Hakkasan Mayfair

I have written previously about the history of Hakkasan. At this meal, we began with a shared basket of steamed dim sum (£42 for two people), eight pieces in all. There was wild mushroom with black truffle, lobster, Dover sole and scallop siu mai, left open at the top to show the filling. The lobster dumpling had a garnish of oscietra caviar to add a touch of salinity and luxury, and the shellfish filling was tender. The Dover sole was laced gently with seven different spices, carefully enhancing the delicate flavour of the fish without overwhelming it. All the fillings were carefully cooked, and the dumplings were thin and supple (15/20).

I enjoyed freshwater prawns with dried red chillies and cashew nuts (£38). The prawns were large, sweet and tender, and went very well with the contrasting texture of the cashews and the touch of spice from the chilli (15/20). Hakka noodles (£20) were thin and had good texture, cooked with shimeji mushrooms and beansprouts (15/20).

Pak choi (£16) was stir fried with garlic sauce, the Chinese cabbage lightly cooked and tender, the garlic flavour present but not too strong (15/20). Asparagus (£16) was cut into small pieces and fried with ginger, lightly cooked and tender, with the ginger nicely enchanting the flavour of the asparagus (15/20). Jasmine rice (£8) was very good.

We tried two desserts. Spiky lemon (£15) had yuzu cremeux, with calamansi and almond cake. This was lovely, the citrus in excellent balance, the texture very good indeed (16/20). “Jivara bomb” (£15) had hazelnut praline and milk chocolate, the nuts and chocolate a classic combination and the texture very good (15/20).

Coffee was from a company called Mozzo. Service was excellent, with our waiter (Aziz) being friendly and helpful. The bill came to £162 per person with some champagne and cocktails and beer. If you instead shared a bottle of wine then a typical cost per person might come to around £130. Hakkasan Mayfair is extremely consistent, and even in this August lunch tables were being turned on both sides of us. The menu is appealing, service is well drilled and the execution of dishes is as regular as a metronome.

Further reviews: 02nd Aug 2024 | 02nd Aug 2023 | 14th Jan 2023 | 12th Sep 2021 | 02nd Aug 2020 | 23rd Feb 2020 | 10th Dec 2018 | 24th Mar 2016 | 17th Sep 2015 | 21st Jan 2015 | 08th Mar 2011