So finally I’ve made my way to this second in the Ping Pong chain of restaurants. I haven’t actually been to a Ping Pong since my visit to the original on Great Marlborough St having thought their yum cha prices a little on the expensive side and their variety of yum cha a little on the light side. So when Andrew suggested this as a venue for Elvira’s 30th birthday dinner I was uncertain how I would find it.

The menu doesn’t appear to have changed or developed at all with most of the dishes still being fairly unadventureous although not necessiarly traditional. I tried to convince the group to try one of the more traditional dishes – chicken feet but only the boys were up for the challenge. It probably didn’t help that Andrew had just told us some awful story about chicken feet!

I guess the good thing about Ping Pong is that they have an extensive cocktail and drinks menu and so its almost like going to a bar but you get to have some nice finger food to go with your drinks. We couldn’t complain about the service – it was pretty quick, efficient and friendly and once we had ordered our food it came out quickly and pretty much all together. Of course, this made it a little awkward with the limited table space so its lucky that most of our dishes were stackable. Actually, I was quite impressed with the service as when we asked for candles on some sort of dessert for Elvira they actually went out to a local store and bought some for us!

Clearly the Ping Pong recipe has been quite a successful one thus far with a third in the chain recently opening near Marylebone and with lines constantly going out the door at both the original and the Westbourne Grove branches. I still think the food is overpriced and not varied enough but for simple yum cha and great cocktails – Ping Pong will do.