The recently launched dim sum menu at Hutong proves an ideal opportunity for Sunday brunching. I very much enjoyed a chance to sample this upscale restaurant’s dim sum lunch menu a few weekend’s ago.
Situated at the 33rd storey of The Shard, the restaurant’s panoramic perch over London wows without fail. Designed to have the look and feel of an actual traditional street level hutong (‘traditional Chinese urban residential courtyard most typically seen in Beijing’ might be the best way to describe one), the interior presents a delightfully incongruous setting that is worthy of admiration in its own right.
As dim sum menus go, Hutong’s offerings are as delectable as any I’ve had in London with plenty of dishes to please all palates and diets ranging from omnivore to vegan. I happily devoured everything I got my greedy little chopsticks on and especially loved the Shanghai-style xiao long bao; pan fried lamb with fennel seed dumplings; and crispy shrimp rolls with thousand year egg. Most of the items on the new menu are priced at or just under £6, and there’s a lot more to the menu than those few just mentioned.
While at Hutong, I also had a taste of the house special – “Red Lantern” crispy soft shelled crab with Sichuan dried chilli (£28) – from the Signature menu. Gorgeous.
Hutong has a snazzy bar with a fun and inspired list of cocktails as well as a fantastic selection of teas. Service during my visit was cordial and efficient (it did take a bit of a wait between ordering and receiving the first dish – nothing egregious though). Whether you’re hoping to have a leisurely weekend lunch or planning a big night out on the town, this is an easy place to recommend and a brilliant venue to keep in mind.
Hutong is located at Level 33, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY. Find out more at aquahutong.co.uk.
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