Ping Pong Restaurant London

I dined at the Spitalfields Ping Pong last night and everything about my visit was superb. The restaurant has a great ambiance (a real cosy feel). As for the food, it's absolutely delicious and a great concept for interactive dining with friends - you get to try a little bit of lots of things - plus the Ping Pong cocktail is to die for! To top it off, our waitress was delightful and the meal was superb value for money. I will definitely be trying out the other restaurants in the group!

by katepatient, 12 Jun 2009

Mmmmm... amazing, love it! Lots of little dishes, so many different tastes. Amazing cocktails too. No.1 restaurant - wish I could eat here every day! Also converted a lot of my friends and they love it as well.

by sammybuka, 25 Feb 2009

We fancied having dinner somewhere within walking distance, so decided to give Ping Pong (Westbourne Grove) a try. We arrived sans reservation, asked for a table for two and the so-called waiter casually gestured to a couple of available tables. Not impressed, but fine. We sat down next to these two Californian women talking at the top of their voices for a reason that still escapes me. As we discussed the menu, it became apparent that due to the volume of the people beside us, any type of conversation was going to be difficult.

As the ladies called the waiter over, he rather rudely put up his hand in a 'just wait' fashion. Rude. 2 minutes later, I politely asked if he'd mind moving us to another table. Apparently there were none. (a. It was a Monday night, and b. I have eyes and can see numerous spare tables...) "We’ll order drinks and then wait for another table, if that’s alright", I said. Can you believe that the waiter dismissively moved his hand in a I-really-don’t-want-to-be-here fashion, rolled his eyes and then stood with his hand on hip waiting for our drink order. At that point, I asked my boyfriend if he minded eating elsewhere, we popped our coats on and off we went. We had lovely cocktails at Westbourne House (my espresso martini was divine) and then headed to Mulberry Street resto – the NYC-style upmarket pizzeria with the best service.

I will N-E-V-E-R so much as look at a Ping Pong menu again and will be sure to share my negative experience with anybody who’ll listen! Plus, they have cheap, wooden, disposable chopsticks = bad for the environment and not what I expect from a restaurant.

by Milla "top london reviewer" (46 reviews), 27 Jan 2009

This is a great chain because it actually does not feel like one. It is not 100% authentic Chinese, so what? Who wants to eat chicken feet anyway? I love Ping Pong, especially the new one near St Pauls. The food is great, the service fantastic and the price right on. If you have not tried it yet, then don't waste any time. Oh yeah, almost forgot: champagne for £14 (right now, that's cheaper than Tesco!).

by mickaelc1, 05 Dec 2008

Located near famous dim sum restaurant Yauatcha, Ping Pong is striving to imitate Yauatcha but with great failure. Horrible food and bad service are all they have!

by CCJ, 29 Sep 2008

As a Chinese living in London all my life, I regulary eat at dim sum joints across the city, so I generally know what to expect. However, Ping Pong was totally unexpected and a disappointment after a friend's suggestion to go there. Dishes were of tiny portion compared to the norm and many dim sum choices were experimental and average-tasting at best. For example, the Chef's Special - scallop with asparagus fried dumpling - came on a plate looking like 3 supermini Scotch eggs and each one I would say is 90% filled with a mushroom. How much? £3.99. Oh My God! Also, you would expect a Chinese restaurant with dim sum to serve noodle dishes. Don't expect any here.

To be fair, the decor was okay, it was clean and the staff were generally friendly. I guess you pay mainly for the scenery and service and not for a good meal. Dim sum for 6 = £90 + half full stomach. Nevertheless, experience counts and I'm glad I did try Ping Pong because now I know not to go there any more and because it makes me appreciate proper dim sum places in London such as Joy King Lau and Golden Palace.

by JW76, 13 May 2008

We waited ages to be seated, then ages to get a menu. I had to stand up and wave my arms about till someone noticed we were there. All 5 of us opted for the 'eat all you can' option for about 17 quid. We placed our order but the waiter refused to let us keep a menu so we could order more whilst we were eating. Very strange.

The food was very good, and we took full advantage of the offer. The service, however, just got worse. Instead of charging us for the 'eat all you can' option they charged us for each individual dish - a mark-up of over £50! When we pointed this out, the waiter accused us of having 6 people round the table and we had a few very awkward moments until the manager sorted things out. They then included service charge in the total bill. I found that a bit cheeky, so we refused to pay the 'discretionary' service charge. A shame, because I enjoyed the food.

I ate at the Ping Pong on Goodge Street. If the waiters were better then I would recommend it, otherwise I'd say go to Chinatown.

by ollyharvey, 03 Feb 2008

I've been to Ping Pong twice, so I've tried a variety of dishes, but the fact is that the dim sum is unauthentic and unimpressive. I wouldn't dare take my Singaporean mother there!

by zooeyg (6 reviews), 28 Jan 2008

Had dinner at the South Bank Centre last week with a couple of friends. Food was not so great but the cocktails were nice and staff friendly. Overall a nice experience.

by James Crofht, 24 Jan 2008

Ping Pong is great little parcels of deliciousness. If you have a very reasonably priced dumpling fix, you will be comfortably full for the rest of the evening. Stop moaning and enjoy!

by tonywalls, 17 Jan 2008

Yesterday I had dinner at the Westbourne Grove restaurant and I found a spider, complete with web, in my husband's sticky rice. Both the waitress and the manager (who only came after we asked to see him) told us that the spider crawled in to the rice and got cooked and there is nothing they can do about it. They didn't seem to be apologetic or bothered about it. We told them that, even though we used to be regular customers up till now, we won't be coming back. This is basic hygiene and all restaurants who have a licence to serve food should not be allowed to serve food with spiders. Apart from being disgusted, people can get ill!

by pok, 10 Jan 2008

Ping Pong serves dim sum that they pull out of the freezer, are not fresh and are of poor quality. You get a very limited menu, at almost double Chinatown prices. Have you noticed the lack of Chinese customers or staff when walking by Ping Pong? I can think of three Ping Pongs within a five minute walk of Chinatown and would suggest that you make that short walk to Gerrard Street where Ping Pong would never survive! (Great value and quality would be Joy King Lau off Lisle Street - £15 per head and loads of choice.)

by bluefox, 02 Jan 2008

The food is basic and overpriced. The customer service is awful, with inflexible table rules and bad attitude from managers. Don't bother. Go to Chinatown instead, where you get real dim sum served with authentic Oriental hospitality.

by Babydoll, 30 Oct 2007

Don't know what people are whinging about. Fab food, well priced, and lovely staff.

by charliefarley, 19 Sep 2007

Ping Pong is a customer service disgrace. Having eaten in Ping Pong in several different locations on several different occasions, the experience has never failed to leave me underwhelmed at best, fuming at worst.

by HolbornLen, 12 Jul 2007

I have been often (mainly to Great Marlborough St and Marylebone). The best thing about it is the jasmine tea (the flower bulb slowly opening in the hot water looks gorgeous). I think the food is quite average and a little overpriced for dim sum of this standard. After a few visits the menu is easily tired out.

by Moo Moo "top london reviewer" (24 reviews), 09 Jul 2007

As all reviews vary, decided to ignore and make my own mind up. Went to Ping Pong off Regent Street and found the whole experience fantastic. We were seated downstairs, music was funky, food was well-priced (how you can complain over £15 each, I don't know) and cocktails all worked well. Did have to wait for table, but wouldn't go somewhere with no customers. Definitely go. Not been to any other branch, but this one... wow!

by lottie69, 04 Jul 2007

I took my sister out for a birthday lunch to the one on Regent St and the service was appalling! We had to approach the staff for menus, to order and then to ask for the bill. Waited about ten minutes before anyone acknowledged us at the door, even though it was dead. I don't know why I didn't leave then! Had to complain to the manager. Please save your money. It is by far the worst restaurant I have ever been to!

by love bug, 28 Jun 2007

Nice 'concept' if you don't care much about your dim sum.

We tried the branch off Marylebone High St. The staff were clueless, the portions very small and lacking in anything resembling authentic or quality dim sum. If you care more about cocktails than food then perhaps this would be a good choice...

by no name10000, 22 Jun 2007

I have been to Ping Pong about 3 or4 times and each time I've been pleasantly surprised. The service has generally been quick and the waiters have been very kind and helpful. The food is excellent and well prepared, plus I liked that I could see how and where they were cooking it.

by .x.Laura.x., 07 Apr 2007

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