Royal China Club

The Royal China chain has established a reputation for serving some of the best dim sum in London. But however good the char siu buns or har gau dumplings in other branches, they are not a patch on those served at this, the chain’s top-of-the-range restaurant. From the wide-ranging selection of teas to a dim sum menu that might feature lobster dumplings in yellow wine sauce, Dover sole cheung fun & venison satay, the emphasis here is on providing a fine dining experience at prices to match. Standards are just as high if you choose to eat a conventional main course of, say, steamed white eel with black bean sauce, although reports of offhand & sluggish service might diminish the experience. Unusually for a Chinese restaurant, there’s a good wine list – although not everyone has pockets deep enough to afford Petrus 1999 at £750 a pop.