hairdresser spins you around smiling and the mirror (of doom)
starts rising behind your head…..anyway, you get the picture. They come with a
variety of fillings, but my yankee-doodle dandy and I went with the vegetarian
option. Delicious.
We didn’t stop there. Oh no. We got a few varieties in, including
prawn and I can honestly say, it’s some of the best dim sum I’ve ever had. Ping
Pong, you should be ashamed.
We had a couple of glasses of vino, that tasted like a heady
mix of Robinson’s fruit squash and vinegar, but let me tell you something, this
shit was potent. 2 glasses down and we were both feeling a bit fruity.
So, overall….Do the staff ask your how you are 50 times
before you’ve had your starter (or at all?) No (thank god). Do they give a shit
about anything but getting you in and getting you out? Not one iota. However,
what Dumplings Legend lacks in charm and sparkling service, it certainly makes
up for with it delicious food and freshly prepared dim sum. This really is a
hidden gem. Not to be missed. I’m going back next week….
No comments:
Post a Comment