Editor’s Pick: Old China Hand

In its fifth year, Old China Hand is a friendly, unassuming place that can be summed up in three words: dim sum pub.

A dim sum and beer haven

Lilly says:

A hammock laced with Christmas lights hangs from the ceiling when you enter, and like me, you will probably want to steal the idea for your own home. A quick look around khaki walls and teak wood furnishings made me feel as if I’d suddenly discovered some little expat joint in Asia.  At the bar, I ordered from a selection of rare bottled beers from around the world. Even better, ask for a cask on tap, like the Port Stout.

This place specializes in dim sum, and Old China Hand does it well. The menu has a decent selection starting from £4.2, and each order gave Lena and I four pieces, instead of the usual three. Perfect for sharing. There is also a short selection of noodle dishes. But this is where it really gets good: during weekdays all food is half-priced until 3 p.m. and on Saturdays until 6 p.m.

Old China Hand stays casual, and lets me feel comfortable ordering as little (or as much) as I want. Bring friends to watch a football match with the regulars, or just take advantage of free WiFi. Perhaps you’ll see me in the corner skyping with my hubby.

Lena says:

One step in this friendly joint and I was greeted by a full bar and a beautiful room filled with dark wood furniture. The atmosphere is cozy and interesting and slyly hints towards its eastern menu.

Though the ambience is lovely, you would think the menu would lean towards fish and chips with mushy peas because of its English-pub feel, complete with a full bar of English beer. Dim sum feels a bit out of place at first, but the taste is surprisingly authentic.

Being a self-proclaimed dim-sum connoisseur I wasn’t expecting much. I’ve eaten dim sum in its birthplace of Hong Kong and China. I’ve scoured the globe on a quest for the best Ha Gao in every Chinatown I’ve ever visited. I know San Francisco’s dim sum restaurants like I know the street I grew up on. Needless to say, I am a hard foodie to please when it comes to this Chinese treat.

I was expecting China Hands to fall short in comparison to my diverse dim-sum past, especially after hearing their too-good-to be-true half-price deal. I was wrong to pre-judge. The food was so good Lilly and I ordered seconds and basically licked the plate clean (ok that was just me).

The Malaysian noodles, the shrimp and chive dumplings, and the sweet potato dim sum were authentic with a modern twist. I like to think of dim sum like multi-colored edible jewels on a plate and Old China Hand has kept this visualized food fantasy fresh on my palate.

Old China Hand
8 Tysoe Street
www.bathhotel.com