Leong’s Legend (Taiwanese) – London, England (6.5/10)
Jan 6th, 2009 by admin
[UPDATE: June 2009 - I went for dim sum at Leong's Legend and had a much better experience. You can read about it here.]
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Background:
Leong’s Legend in London’s Chinatown (a second branch has just opened around the corner) has bounced on and off my restaurant wishlist ever since I first started reading mixed reviews about it. It was the allegedly atrocious service that made me hesitate about eating here. However, the Taiwanese food was too strong a pull to resist. I took my little brother along with me, thinking that he would be laid back enough not to mind if the service really did turn out to be poor…
First impressions:
The interior is done up so that it resembles an old Chinese inn of some sort (well, that’s how it appeared to me, but perhaps I’ve been watching too many Chinese period dramas). It’s a small restaurant, and at 6pm mid-week, already quite busy. The waitress tried to seat us at the worst table in the restaurant, and after trying it, we moved immediately. Everyone who walked in after us also got shown to this table.
Tip: the worst table in the restaurant is located on the right hand side of the restaurant as you enter, by the window, under the ladder. One diner will have to sit under the ladder, while the other one gets a seat (a piece of wood) measuring about 8 inches in depth. Avoid at all costs.
Menu:
Although I’ve been to Taipei before, I’m no expert on Taiwanese food (although I am partial to Din Tai Fung’s xiao long bao). I did, however, discover the delights of the famous sanbei (literally three cup, one of rice wine, one of soy sauce and one of sesame oil) chicken and sanbei duck when I was in China recently, at both a Taiwanese and a Hakka restaurant in Beijing. So when I heard from fellow foodie Oonth (who frequents the UK/Ireland board on Chowhound) that there was sanbei ji to be had at Leong’s Legend, I was pleased.
What we ordered:
- sanbei ji, which on the menu is described as stir-fried chicken with rice wine, soy sauce and sesame oil (£6.80)
- glass noodles with minced pork (£5.20)
- pan-fried tofu filled with mashed prawns (£5.50)
I was scribbling away in my notebook, copying dishes from the menu, so when the manager tried to take the menus away, I asked if I could keep it for a while longer. I couldn’t believe my ears when he more or less snapped at me, saying that he would give it to me if I needed it, and that all the diners made them dirty by placing plates and dishes on top of them. He eventually relented when I said I was just writing a few things down. Everything I’d heard about the service really was true.
This did leave a sour taste in my mouth and put me in a bad mood when the food finally arrived. The sanbei ji wasn’t nearly as tasty and flavoursome as the ones I had in China, and was very disappointing. The pieces of chicken were scrawny as well. The glass noodles were quite spicy, but passable. My favourite was the pan-fried tofu with mashed prawns, as each piece was substantial and chunky.
The verdict:
The food is different to bog-standard Cantonese that is ubiquitous in Chinatown. But it wasn’t great, and I don’t think I’ll be returning to Leong’s Legend. Even if the food were spectacular, which it by no means was, I couldn’t go back to endure such surly service or uncomfortable seating. Some people eat out purely for the food. I need a few other basics as well, service being one of them. I don’t like to be negative about Chinese restaurants, but if owners and managers can’t see the point of good service, then I can’t see the point of supporting their business. Dinner for two cost £25.00 without service charge, which is of course more than reasonable for London.
10 – Perfection, 9.5 – Sensational, 9 – Outstanding, 8.5 – Superb,
8 – Excellent, 7.5 – Very Good, 7 - Good, 6.5 - Above Average, 6 – Average
All the London restaurant reviews on World Foodie Guide
Contact details:
Leong’s Legend
4 Macclesfield Street
London W1D 6AX
Tel: 020 7287 0288
Helen Yuet Ling Pang @ World Foodie Guide
I am so disappointed in Leong’s Legends. When I first went there the food was good, the service atrocious; the second time the food amazing, the service alright; the third time food still amazing and the service rubbish. Especially that manager. I hope you didn’t get caught out on the hidden ‘SC’ charge then being asked if you want to leave a gratuity.
When I wrote my review for T.O. I truly believed in it. I was so glad that finally someone was tapping into this great cuisine and offered some competent renderings of Taiwanese dishes. I wanted them to do well, and I wanted everyone else to see that as well. Just why they want to bring themselves down by offering the most appalling service I’ve seen or heard since Wong Kei simply baffles me and practically hurts my feelings. I wish I could retract the favourable review I wrote for them, even if at that time I really felt they were offering something great. It sickens me.
Ugh.
There’s nothing more demoralising than one that’s been ignited by the condescending service that you experienced at LL. Please accept my sympathies. A few days ago I was commenting on how the service as Wong Kei has mellowed, I think that nonk of manager at LL should take a sabbatical at Wong Kei for some back to basics training on service in Chinese restaurants.
PS Despite the ineptness with the service, the food here is still very good.
I agree Helen – service and atmosphere are both important parts of the eating out experience. It’s not all about the food.
That would have really made my blood boil – I can’t stand rude serving staff. I have been known to give up entirely once I get a hint of rudeness and leave all together. What a shame. Incidentally, I’ve never found Wong Kei’s staff to be rude – abrupt, yes. Perhaps they’ve changed.
Happy New Year !
Although no expert, LL’s sanbeiji looks like stir fried chicken and red peppers bunged into an earthenware pot for effect ! It’s certainly looks nothing like the photo you took of the sanbeiji at Bellagio in Beijing. Shame about the service too.
I thought it was just me! When they first opened the food was excellent, XLB with the thinnest, most delicate skin holding in sweet juicy porky goodness etc. Last couple times, it’s been pretty bleh. Cheap at least but nothing special.
At least you went to the slightly better one. The new branch off Lisle st. was even worse.
That’s so sad you didn’t enjoy your experience at Leong’s, Helen. Perhaps I’ve lucked out the times I’ve eaten there. The service has never been great, but it’s never struck me as rude – just rushed, like at most of the other cheap joints in town (e.g., Tayyabs or Mangal Ocakbasi). And with the chilly weather upon us, I’m def longing for Leong’s beef noodle soup and XLB . . . also, I’ve had that crappy table before. But I’m usually just so glad not to be queuing outside anymore (and not planning to linger at the resto) that I never noticed it was *the* worst table there. Speaking of bad tables, I was, by coincidence, just thinking about the crappy table I got at Tierra Brindisa a few weeks ago. It was directly in front of the door, so every time the door opened (and it didn’t automatically close), it was freezing cold. My feeling is that there shouldn’t be a table there, particularly in cold weather.
Anyway, for now I’m still a fan of Leong’s, but I will definitely report back if the service’s rudeness sends me over the edge.
Charmaine – luckily I didn’t get caught out on that hidden service charge as well. That would have really annoyed me.
Les – over twenty years ago, my friends were chased out of Wong Kei with a table leg, but when I was there a few years ago, the waiter was ever so friendly and we even chatted about my work. Abrupt is OK, rudeness is unacceptable, even if the food is good (it wasn’t that good either).
Gourmet Chick – my most memorable dining experiences have involved superb service and wonderful ambience. Food, although it has to be good, forms just one part of the overall experience.
Lizzie – if the husband had been there, he would have stormed out. These days I’m less tolerant (old age?) and can’t abide staff at any restaurant, cheap or high end, who can’t even be civil to customers.
Sung – I’ve been comparing the photos too! Taste-wise, I think they didn’t stick to the sanbei formula. It was a disappointment…
Ken – you mean the second branch is even worse? What are they thinking?
American in London – well, it’s good to hear Leong’s still has fans! The service at Mangal was superb compared to LL, and I’ll see what it’s like at Tayyabs tomorrow evening. Do report back if you go back. I don’t want to give LL an unfair review, but based on my single experience, I was quite shocked. And I always want to promote Chinatown restaurants, which generally have a poor reputation. So it wasn’t easy to write this review!
Helen Yuet Ling
It’s been a year or so since I’ve been there but I remember the food being pretty good and the service being fine. Interesting that so many people have had such wildly different experiences.
Caitlin – isn’t it interesting? I enjoy hearing about other people’s experiences at places I’ve eaten at. It also helps me to decide whether to revisit a restaurant or not. I’m almost tempted to go back, just to see if I was just unlucky that day.
Helen Yuet Ling
We visited this last year for 202 meals (write-up still to come!), from the sound of it we caught them on a slightly better day to you.
I’m not much of an expert on taiwanese food, but our friend seemed to reckon that most of the menu was from mainland China, I’m interested in the sanbei now. Regardless I was impressed by almost all of what we tried, certainly a welcome change to what’s on offer nearby, and good value. Service was busy but not rude.
Baozi Inn is my new favourite in Chinatown though
Hi Matthew – checked out your blog recently to see what progress you guys were making. It’s good to hear about people’s different experiences. Maybe I’ll go back and try Baozi Inn again…
Helen Yuet Ling
Its interesting to see that some experience good service others dont.
Was there in June…..had bad service as well!
I liked boazi inn, very nice there. Ive been to ‘cha chan teng’ several times in chinatown and their service has always been fine!
vivi – both the quality of food and service seem to vary a lot, from what I’ve heard and read. They really need to be more consistent, one way or the other. So far though, I’m not that keen to go back. I went to Baozi Inn once, which was alright (more uncomfortable seating!).
Helen Yuet Ling