Jing Shyang Y.
Yelp
We actually missed this restaurant and hit the bar around the corner. Getting odd looks from the banker crowd, we were helpfully directed by the staff to the restaurant.
The first impressions were stunning. The staff were extremely gracious and helpful. Despite us not being their "normal" clientele (think bankers and money ppl) they were on the LivingSocial programme so knew what to expect :)
We were taken to our table, and you couldn't help but marvel at the interior. The high ceiling of a converted church. The liberal blending of modern and traditional features was just divine. Unfortunately whilst the interior was nice, the lighting was atrocious. Okay, I'm a massive instagrammer, and every picture during the evening came out a murky yellow. Whether this is their way of dissuading you of taking pictures, should you be that way inclined, it is best to get a lunchtime reservation where your pictures of the food would do it justice. Just to show you how bad, I've uploaded photos.
The service is definitely one thing to highlight. Bread is constantly replaced, with staff coming to the table when either you're finished with bread or appear you want to order. Additionally, the Sommelier picked out some great wine recommendations which were delivered with our mains are requested. I know it's not a big deal, but many places just don't do this. Sure not all of them are Michelin starred.
Onto the food, I was a little disappointed. Perhaps it was the range, seasonality of the menu, but it seemed restricted. There 5 starters to pick from and 3 were fish, with 1 vegetarian. They were nice, but having been to Brasserie Joel a week earlier no way as good as their duck terrine starter. The mains were in similar fashion. My pork dish had a sauce that was way to salty. And I say this coming from a family where soy sauce is used liberally. Again there was nothing special about the ingredients used. It was run of the mill pak choi, green beans and that sort of fare, easy to buy anywhere. Maybe I'm wrong, but when I go somewhere Michelin starred, I want to be blown away and sadly I was not.
Desserts were good, but again, the menu looked restricted. A frangipane and a chocolate ganache dessert. Sigh. They were good, rich, but nothing I couldn't have just bought during my lunchtime at nearby borough market.
In all, if what you look for is excellent attentive service a very good sommelier but un-adventurous good then you'll like this place. Is it worth the Michelin? Perhaps No. But then again I know nothing about how these things awarded, apart from the fact, I've been disappointed with the two places I've visited that had been awarded them. I suggest this place is worth the price of entry on a Groupon, but unless the menu is substantially better for full-paying customers, I would much recommend Brasserie Joel that I visited a week prior.
Another thing, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of american tourists at the venue, dressed in their bingo shirts and shorts. It was quite funny.