Category: Brasserie
Recommended for 50% off on toptable and timeout.
Plum Valley is a Cantonese “fine dining”restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. Compared to some other restaurants in Chinatown where chickens are hanging in the window and all that awaits you are greasy all you can eat buffets it does indeed set itself apart already from the outside by a very black and sleek exterior. Also inside it’s stylish and does not feel like Chinatown at all.
I have been trying to eat there for about a year as you can get a 50% off food offer from top table and time out. I tried booking at least 5 times via top table but I never managed to get in for the 50% off. Finally I succeeded booking via time out.
Even though the food was nice,a piece of advise:never ever go there without 50% off –it is massively overpriced. I mean 9.50 for pak choi?? you got to be kidding!
We started with Grilled Vegetarian Shanghai Dumplings (5.50) –ok,but not terribly exciting –and Mango Duck Breast Salad (9.50) which was served with lemon sauce and pomegranate seeds. The mango was ripe and lovely and the duck moist and tender. All worked together really well and it was quite enjoyable but 9.50??
For the mains we went for healthy options:the above mentioned most expensive Pak Choi of my life was nice but not 10-pounds-nice really. The Chicken in Claypot with Thai Basil and Shaoxing Wine (10.60) was a very generous portion indeed served piping hot. The sauce was nice and spicy and the chicken well cooked. I am using the word “nice”too much I know.. everything was nice but just not very special.
So I would say,with 50% off it’s a really good deal especially if you feel like Chinese but want to avoid major greasiness. without the half price,no way! I am kind of wondering if the better idea for Plum Valley would be - instead of having 50% off deals on every possible website –just to reduce the price?? And there is something else that is not directly related to the food but shows some general lack of organization and concept:Plum Valley does not even have a website…
- Food: 6.5/10
- Service: 7/10
- Ambiance: 7/10
- Value for money: 4/10 (without offer),7/10 with offer
- Chances of returning: 10% with offer
- Verdict: Even though the food was “nice”–dear Plum Valley,If you call yourself fine dining and charge so much you have to offer more. really!
I think that you are being a bit overly critical here;it really is quite a good restaurant and decent value with the 50% off. Worth a half green light;one could do far worse in Chinatown,and the food was really tasty and properly done…..The challenge you must have now is a better place at same price in the area. At 50% off….Cheers,s
Hey,I’m kind of saying that it’s ok value for money with 50% off –nevertheless you can’t neglect the fact that they are really overpriced if you don’t happen to use their offer. That’s why I think they don’t deserve a green light.
Ute,I agree with your criticism. I’m Chinese myself and a foodlover who knows what she is eating.
At plum valley,the “cheung fun”(rice rolls) they serve are those you can get in Chinese supermarket and microwave at home. They just lightly pan fry or steam it. A good Chinese restaurant would have their own dim sum chef. Cheung fun is the dish that would distinguish how skilled a dim sum chef is. Atrocious,really,and for the price they charge…It’s not even authentic Chinese food.
Thanks for sharing your honest opinions
I tell my friends to run as fast as they can from this place,LOL. If you want proper Chinese food? Go to Royal China or Pearl Liang,or even Jade Garden is better. (Min Jiang at Hyde Park corner has amazing roast duck,but their other dishes are really mediocre)
@ Catherine –I am glad you as a Chinese agree with my opinion. I haven’t been to China myself so I can only guess what authentic Chinese would taste like. In the end I judge if I like it or not
. I didn’t know that Cheung Fun shows a chef’s skills,very interesting piece of information! I shall check out Jade Garden,also really like Pearl Liang. Reminds me that I should go back there soon!