Here's where the restaurant sits on the docks.
What do we need to know about Banquet 88?
This is the first central London opening from the people who are also behind the neighbourhood dim sum spots Good Fortune Club in Ealing and Wimbledon. For the move into the city, they've considerably expanded their menu and gone more upmarket, so you're more likely to spot ingredients like wagyu and caviar on dishes here.
Where is it?
You'll find it on St Katharine Docks, right beside Tower Bridge. It's on the north side of the docks with a rather lovely view across the marina to the royal barge Gloriana. The nearest tube station is Tower Hill.
Where's a good place to meet for a drink first?
The easiest place is literally across the docks from the restaurant, Traders Wine Bar. But if you fancy an old school pint then The Dickens Inn is the one to go for.
Where should we sit?
Without a doubt the most covetable tables at Banquet 88 are those right at the front of the restaurant, which boast great views over the waterfront. But this is a huge restaurant and, in addition to a private dining room at the rear, there's also a second dining room with extra-large tables if you want to come here with a group.
A table with a view over the docks
What sort of menu is it?
In a word: huge. There's everything from dim sum and sushi through to roasted meats, noodles and more. The menu runs to 21 pages online. We'll be honest with you, we didn't get a whole lot past the dumplings/Cheung fun sections as we went a little crazy. Here's what we had:
ALL the dim sum - left to right prawn, crab and spinach dumplings, siu mai prawn and pork and crystal scallop dumplings (All £7 each)
Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao (£10)
Prawn cheung fun with crispy red rice skin (£18) - our dish of the night. Loved the contrasting textures of the crispy and silky skins.
Three treasure Cheung fun (£21) - a mix of Iberico char siu, prawn and wagyu beef.
Char siu Iberico pork (£20)
Room for dessert?
There's actually quite an extensive dessert menu at Banquet 88, and if you pick the red date or coconut milk jellies they come in cute mice form.
Mango pomelo sago pudding (£7)
What's on the drinks list?
The drinks list is almost as extensive as the rest of the menu, with Cantonese-inspired cocktails and a mainly European wine list. Glasses start at a very reasonable £8 for house red and white. We went for the only Chinese wine on the list, a Fei Tswei Magma Chardonnay from the Ningxia region (£39).
Anything else we should know?
Yes, the restaurant also boasts a riverside terrace with space for 10 people to sit and enjoy a dim sum afternoon tea.
Overall thoughts:
With the exception of the high-end Mei Ume, there isn't much in the way of a good Chinese restaurant in this part of town until you head up to Aldgate, so Banquet 88 is already on to a winner. Our only gripe is that we wished we'd gone with a larger group so we could really have given the menu a going-over. The restaurant is particularly well-suited to groups, too. It was our own greed that kept us focusing on the excellent dim sum options, which meant we didn't get to try many of the mains. Next time we'll do better.
More about Banquet 88
Where is it? Unit 2, Commodity Quay, St Katharine Docks, London E1W 1AZ
How to book: Book online
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @8anquet
Hot Dinners dined as guests of Banquet 88. Prices correct at time of publication.
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