Restaurant of the week
Shanghai Oriental, Union Street
Location
Conveniently located on Larkhall’s main street near the train station and bus stop.
First impressions
It’s not every day a new restaurant opens in Larkhall. Given this is the sister venue to the popular Shanghai Teahouse in Bothwell and that top Scottish chef Jimmy Lee helped devise the menu, we arrived with rumbling bellies and high hopes, and were not disappointed. The restaurant was busy for 5pm on a Friday so there was a great atmosphere and the decor is beautiful and modern with oriental vibes.
Service
Quick, helpful and very friendly.
Menu
An exciting and enticing blend of Chinese and southeast Asian dishes, including Kung Po chicken, katsu curry, Cantonese king scallops, pulled aromatic duck with pancakes and Thai style sea bass. There’s also a large drinks menu including delicious cocktails.
Taste
Each dish was beautifully presented and packed with flavour. Stand-outs in the mixed starter were crispy chicken satay with a delicious, spicy peanut sauce and tasty wontons. The claypot monkfish was tender while slightly crispy on the outside, cooked in an umami XO sauce that was both sweet and savoury, and served with beautifully crunchy wok-fried vegetables. The tender beef strips with garlic and asparagus was also delicious. We were sad to be too full for dessert.
Ambience
Despite being busy, service was relaxed and the music and decor made for a laid back atmosphere.
Value
Certainly pricier than your average Chinese takeaway but the taste, quality and setting make it worth it. We’ll be back to explore more of the menu.