Regional Chinese cuisine
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| Steamed chicken in special chilli sauce |
Oriental Dragon is a casual Chinese restaurant in Fitzrova, unlike many other Chinese restaurants in London, Oriental Dragon also offers a number of regional Chinese cuisines instead of just the mainstream Cantonese one. On the menu, you can find Szechuan and Hunan dishes, some rare items that you would not be easily found elsewhere in London, such as pig kidney and duck tongues. The restaurant itself is in a rather dated state with an open kitchen, not very comfortable seating and can get very crowded as all the tables are very close to each other.
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| Tofu with preserved egg & spring onion |
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| bbq lamb skewers |
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| bbq razor clam |
The popular signature lamb skewer was indeed pretty special, the meat was tender and the richness of the spices was at the perfect level for me. But what is even better was the BBQ razor clam, the mild sweetness and spiciness was sensational, with the smoky element delivered such a heavenly sensation. Lobster cooked with ginger and spring onion was solid, the peppery and bold flavours really delighted my taste bud. However, I think the seasoning could have toned down a little to let the natural flavour of the shellfish stood out more. Whole steamed turbot in soy sauce was another strong dish, lovely moist texture, good depth of freshness with a delightful hint of sharpness from the ginger.
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| Marinated meat platter |
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| Ox tongue & stomach slices in chilli & garlic sauce |
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| Stir-fried lobster with ginger & spring onions |
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| Steamed turbot |
Overall, it was pretty quality Chinese meal, If i was to directly compare to the cooking from China, the flavours were perhaps a touch toned down to make it more western friendly, especially with the spicy dishes. Not that it is a problem for me as the cooking skill and seasoning was pretty top notch. The bill came to £41 per person which was rather expensive, but we did order a lot of luxury items such as a whole turbot and lobster. If you stick with meat and rice dishes, you will be looking at around £25. The service was a touch better than your everyday Chinese restaurant in China Town, it is a popular place and it was fully packed on a Monday night when I visited, so best book in advance if you are planning to dine at Oriental Dragon.
Food 3/5
What I paid:
£41 per head
Average cost without drinks and services:
£25
100 Cleveland St, London, UK W1T 6NU
http://www.orientaldragonrestaurant.co.uk/
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