FOOD+DRINK
the
fantastic
MING
As soon as you step into Ming in Petts Wood, you can feel a certain vibe in the air
that buzzes with the kind of cool comfort that many crave from a Chinese restaurant,
or any restaurant, come to that. BY LISAMARIE LAMB
With ornate ceiling carvings and
a polished wooden floor, Ming's
dining area is carefully lit to allow
for the ideal romantic rendezvous
or a family get together; the
lighting is low without making it
difficult to read the mouthwatering menu, and there is
plenty around to keep the eyes
busy. The two huge waving good
luck cats above the stunning
aquarium are a nice touch, and
whether they are waving
customers hello or goodbye, they
are there to produce a smile.
And when our starters of grilled pork
dumplings and shredded squid with
salt and pepper chilli arrived, we
couldn’t help but agree. We love
those dumplings. We have them
whenever we see them on the
menu, but these were something
extraordinary – they were
homemade, carefully prepared in
the restaurant’s kitchen by the
talented chef. And they tasted
incredible. As for the squid, it was
delicious, with a crispy coating that
didn’t take anything away from the
taste of the squid itself.
I was certainly smiling after
spotting them, and after being
greeted in a friendly fashion by
Patrick, Ming’s affable manager. I felt as though I was an old friend, especially
as Patrick took the time to learn both mine and my husband’s names. It
is little things like this, and bigger things such as an interesting menu and
good prices that keep patrons returning to a restaurant time and time again
– all of which Ming has.
The next course for many would
have been crispy Peking duck, but,
on Patrick’s recommendation we
opted for the lobster in ginger and
spring onions. We couldn’t help but
be impressed when it arrived in all
its glory, looking delectable and
perfectly cooked. To help us on our
way, we were given a fitting tray of
tools to use, as well as a finger bowl
and towels, which meant we could
really get stuck in! The lobster was
a treat, and it was well worth the
effort taken to get to the sweet meat
within.
Having been given some time to peruse the menu, and to snack on the
spicy prawn crackers (something I’d never tasted before but would definitely
like to try again!), Patrick returned to talk us through our options. He took
our order for starters and mains, and then recommended noodle and rice
dishes to go with our meals, picking those that would complement the
flavours we had already decided on. It meant that we could be utterly
confident in getting the right balance of tastes, which is something that
Patrick and the team at Ming's feels is essential.
Stomachs feeling rather full, we still
had the main course to go: mussels
in szechuan sauce. When the plate
of enormous mussels arrived at the
table, we wondered if we would
manage it, but one taste of the hot
“With Chinese food, unlike other types, you have all the flavours,” says
Patrick, nodding enthusiastically and pointing to the menu. “Garlic, chilli,
tomato, sweet, sour, salty, everything. It’s the best food.”
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and spicy dish and we knew we’d
finish the lot – even if our belts did
need a lot of loosening midway
through!
The food at Ming is refined Chinese,
utilising the best ingredients to offer
diners an experience that is set
apart from other similar restaurants.
Here you can relax in the soothing
atmosphere and eat perfectly
prepared, modern Chinese food
that will tick all the boxes when it
comes to flavour.
Ming also offers a weekly all-youcan-eat Sunday buffet for a set price
of just £14.80, but this is not your
usual Chinese buffet in which
everything is cooked in advance
and set out for you to grab at. At
this buffet, you choose from the
menu and the food is delivered
directly to your table. It’s fresh and
fast, and excellent value. And if you
are a lover of live music, Ming has
a monthly music event. You can
enjoy your food as the music plays.
Perfect.
Ming
23 Station Square
Petts Wood
BR5 1LY
01689 820427
www.mingrestaurant.net