Early morning frosts, close to minus temperatures, winter is definitely on the way and with it Christmas advertising, which irritatingly seems to get earlier and earlier each year. The restaurant industry is not exempt from the festive furore, and corporate christmas meals are big business.
All in London were invited deep into the heart of the banking district for Ping Pong's Christmas menu launch. The worldwide dim sum franchise has eleven outposts in London alone, and the Bread Street incarnation is tastefully furnished in a tradition yet modern manner. The launch was possibly more PR orientated, with an emphasis on the atmosphere rather than the food. The dim sum demonstrations were an impressive insight into the intricacies of the craft, and there was even a branded photo-booth for a six-shot memento of the night. Ping Pong knew how to throw a party. The drinks: Tsingtao and red glow (almond based cranberry and champagne cocktail) flowed, and were ably accompanied by mango and rum, and lychee and gin shots. All the while the food was carried around the bar canapé style.
It is very hard to give an appraisal of the food based on the evening as canapés don't really constitute a filling meal. However, Ping Pong do offer the canapé option for parties, and this may be exactly the informal setting an office would desire. Furthermore, possibly drawing the short straw of having to sit next to Tim from accounts for 6 courses would be avoided...
The food was average and there are undoubtably much better places to be found across the city. Compared to the Michelin big boys of Hakkasan and Yauatcha, for example, the food falls short. The dumplings were slightly on the dense side, the game pies had overly sweet pastry and the filling lacked depth of flavour. On the other hand, the duck stew was tasty and stuffed with succulent chunks of meat. Vietnamese rolls were full of fat juicy prawns encased in light pastry that was grease free. With all this taken into account, it must also be noted that the prices per person are vastly less than those offered by the dim sum big boys.
Attractive pricing, a relaxed atmosphere and the informality of the evening may appeal to party planners city-wide. If dim sum canapés are what a Christmas party needs your office could do a lot worse than booking Ping Pong, and at least nobody would get stuck in a conversational black hole with Tim from accounts...
However, if a hunger-slaying, satisfying meal is the priority perhaps Ping Pong is not your best option. You may follow this reviewers footsteps and pop into Gordon Ramsay's new offering , Bread Street Kitchen, across the road for a bit of bar food to top up the night's food intake.
