Ping Pong (Soho)

Before you read on, can i just stress to everyone that there are many more honest, better and affordable Dim Sum restaurants out there.

Initial impression was how lovely the restaurant interior is - on the outside it looks quite small, but it's like a tardis inside.

When we arrived it was quite busy. We were stood there for a good 5 minutes before being given an odd flashing device? We were then told we would be instructed on what to do with it (we weren't)

After waiting around for a further 20 mins, we were seated at a beautiful balcony area which overlooked the rest of the restaurant.

We made our orders and they took a ridiculous amount of time to arrive, but when they did, the food was warm, delicate, beautiful and delicious!

I would love to recommend the Char sui buns and Coriander soup. The buns were fluffy and delicious with a tasty pork filling; but i can not stress enough how amazing the soup was! It had a very unique and crisp taste, which was also sour and spicy, very aromatic, yet delicate - the flavours danced on your tongue.

One thing I was dissapointed with was this dish my boyfriend ordered which basically consisted of three miniscule wafer-thin discs of chicken covered in sesame seeds, they were slightly larger than a 2p coin and cost 3.50!

Another downside was that the service was absolutely apalling! After our main meal we decided to order some more char sui buns. They took so long we thought they'd forgotten our order, and when we said 'excuse me' they walked straight past, even though we spoke quite loudly.

When we asked the manager, she bought us our food in literally 30 seconds? She apologised for inconvience which was nice however.

Overall, beautiful and tasty food, awful service, and in some cases - awful value for money.
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Steff
6 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 5
Thursday, April 29, 2010

I returned here last week and wondered why I had not been for so long. Actually, the staff had improved greatly since my last visit, as we had had to wait ages before to get served...much more efficient this time. Food was as good as ever; I took a friend from China this time and he was impressed by the authenticity of the cooking. Really good value for money too, and their cocktails are amazing ( if a little on the small side ).
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terry
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Sunday, March 21, 2010

The vegetable steam buns here are delicious - fresh, soft, hot bread. Also would like to recommend you try the Har Gau and Coriander dumplings - really good!

Waitresses were v. nice too.

Only comlaint is that they seem to have removed the chocolate tart dessert , which was my favourite!
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8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Sunday, March 21, 2010

This place used to be really good, always busy which is generally a positive sign. I went there last week (first time in six months) with my partner and was very disappointed. It's expensive - more than £32 for a couple of set lunches. Although the various items are tasty there is just not enough there to call a "lunch". It used to be better than this with a reasonable quantity of food - now it's plain minimalist.

Staff seemed to be unhappy and disorganised as well. They were obviously having problems placing orders with the correct tables.

We left starving and had to buy top-up snacks elsewhere.

Definitely one that we won't be returning to.
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3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, October 28, 2009

I've been to many dim sum restaurant but this one take the biscuit. What a joke the service is a mess and obvisouly run by some clown. My only thought s the upper managment dont have a clue how to run a restaurant. we waited 30 minutes for a table and then got told to wait at the bar for anouther 30 mins as we were 3 people. finally we got sat but the food was poor and the service a joke. we previously dined here when it first opened a thought itt was a great restaurant and well run the food and service was more upbeat but has gone down hill over the years.

Who ever is the owner consider gettin a better managment team the staff are rude could be run and made way better.
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Jose
1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, October 27, 2009