China Tang at The Dorchester

Poor food, massively over priced, service no different to high street chinese, food of same quality, real shame as it was a special night out for us 2 couples. Live and learn. Items listed on menu not available AVOID
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daniel arnold
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Monday, November 10, 2008

Unfortunately, I have to agree with most of the comments here. The food is fine, but much better is available elsewhere at more reasonable prices. The service we "enjoyed" was inattentive and slow. The "sommelier" suggested that my choice of wine was not a particularly good bottle (then why is it on the list?) and suggested one at twice the price! Avoid.
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Chapeau - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Disappointing and noisy and the food is no better than any self-respecting chinese restaurant on the high street - where you would pay a fraction of the price. the decor is nice, but the place is full of city boys on expense accounts. Support your local chinese restaurant and give this a miss.
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Carrie
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Thursday, July 24, 2008

If you are Chinese or know about Chinese good - DO NOT GO THERE! It's inauthentic, bland and unvaried.

If you don't know Chinese cuisine and prioritise the feeling of importance in a 5* restaurant, then you'll love it.

The Dorchester is beautiful, but China Tang shouldn't be regarded as a top restaurant just because of that. Its food is overpriced, small portioned and generally worse than any Chinatown restaurant.

The atmosphere is like Wagamama - a loud, hectic canteen. It's not a restaurant to chill out. It's a fast food place with a premium price tag.

Seriously, I was born in China, eaten Chinese food at home, travelled around China tasting different cuisines and China Tang is inexplicably and simply bad Chinese food for those who know no better.
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anonymous
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Thursday, July 10, 2008

WOW. My first visit to China Tang was amazing. I went along on a friday night with two friends (luckily not my girlfriend as the women who frequent this restaurant are stunning). The whole experience was perfect from the warm and welcoming greeting from the male maitre d' to the good bye from the cloakroom attendent. The service was impeccable with our waitress being bubbly and smiling all the time. The decor looked great and the atmosphere especially in the restaurant was vibrant and lively. All round great time and would reccomend it to everybody.
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vladamir Merkutchenko
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, May 27, 2008

If this place wasn't in The Dorchester it wouldn't last a month. The decor and atmosphere are both pretty average but the service is just terrible. Our waitress started talking loudly to one of her colleagues whilst I was ordering and then when my girlfriend called her back literally 20 seconds after ordering to change a dish she was told it was too late and it was not possible. I thought she was joking or had not heard properly so repeated the change request upon which she tutted loudly and stormed off before I could finish. Obviously a bad apple but the food was really nothing special either and not nearly in the same league as somewhere like Ken Lo's which is only around the corner. Really don't bother going here, if you are for some reason drawn to the reputation of the hotel, have a drink in the bar which and go somewhere else.
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Hugh
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Monday, March 31, 2008

We went into the Dorchester and had a drink in the Promenade bar first, which was a lovely setting to start the evening. There was a pianist playing and we sampled some of the delicious cocktails, bar staff were friendly & helpful.

We were taken through to our table and were very impressed by the decor and feel of the restaurant. Service was excellent. We were a table of 4. We all started with a soup to begin with which were all delicious. The waitress helped us with our choices and as I'm a veggie she made a suggestion for my main course. We all ordered a main dish, rice and a vegetable dish and there was plenty. We shared a dessert which was the banana pudding which was heavenly.

Absolutey recommend this restaurant.
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Angie B
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Very good, and good value.

The set menu lunch, was reasonable, some of the best dim sum (miles better than Yauatcha, but not quite Royal China standards).

The Noodles for main course were not interesting, but the very best they could be.

After this I migrated to the bar, and tried a variety of cocktails, Sidecar, Whisky Sour, Rusty Nail, and finished of with a very nice single malt. I must say the barman, Shanti is excellent. I had a few more dim sum at the bar, lobster dumplings, which were good, and sesame prawn toast, which really displayed how well a simple dish like this can be done.

Venetian crystal-ware, and silver chopsticks make the experience all the better.

And a very warm welcome from the Indian front of house.

Must return for dinner to try some of the 'proper' dishes.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, March 13, 2008

The owner David Tang is a one of the best connoisseur's of Chinese food anywhere. He also owns the excellent sister restaurant in HK.

The Australian GM, when she is around, is good and friendly.

Alas the early excellent Chinese art has disappeared off the walls, although some of what is there is still good.

The service is shambolic, the telephonist is snooty, unfriendly and must be replaced asap.

David Tang is the epitome of charm and hospitality, it is a shame this has not yet spread to his team at China Tang.

The wine list is redicolously expensive, do not go there if you want great wine at a fair value.

It can be noisy, with a lot of hard surfaces.

The toilets are amazing, how smart and clever, DT's magical touch.

All in all it is fine and has good food.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Saturday, March 08, 2008

Most disappointing experience I have ever had in a restaurant!

The food, which was rediculously overpriced was frankly nothing special and the staff were nothing short of rude. I have never waited an hour for a cocktail after asking the staff for it four times.

I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. It is a waste of money, we paid for a party of four 300 pounds and we felt as if we had been ripped off, no good food nor no good service what a shame!
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amy
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Monday, February 11, 2008