I must have gone to a different restaurant from the complainers (London Hong Kong Restaurant (Heathrow))

Member Name: It Ain't Necessarily So

Product:	London Hong Kong Restaurant (Heathrow)
Date:	08/05/09 (61 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good Dim Sum, competitive prices, service perfectly acceptable

Disadvantages: Location not the best. Not much else.

I've only been to the Bath Road branch, twice for Dim Sum, so can't comment on the other establishments. As it was for Dim Sum, it was obviously in the afternoon, so I can't comment on what the evening is like, nor the standard menu. I've traveled a number of times to Hong Kong, was introduced to, and `schooled in', Dim Sum by a Chinese friend and have eaten it extensively in London's Chinatown and in Hong Kong.

LHK was recommended initially, or at least to my wife, by a friend of hers. I tend to be a bit sceptical about Dim Sum places, especially out of town ones, as it requires a specialist chef, it's not something that can just be picked up. The first time I went with my wife and mother, the second with them and two of our neighbours.

Foodwise: the Dim Sum we had on both occasions was good. It's not quite up to the best you can get in Chinatown or HK, but a lot better than many places and perfectly acceptable. The menu is not the most extensive I've seen but more than adequate for a Dim Sum place, especially outside of Chinatown. They clearly have a chef who is a specialist. If you're out of town and don't want to go to Chinatown, and want Dim Sum, you could do a lot worse. I know, I have done so. There are a lot of Dim Sum places in HK that are worse. My wife and I are Dim Sum enthusiasts and my mother is becoming one. We like the place and will go back. My neighbours had never had it before and were impressed and liked it very much, with a one exception for personal taste (one of them didn't like the texture of Cheung Fan wrapping although the quality was fine, nice, smooth and reasonably silky as it's supposed to be). All the food was well cooked and very tasty. Prices were comparable to those you'll find in Chinatown.

Service: The first time we went there it was quite crowded but we got a table quite easily. On that occasion, there were about four tables including ours with gweilos on them, the rest (20 +) were exclusively occupied by ethnic Chinese people, which is always a good indication of a Chinese restaurant's quality. The second occasion, we had booked a table for eight, turned up a half hour early with five and they made no fuss, helped by the fact it was 12:00 and no one else was there then, mind you. The service was polite and efficient. The dishes arrived in batches, which is common for Dim Sum given the dishes variable cooking times.

Overall: I saw some of the denigratory comments on here before we went the first time. My wife was set on going as her friend had recommended it so I warned her and my mother about them, and we were all pleasantly surprised. The second time was comparable to the first in quality. I have put my money where my mouth is and taken others to it and they were impressed. I'm happy to recommend it to anyone on the West side who likes Dim Sum and doesn't want to go to Chinatown for it. We enjoyed it and I'd expect that you would too.

On my rating scale, 5 stars is out of this world, 4 is exceptional, 3 is good. I'd award them 3.5 if I could as I think they are better than good but not quite exceptional. I've given 4 as they are better than merely good, for Dim Sum, in my not so humble, and quite experienced, opinion.

Summary: I'm happy to recommend it for Dim Sum (which is all I've had so far)