Good Earth

Like with so many Restaurants in London, The Good Earth is a place one has to “understand”. The reviews here below seem to suggest that people either love it or hate it. However, I think it is about “what to expect”. It is a restaurant which does what it does and does it very well: classic Chinese food. What I mean by this is well executed, well sourced but “old fashioned” dishes (Try anything in their X.O. sauce!). Having said that, if you go there expecting Min Jiang or Hakkasan you are bound to be disappointed, as the place oozes of late 70s and early 80s “charm” and the cooking is a high-quality interpretation of the old favorites, rahter than the explosive flavours found at the more modern or “pan-Asian” restaurants. However, with the new wave of Asian restaurants in London it is reassuring that there is this dependable performer which ticks all the boxes if the old-fashioned “London-Chinese” is what you are looking for.

Are they kidding? The owners are living in the past, the food is bland, and as tasteless as the surroundings, which are tired and a little grubby. Im amazed that it has managed to stay in business for 25 years! I have however had a few take-outs from them in the past which have been fine, not amazing, but edible.

Good Earth has long been a firm favourite of the affluent locals of Knightsbride; living slightly further away, I never had the pleasure of eating there myself until this weekend. We stopped in for a late lunch and were shown to the downstairs restaurant area, virtually a ghost town with half the room completely without light.

We mainly ordered a mixed selection of starters including honey BBQ spare ribs, which were moist and the meat just fell off the bone. Our Chu Yim salt and pepper squid was lacking the ‘salt’ element, making for a somewhat bland version of this usually salty, spicy dish, although the batter was lovely, light and perfectly crisp. Won Ton soups were light and delicate with juicy won tons filled with lovely pink prawn meat and the house special of lamb skewers were exquisite and charred to perfection.

The cost totalled £40 which when you consider we had a bottle of water, 1 glass of wine and our meal and service, isn't too bad at all for Knightsbridge… I would definitely stop by again for a similar meal, but for proper Chinese food in a nice restaurant, I would still stick to Royal China in Queensway. Can't beat it.

Just down the road from Harrods indeed! Being a restaurant on this street limits presentation since space is limited, unlike restaurants which have their own stairways and reception areas before reaching the dining area itself (like Hakkasan), yet The Good Earth in Knightsbridge does a more than adequate job of it. This is a nice looking restaurant, make no mistake about it. Yet again, presentation of the restaurant matches the food (it looks more and more like the awful Maroush Gardens is an exception to the rule)…
The food in The Good Earth is as good as the service, excellent. The staff are obviously well trained, helpful and either very kind or good at faking it! They aren't quite as good as the Hakkasan staff but there's not much in it. The food you get here is similar but also different. I will have trouble explaining this…
It is easy to find what you want here, easier than it is in Hakkasan without asking. Your food will not only taste great, it will look like a work of art. You may want to take a photograph or not eat at all for fear of ruining such a masterpiece!
The only problem I have is that the prices are similar to Hakkasan's, the food is similar, Hakkasan isn't far away and is far more atmospheric – so why not go there instead? Perhaps the only thing in its favour over that rival for The Good Earth is that you should be able to find free parking and may be able to get in without booking – so for a spontaneous meal, this is excellent.
Maybe one day I will grow tired of Hakkasan! At least I know there's an alternative which has great food and service nearby when, nay, IF I do! For anyone who already has tried Hakkasan and did not enjoy it for whatever reason, I would urge them to try this – and if they don't like it, just stay home and eat Tesco Value baked beans and maccaroni cheese for the rest of their miserable existance(s)!