Plum Valley

I went to Plum Valley for dinner, I chose the restaurant simply because it sold salt and pepper squid! When I arrived with my partner we were quickly seated and menus placed on the table. The decor is lovely and has a really calming feel to it, all the walls are slate and the tables are all booths, all very minimalist. After a few moments the waiter came and took drink orders, I had a Mai Tai cocktail which not only tasted delicious but looked beautiful. Our food orders were taken and in ample time our food arrived. The starter platter had to share was presented so beautifully we actually took a photo! It tasted wonderful and the combination of flavours provided by each dish was perfect. We had a short break between starter and main, longer than other places I have eaten but to be honest after how much we had for our starter it was nice to allow it to settle a little. The main course I had 'chicken with basil, shallots and spring onion' It was so so good I wanted to take some home to have later on (was so full) We had so much we couldn't eat it all and left very full and very happy. The staff were polite and helpful and I honestly couldn't fault this restaurant at all.
Comment on this reader review

elizabeth brauer
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, September 12, 2012

One of the best Chinese restaurants in Soho - food's fabulous, the service is quick, waiters are attentive without being intrusive, very willing to help when asked.

Prices are not too steep considering it's Central London, we spent ~£60 (including service charge) for 2 starters, 2 main meals, glass of wine and a beautiful Jasmine (flowering) tea, we also got loads of food left which was nicely packed for us to take away. Als in all - will definitely come back, fabulous place.
Comment on this reader review

10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, August 30, 2012

The best Chinese restaurant in London. The most important reason for me to love this city.
Comment on this reader review

Stephanie
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, March 02, 2012

Decided to go to this restaurant for a family dinner, started off perfectly, starters and wine were lovely. The problems started when the main dishes came out. For a group of 5, the first two dishes came out stone cold. After complaining to the manager she asked if we would like "new food" we agreed, however one of our party had their main meal and had to eat it while the rest of us waited. After 30mins the "new food" arrived this time piping hot, however they completely forgot one main dish and no prawn crackers despite asking for them several times. We then complained again due to one meal missing to be told it was not ordered! 10minutes later it landed on our table. When it came to paying the bill we weren't happy to pay the full amount (understandably) the manager then shouted at us and argued with us saying it wasn't acceptable to not pay, told my brother she didn't respect him and told us if we didn't pay the full amount she would lock us in! She then proceeded to shout at us some more saying it was our fault and we agreed to have "new food".

All in all quite possibly the worst dining experience my family and I have ever experienced! I would definitely not recommend this restaurant and would not consider it 'fine dining'...
Comment on this reader review

Tasha
1 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Monday, January 23, 2012

Went there on spur of the moment with 3 friends, food was ok but some dishes had a little too much MSG for us.

service was slow, it was a little expensive but having booked on an internet offer and told them thats why we were there on arrival we were disappointed this was not reflected in the bill... we explained this to the waitress in charge who said she could do nothing now it had been put in the till... she got the manager to call me the next day who apologised that we had been misled but refused to honor the offer.

In summary - if you can afford the food and the time to eat here- - you have so many other options its NOT worth visiting plum valley.
Comment on this reader review

hamish
5 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Unfortunately, this was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had, not only at a Chinese restaurant but at ANY restaurant. First of all, the décor, much like the food is basically a cheap rip off of Hakkasan, which is fine except the lighting levels are so low that I couldn’t even read the menu. If I had had a torch that night, I would have brought it out. I would have then been able to actually read the outrageous steep prices (which are printed in font size 8) and got the hell out of there.

The flavor of the food was adequate – not great but edible. Unfortunately it was stone cold when it got to our table. The portions are also so meagre that by the time we had finished our 6 dishes, we were more than ready to have desserts. However, we were informed that there would be no desserts as there was a queue outside waiting for the table. Before we could even reply, the manageress had the audacity to ask if would be “alright” for her to get us the bill.

We paid the bill – which came to over £120 for 3 people and as soon as the money was taken away from the table, the manageress hovered over our table as if to say “Get out now”. I downed the rest of my drink, almost choking in the process and was then almost flattened by the stampede of patrons she was ushering in to fill our table.

I appreciate that it was Chinese New Year’s Eve and that they were busy but we had paid good money to eat there and a certain standard is expected. I won’t be going back to Plum Valley ever again and would suggest that you steer clear also – unless you’re into abusing yourself, your family and friends.
Comment on this reader review

Andy
1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Thursday, February 03, 2011

My best ever Chinese eating experience. I love Chinese food and this exceeded my expectations. We were made to feel welcome as soon as we walked through the door, how refreshing to have smiling and cheerful faces throughout the meal.

The décor is modern and subtle, not the average high street Chinese restaurant.

The food and cocktails were fabulous, the portions generous and everything arrived at the right time. I particularly liked the duck salad and the dim sums and we shall certainly be visiting them again.
Comment on this reader review

Patti
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience here.

Stumbled across this on Friday night by chance and wasn't disappointed.

Food was excellent along with the presentation, service and atmosphere was good as well.

I would definitely return to eat here again.
Comment on this reader review

Mark Prescott
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Sunday, November 21, 2010

Plum Valley? More like Glum Valley! Sadly, there was nothing remotely sweet about this dining experience.

I visited this restaurant with my fiancée on a Saturday evening and really have to agree with many of the reviewers on this website; I endured the RUDEST experience in my LIFE, let alone the rudest experience in any restaurant!

The waitress was sour and miserable, which wasn't a good start. Because the menu had no info, I asked her what kind of sauce the lobster came with. She tutted, rolled her eyes and barked "it's a sauce, a white sauce!" with disdain on her face. After more coaxing, she eventually told us two more golden nuggets of information: it wasn't an English sauce, and it had pepper in it. I regretted asking. I was also told by the waitress that my chicken dish would contain peanuts. I suspected that she was getting confused with another chicken dish on the menu which did contain peanuts - but she refused to have this epiphany, even when I pointed it out to her.

By the end of the encounter with the rudest person in the world, my fiancée was ready to walk out at such miserable treatment... which is quite some feat for this restaurant, because my fiancée is the nicest and most accomodating person you could ever hope to meet. What was particularly shocking was that this waitress seemed to be in some sort of manager's position. However, for some crazy reason, I decided to persevere in the forlorn hope of making the most of a bad evening. In retrospect, perhaps we should have left; this person had already pretty much ruined our dinner.

Needless to say, the sauce in the eventual dish wasn't white and didn't have pepper in it; but at least it wasn't English. And those with nut allergies would be pleased with my chicken dish.

The food was ok, but in all honesty was really no different to the rest of the food available in Chinatown, with a higher price tag. It is in essence a regular Chinese restaurant with sub-standard service and an expensive facade. Glum Valley's pretensions at fine dining are particularly belied by its over-liberal use of MSG and gloopy sauces. In terms of food, it has light-years to go if it wants to achieve the heights of Hakkasan.

If you're looking for a memorable dining experience, I can highly recommend Glum Valley! Memorable, that is, for all the wrong reasons, and for the rudest person you may ever encounter.
Comment on this reader review

Mark Chan
2 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 3
Thursday, September 16, 2010

went last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Food wonderful, service almost too attentive. Took my TasteLondon booking no problem too
Comment on this reader review

James
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, September 09, 2010