Ping Pong Dim Sum

Ping Pong is a chain restaurant serving Dim Sum. Sure it might not be particularly authentic but it's mighty yummy.

This branch is always very busy, so be prepared to wait for a table. There are two floors and you may be sat on a large round table with others, a bar area or your own individual table.

As well as great food, I must recommend the cocktails. They aren't cheap but they are big and the house cocktail - the ping pong - is lush!

Whilst not the most authentic dim sum place in the world, Ping Pong delivers fast-food style 'sum which is good, ok-priced and in nice surroundings...they also do a cool Sunday all-you-can-eat thing which is great for hangovers (and cheeky cocktails on a school night).

Worth a visit.

I'm kind of surprised by the average reviews for this place because I've always had a lot of time for it.

Decor is slick and vaguely oriental, there's a no bookings policy which can mean a bit of a wait, especially if you're in a big group, but you can usually find space at the bar and linger over a cocktail or two while you're waiting.

The cocktails are imaginative and original - try a grape caipiroska or their signature cocktail which is very lychee heavy.

Once ordered, food comes quickly - a huge range of steamed dumplings is probably the strongest, although the buns and the jasmine chicken wraps are delicious too.

I'll concede that unless you're a big group, the round tables downstairs can seem a little strange, but there is plenty of bar space and smaller tables upstairs.

Plus, while prices aren't as cheap as they are in nearby Chinatown, for the food, the ambience and the experience, it's value for money.

This particular branch was the first restaurant, testing the concept as such, and the group has now rolled out half a dozen or so branches, with the latest situated on the South Bank. On an evening this branch is very popular - with queues often seen on the street.

Decorwise - The walls are adourned with prints of steam, the tables made of solid wood with matching wooden stools or benches. The restaurant is split onto two floors, with seating around one of the steam-cooking areas (which looks good but teaches you little about how the food is made)

Ping Pong has had mixed reviews from day 1. Personally, I have never had a bad meal here - the food is reasonably priced and of good quality, and there's plenty of choice, be you fish lover, meat lover, or pure veggie. The jasmine flower tea always goes down a treat, and there's a great selection of cocktails to sample.

When it first opened, they had a noodle counter in the lower floor, offering freshly rolled noodles and soup, but sadly they discontinued this due to lack of demand. A loss!!

Their service staff keeps rotating - different faces every month - but generally the level of service is high, and they are attentive.

If you've not been yet,

I went to Ping Pong based on a friend saying his friend said it was okay. Maybe I should have asked someone who'd actually visited... Don't get me wrong, the place looks good, the furniture is very posh and fancy-club-esque. However, the table we were sat on was a round one. Normally, rounded tables aren't much of a problem for me... except for when other people are sat on the same table. Struggling to eat with chopsticks when you have strangers directly facing you is definitely not the most comfortable experience. I'm sure the food and drink is high quality - it better had have been at the price - but tasted merely average and plain. On the plus side, the staff were friendly enough, and as I said, the place looked nice. But combine below average food and an uncomfortable experience and you get a very disappointing night out.