The highbrow original has been around London’s West End for ages, it’s the hallmark Chinese eatery that made Alan Yau a household name. The man who created such dining stalwarst as Wagamam, Yau debuts a second Hakkasan eatery this time in London’s posh Mayfair. Inside, a more modern Christian Liaigre dining room awaits with moody lighting, architectural paneled rooms and supper-club style dining room that serves past midnight on most nights. The new location is larger than the original, spanning over two floors with an elongated bar with lounge on the main level and subterranean private dining room that puts a touch of nightlife into starry Mayfair dining for the likes of Yasmin Le Bon and Elizabeth Murdoch.
The Food
Somehow the English always manage to make even gourmet Chinese food a lot healthier than the Americans, and delicious, with an array of dim sum like crispy duck salads, stir-fry mushrooms, sesame toast with foie gras and salt-and-pepper calamari. Fish dishes like Chilean sea bass with sweet basil and roasted cod are a smarter main than more sweet-than-sour Berkshire pork or truffle roasted duck. Vegetarians find a wide array of specialties like claypot tofu with eggplant and mushroom and Szechwan stir-fry also great as a side.
Last Word
Alan Yau debuts starry Mayfair dining room for Hakkasan eatery with private dining and lounge bar.
