RestaurantsLondonMayfairW1J

Harden's says

The long-awaited replacement to Matsya (RIP) comes from Jamavar and Bombay Bustle creator Samyukta Nair, and is inspired by 1920s Shanghai; former Hakkasan chef Peter Ho will oversee the high-end, modern Chinese menu.

survey result

Summary

£104
£££££
3
Good
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Empress MiMi – keeper of the most revered Chinese culinary secrets – is the fictional inspiration for Samyukta Nair’s chic, Shanghai-inspired three-year-old: “an old converted Mayfair townhouse turned into a really charming three-storey restaurant”. Feedback on its luxurious Chinese cuisine is relatively limited, but says that “every dish is spot-on”. It is fully priced though, especially if you start straying into the ‘signature’ parts of the menu featuring lobster, caviar and Peking duck.

Summary

£97
 ££££
3
Good
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“We went there a mite apprehensive that we would be overwhelmed by pretension… but the dining rooms are beautiful!” – Samyukta Nair’s Shanghai-inspired two-year-old occupies a three-story Mayfair townhouse decorated in an elegant, classic style based on a fictional ‘Empress Mimi’. The chicness of the surroundings helps compensate for some “slightly overpriced” dishes, as does the generally excellent level of service. Top Menu Tip – “the fabled Peking duck is one of the best in town”.

Summary

£93
 ££££
3
Good
3
Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Tucked away in a lovely Mayfair conversion”, Samyukta Nair’s (who studied in China) year-old Shanghai-inspired venture has suffered some tough press reviews (notably from Giles Coren in The Times) but generally pleases diners. OK, even many fans concede that it is “super-expensive”, but “apart from the bill, everything else is amazing”, including the superior dim sum (from an ex-Hakkasan, Chinese-Singaporean chef, Peter Ho) and “fabled Peking duck” (which you must pre-order).

Summary

£71
  £££
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

From Jamavar and Bombay Bustle creator Samyukta Nair (who studied in China), this September 2021 replacement to Matsya (RIP) is inspired by 1920s Shanghai and the three-floor restaurant is, apparently, inspired by a reimagination of the building as the secret London residence of Empress Mimi, which means ‘secret’ in Mandarin. Former Hakkasan chef Peter Ho oversees a high-end, modern Chinese menu, including wood-roasted Peking duck. For cocktails, head to The Moon Bar.

For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at MiMi Mei Fair?

55 Curzon Street, London, W1J 8PG

Restaurant details

8, 6
No shorts
85
9

MiMi Mei Fair Restaurant Diner Reviews

Reviews of MiMi Mei Fair Restaurant in W1J, London by users of Hardens.com. Also see the editors review of MiMi Mei Fair restaurant.
Jonathan M
An old converted town house turned into a r...
Reviewed 8 months, 24 days ago

"An old converted town house turned into a really charming three story restaurant, Stunning dim sum. In fact every dish was spot on. "

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Prices

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Pudding
£13.00 £30.00 £13.00
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £60.00
Filter Coffee £4.00
Extras  
Service 15.00%
55 Curzon Street, London, W1J 8PG
Opening hours
Monday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm
Tuesday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm
Wednesday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm
Thursday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm
Friday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm
Saturday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm
Sunday12 pm‑3 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm

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