What: An offshoot of the Chinese and Southeast Asian fusion concept Shan Shui, which has sites in Bicester Village and Heathrow Airport Terminal 2. Located roughly equidistance between London Victoria station and Buckingham Palace, Shan Shui Social is positioned as a ‘playful casual dining experience’ that takes inspiration from 1920s Shanghai with a menu that taps into the flavours of the Sichuan and Guangdong provinces.
Who: Shan Shui Social is the latest opening from the Chew on This group, which is led by London-based Singaporean restaurateur Ellen Chew. Chew came to London in 2005 having previously worked as a consultant for one of Singapore’s biggest food court operators, Kopitiam. Her first restaurant in the capital, Rasa Sayang, subsequently launched in Chinatown in 2008. Since then, her estate has grown to encompass Singapulah on Shaftesbury Avenue; Asian-influenced bakery concept Arôme in Covent Garden and Mayfair; and Mrs Chew’s Chinese Kitchen, which operates three sites across Birmingham and London.
The food: The menu here features a diverse range of Chinese dishes, but majors primarily in Cantonese and Sichuan cooking. Both the lunch and dinner menu are spilt into four sections: appetisers, wok selection, rice and noodles, and Cantonese roasts. The main difference between the daytime and evening offering is the former also includes a range of one plate specials that are priced between £14 and £16 a pair a core dish with a side of rice or noodles. All other options across both menus are designed to be shared as part of a wider meal. Dishes on the evening menu include a range of dim sum and wantons (£7.95 - £8.95); salted egg prawns (£17.95); pan-fried Chilean sea bass in a soy-based sauce (£34.95); Cantonese roast duck (£12.95/£23.95); mapo tofu (£13.95); and Yang Chow fried rice (£13.95).
To drink: Shan Shui Social’s emphasis is on its cocktail menu, which features a broad selection of drinks that fuse traditional Chinese elements - like lychee, calamansi, and yuzu - with modern mixology. Signature options include the Silk Road lychee Manhattan; a calamansi mojito; jade-spiced mule; and a classic Singapore sling.
The vibe: Housed within a listed building and spead over two floors, the 74-cover restaurant contrasts interiors of traditional wood panelling, neon signage, reflective materials, art deco elements and colourways of blush, mustard and wood. Chew has worked with interior architect firm Macaulay Sinclair on the design, which is described as ‘a speakeasy with a casual yet atmospheric ambience’.
And another thing: Buckingham Palace Road, which connects Victoria station with the Palace, can often prove a challenging location for operators given the area’s stiff competition. But Shan Shui Social will be hoping that its well-pitched menu of classic Chinese dishes will be a draw for both tourists and Londoners. Indeed, on Restaurant’s visit the dining room was suitably buzzy with a mixture of the two. The restaurant has even caught the attention of The Bear star Will Poulter, who was spotted taking a break between slinging tacos at his NoMad London pop up to enjoy some Cantonese duck.
14 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0QP // shanshuisocial.co.uk