I have a confession to make. Alan Yau's Michelin-starred intimate restaurant in Soho has so many happy memories for me, I was slightly perturbed to hear that a new mammoth offering would be opening in the City. With a few notable exceptions, my experience of City dining hasn't been great. I've always felt small and under-dressed. I've always felt surrounded by braying people having power lunches. I've always felt that I should be drinking several large glasses of over-priced wine just to get through the experience. I've always felt a sense of relief when leaving the restaurants, the madness of Liverpool Street station and the City in general and heading back "West".
Coming face to face with the hugeness of Yauatcha in Broadgate Circus for its launch party, with my background of City dining prejudices, I privately thought "Let's give it half an hour then go". Three hours later, I made my way home, full of Yauatcha's legendary dim sum and after tasting some of the best desserts in my life. I can't wait to go back.