Shanghai

Having been here on a handful of ocassions, with only minor incidents of rudeness from the staff, I headed down on a Sunday afternoon for some dim sum. Although my girlfriend was running late having been stuck in traffic, I managed to secure a table for two, having explained the situation and promptly ordered a drink and some prawn crackers.

After about 15 minutes, I was told in no uncertain terms that if my dining companion did not turn up within a minute, I would be asked to leave! I laughed this off and said I'd order right away as she wouldn't be long.

On her arrival, we enjoyed some decent dim sum and, naturally wanted second helpings of the excellent cheung fun. Upon asking, we were told by the waiter that this was not allowed as we had been warned that second helpings were not permitted! In disbelief, we quickly finished our dumplings and asked for the bil. However, for the staff, the fun was not over yet and and we were again reprimanded for my girlfriends unacceptable tardiness! We explained that we were paying customers and their rudeness was completely unjustified; as a result we would not be returning. To this they didn't blink an eyelid!

All in all we were told off three times by the humourless, miserable staff who seemed to be there only to make the customers lives a misery! I suggest you avoid this place at all costs unless you get some kind of kick out of being disciplined whilst munching on your dim sum.
Comment on this reader review

James
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 3
Monday, March 09, 2009

Being local to the area we used to visit Shanghai regularly, tempted by the tasty and reasonably priced food, and the informal, comfortable atmosphere (and the cool little booths in the front area). However at some point in the last six months, the service (which used to be hit and miss but reasonable) has got so bad, we rarely visit now. I keep telling myself 'just one more chance', but Shanghai has now had it's last chance. Two of the main waiting staff are rude, miserable and look down their noses at their customers (even regular ones!). It is now really a quite unpleasant experience eating there. Shame, as the food deserves better. We've found a new Chinese cafe a mile or so further up Stoke Newington High Street where the food is just as good (but cheaper!), and the smiley staff bend over backwards to make your dining experience there a pleasurable one. So, sorry Shanghai, you had your chance!
Comment on this reader review

''Former'' Shanghai Customer
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, January 26, 2009

The dim sum were not fresh and tasted as if they were straight from the frozen packs. We could not finish our food and asked to take away. The waiter said they charge £0.70 for the take away box! Service was just 'basic' though gratuity was added (10%) to the total bill. The food qualiy and service were bad compared to Chalk Farm's Yum Cha. What a disappointing experience at Shanghai for us, never again.
Comment on this reader review

Coco
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Saturday, September 13, 2008

The best roast duck that I have ever tasted in London.
Comment on this reader review

yas - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, January 17, 2008

I went to Shanghai for dim sum on Saturday afternoon with my boyfriend. The service was good, attentive, but not overly so, though unfortunately one waiter seemed to be incapable of smiling. There is a large selection of dim sum to choose from and from the experience we had, I expect all are excellent. We ordered 6 different dishes which were all delicious and arrived promptly. The crab and pork dumplings were especially good, gorgeous texture and bursting with flavour.

This restaurant is a great find, excellent dim sum, speedy service and fantastic value - 6 dim sum dishes, 1 pot of jasmine tea and 1 bottle of Chinese beer came to £19.80 inc. service. We happened to be too early, but they also do dim sum happy hour 3pm - 5pm. We will definitely be back!
Comment on this reader review

ELG - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 10
Friday, January 11, 2008

Fantastic food. Service could be much improved... not very friendly, in fact sometimes downright rude. My friend and I entered the restaurant at 5 minutes to 3 on a Saturday for happy hour dim sum which starts at 3 o' clock. We did not start ordering until 5 past 3 but were still charged non-happy hour prices. Only after objecting quite strongly and pointing out that we were very regular customers, did they agree to charge us the reduced prices. We were told that we would be "let off" this time! We decided not to leave a tip.
Comment on this reader review

luvmybelly
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Flashy, fresh Chinese food, holding its own in an area with lots of good eating places. Shanghai's waiters - polite, quietly helpful and not over-fussy - served us in the back, modern part of this restaurant. The front is a converted pie shop, still with its original booths. Beef, prawns and salt-and-pepper asparagus were all superb. The menu included meats, seafood and vegetarian dishes in some unusual sauces and styles, as well as items you'd expect to see. The chefs made good use of garlic and fresh chillies. The only disappointment was a full crab, beautifully presented but with less flesh than usual. We'll definitely go again, especially with a bill of less than a hundred quid for four of us.
Comment on this reader review

MJB - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Saturday, January 06, 2007

1st impression: a very old restaurant without refurbishment

Taste: food was full of MSG (Monosodium glutamate) without original taste, but hey the British like that, dont they! all ingredent was not fresh!

Good thing: 2 party rooms for Karaoke purposes.
Comment on this reader review

Shanghai previous customer
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, December 18, 2006

We were recommend this place by a friend and the reviews seemed quite good. We went on Wednesday night for my husband's 40 birthday and there were 6 of us.

When we arrived we did get a shock as when you walked in reminded me of an Eastend pie and mash shop. We were directed through the shop into the posher restaurant area.

The food was very very good and the dim sum was possibly the best we have had. They were very obliging in our requests making a dish for my 6 year old without certain things in like onion etc. the dim sum came in 4 pieces and they made them for 5 pieces for us.

We found the staff helpful and friendly and everyone smiled at us saying good bye when we left. They were busy for mid week and did not have many staff on but I feel we did get good service.

Lastly the bill came which was the biggest shock of all. We had all the dim sum on the menu, fresh scallops and some main dishes, wine, water, tea and dessert and it came to £87. For my anniversary we went to the Lotus Floating restaurant in the Docklands and paid more than this for just the 2 of us and the food was not as good nor did we have as much.

We will go back and try the lunch time dim sum and maybe go in the happy hour. One negative thing, as it seems in all chinese restaurants, they dont have separate areas for smokers and non-smokers which is not very pleasent for us non-smokers.
Comment on this reader review

JBM - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Friday, July 28, 2006

always excelent, me, Gloria, Nikka and Kerry always love meeting here......thank you, Sarah Liu X
Comment on this reader review

Sarah Liu
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 13, 2006