The new Chinese opening where dim sum steals the show
Banquet 88 is a new Cantonese restaurant from the guys behind Good Fortune Club (in Wimbledon and Ealing) and Tao Tao Ju (in Chinatown). Located in St Katharine Docks, the restaurant is a big space, and like the space, the menu is massive – a good chunk of which is dim sum, available around the clock, 7 days a week. That alone is reason enough to visit.
Eat This
We didn’t manage any mains – and we’re not sorry – instead we got stuck into the dim sum. There are 2.5 pages of steamed, fried, classic, and a few fun twists. Highlights include the classic pork xiao long bao (some of the best we’ve had in London); fun spins on familiar buns like XO duck or crab roe fried buns; and a whole section of cheung fun. Go for the Three Treasure option – three rolls filled with prawns, wagyu and char siu pork – plus the pink prawn with crispy red rice skin.
Drink This
There are nice teas, Chinese beers and some traditional wines, but we wanted to check out the Chinese wine, which also comes by the glass: a chardonnay and a “joyous red wine blend.” Drinking these will score you points on social media. Give it a go, seriously, how often do you get to try Chinese wines?
Why Go
Did we mention there’s a whole cheung fun section on the menu? Anywhere that serves dim sum all day every day, offers this much selection, and still nails the classics is A-OK in our book.
Key Information
Address | Unit 2, Commodity Quay, St Katherine’s Docks, E1W 1AZ
For more information | banquet88.com
