Pearl Liang

Pearl Liang used to be very close to my office and was a great spot for payday dim sum. As I still do some work with them I often find myself nearby, seldom sadly at mealtimes. Going back to visit The Insider for a post work meeting that segued into beers that morphed into a strong desire for something to fill our stomachs seemed like an ideal opportunity and so we snagged a table in the windowless space. It was surprisingly busy given its soulless office complex location in Paddington's mini Canary Wharf, Sheldon Square.

Arriving after 9, even on a near weekend evening, may not have been wise. The service was abrupt, a little distracted (we ordered a second beer and they brought and served us an entirely different brand) and they were keen to chivvy towards the end. A party arriving later than us were asked for their dessert and coffee orders even as their main courses were coming out. I can understand the logic within licencing laws, but wasn't aware that it was illegal to serve coffee and ice cream after 11.

We weren't really there for a long digestion of the menu and went for one of the set choice menus, given what I've heard about the usually high quality here that may have been a mistake. The selection of starters was a promising mix of mainly fried and breaded items. The squid fared particularly well, and a plump prawn encased in crisp dry noodles was similarly toothsome, though I had to leave most of my large Vietnamese style spring roll, filled with glassy noodles (and little else) before being deepfried. The one I had seemed to return most of the contents of the frier, disgorging oily liquid as I bit into it. A slug of Tsing Tao was needed to wash the taste away and the rest of the roll remained on the plate, avoided by me and uncommented on by the staff.

Aromatic, rather than crispy, duck followed, with the delightful addition of homemade pancakes. In the same way as you will with fresh, homemade pasta, we really noticed the difference.

We finished with four sharing bowls of varying quality. Mixed vegetables were barely cooked in a lightly spiced silken sauce, fine for snappy beans, less appetising for the large chunks of raw mushroom. mixed seafood in XO sauce was perfectly acceptable and packed with creamy chunks of scallop and squid but like the beef in oyster sauce was over salty for my palate. Admittedly the biggest saline hit came from a dry fried chicken with chilli that, while hugely moreish, seemed more like bar counter subterfuge, an attempt to get us to keep ordering lagers (if we hadn't hit last orders mid way through the mains that is…)

Overall, I wasn't hugely impressed, I've had better Cantonese food than this, but I've also had better here. I don't think we got the best of the kitchen on this visit.

I was one of Pearl Liangs Ravers when it first opened. I live very close in Little Venice so used it very frequently. Having not been for a while, this place has fallen to pieces. when we arrived we waited about 15 mins before we where asked could we wait 10 mins. Then we where told are table booked for 8.30, its now 9pm (was not ready), would we like to sit in reception. I said no we would sit in the bar with a drink on the house for the mess up. I was told ok, while we where waiting, I witnessed the bar person pouring bits of wine brought back from the restaurant back into open house wine bottles in the bar. Then repour when orders came in.

After being asked if we would like to stay in the bar area (NO NO NO) we have a table booked in the restaurant. We where given a table. The service was very bad BIG language problems trying to order, the food came in a very mixed up order The last starter came with our main course. I ordered a Sizzle hot plate. When it came out on the plate, not placed on sizzle in front of me I was told it sizzled in the Kitchen. In a very Aggresive manner.

Half way through dinner they started taking the tea candles off the tables like we are now closing.

So to the bill we where given a bar bill of £38 We only had a bottle of Water
When I spoke to the Manager he said This is the drinks you had at the bar. one drink we had at the bar on you I told him for the 1 hour delay.

I have gone on enough I will never go back and I will tell a lot of people.

What a shame for me it was the best chinese in london.

Pearl Liang- the site of many business lunches- a great standby.

I've had the hot & sour soup- always good for a starter. I've also had mushroom & bean curd stir fry. I tend to go for vegetarian option (never really trusting the meat sources at restaurants) and there is a great selection here.

Service is unobtrusive, but attentive. Ambiance is filled with business types or birthday celebrations, a bit too dark for my tastes, but can make you feel like you've really had a lunch break. A good pick for variety & 1 hour lunches.

I went there last week with my wife and daughter. The athmosphere is very nice, the service ist quick and good. The food was excellent. We had a bery good Beijing duck, and the sizzling dishes are very delicious. Prices for wines are very reasonable. We had a very good dinner with excellent food and value for money.

Went for Dim Sum on Sunday after reading very good things about it on foody blogs. It was excellent and very good value for money. It is in an office/residential development so all new but once in the restaurant you wouldn't know this. I would certainly return if I was in the area.

The food was ok, not great. The service was rude and unfriendly. I would recommend that people use this restaurant for Takeaway only. We were celebrating a team Christmas do and the service was appalling which dampened the mood. Go here if you want to have your event ruined!

Lovely restaurant. Pleasant atmosphere and the staffs are very friendly. We go here almost most times to have high tea. The food served there are nicely presented and tasty. But this time we discovered a dead cockroach near the end of our meal underneath a siew mai. Yuck! Put us off the rest of the meal.

Hate it when people serve your meal with additional ingredients not listed on the menu. Won’t be going back there again.