Eat & Drink
Originally published on Friday, 20th July 2007
Memories Of China
Once upon a time, in a faraway land called London-in-the-early-Eighties, good restaurants were hard to find. It was more about fun themes and little paper umbrellas than food, and Peppermint Park, Trader Vic's and Chicago Rib Shack were the places you got dressed up in your ra-ra skirt for.
Everything came with chips and the giant bowls of ice-cream were the high point of the evening. Unless, that is, you went (or were lucky enough that your parents took you) to Memories of China, where suddenly you could feast on more exotic delights like minced prawns wrapped in lettuce leaves, crispy seaweed, peking duck and spicy singapore noodles.
It's easy to forget about those bygone days now that we live in a world of Asian-fusion obsession but here's the treat, Memories of China is not just a memory, it's still going strong and packed to the rafters with, well, the same people that have been going there since the Eighties, but you may well spot an ageing rockstar or two.
If you're really lucky you'll be looked after by the General Manager in London, Ardjan Kelmendi. And not a sparkler or pineapple chunk in sight.
Hours: Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 7pm-11pm | Sun 7pm-10.30pm
Place: 65-69 Ebury Street, SW1
Cost: £45 pp.
Web: memories-of-china.co.uk
Book: 020 7730 7734