Ping Pong Appold Street

Having just tried the new menu, I have to say despite it being twice as long, it lacks the appeal it once had. How very disappointing that this group dim sum eateries have gone beyond the boundaries of formulaic chain and entered into the disappointing territory of poor quality dining. A couple of items, including a Szechuan beef had to be sent back. The meat was greay and flacid and not remotely resembling the glossy image of perfectly seared meat in the picture. The cuts were cheap, sinewy and even had those weird tubey-bits of undesirable parts that you really dont want to see at these prices. Even the once decent items are now past their best and seem to have plummeted in the quality sweepstakes. Stylish chairs, decor and tableware mean nothing if the food is under parr… another case of “Style over substance”.

Having heard mixed reviews about Ping Pong I came here with work colleagues prior to Christmas and instantly became a fan. I loved the modern take on things while still keeping the traditional dim sum concept. They have a fantastic menu which was great for our large group as we could order a variety of dishes and share everything. Despite being extremely busy (maybe due to time of year) the service was efficient and we didn't have a long wait at all. The drinks were probably the most impressive aspect – all kinds of weird and wonderful creations that were a hit with everybody. Very cool decor too. I'm really glad I found this place and will definitely be back in the new year.

Not that I am a huge fan of Chinese food, but this was extraordinarily tasty and good value. The Dim Sum was just delicious, and what looks like really small portions turns out to be more than enough. Took my girlfriend here as she like the cocktails, which were slightly more expensive but again, good value for money. It took the waitres a while to get round to taking the order but overall very polite and efficient service. 9/10!