China Club

A high-design establishment with elegant service, intimate atmosphere and ambitions to fine dining status 2 Reviews

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Although replete with decent Indian, Lebanese and Thai joints, Dubai is lamentably low on good Chinese restaurants. Into this chasmic gap in the market steps The China Club, a high-design establishment with elegant service, intimate atmosphere and ambitions to fine dining status.

Sliding into a red-lined side booth we were immediately impressed by the musical backdrop – instead of the usual lobe-wrenching misery of panpipes and synth, the sultry crooning of Sinatra took centre stage, interwoven with some strategically-placed Ella Fitzgerald.

We asked for food advice from our waitress, who preceded each recommendation with the claim the dish was famous. While prepared to believe the Jin Ling salted duck had become widely known in the two days since opening, we struggled to accept that the jellyfish salad with turnip had achieved similar celebrity. The Jin Ling, a row of tender duck soldiers, was truly ahead of the game, while the novelty jellyfish was sweet, stringy and distinctly odd. Similarly confusing were the famous sweet and sour boneless ribs. These chunky beef nuggets were far sweeter than sour, with an intriguing texture and a flavour slightly reminiscent of treacle.

Throughout dinner, the service shone: the waitresses are enthusiastic about the place and generate a real buzz. One of them painstakingly prepared Peking duck pancakes for us, folding squares of wonderful roast meat into pancake envelopes sealed with hoisin sauce. We followed up with deliciously poky chicken shreds and top quality Szechuan prawns, filled with plenty of bite and stir-fried with a cheeky pepper mix. The real Chinese champ, however, was a punchy plate of fried egg noodles loaded with crisp spiced veg.

We kicked back with some famous red bean paste buns and chewed things over with a contemplative pot of Chinese tea. We were pleased with our meal – while it doesn’t hit the mark every time, the food is inventive and some dishes truly excel. Combined with top service, location and ambiance, this place is clearly all set to become a real ace of Clubs.

• Previous reviews
  • 17 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 31 October,2007- reviewed by TimeOut Dubai Staff
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 07 February,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 29 April,2006- reviewed by Time Out Dubai
  • 29 December,2005- reviewed by Matthew Lee
  • 01 June,2004- reviewed by Rob Orchard
  • 01 February,2004- reviewed by Rob Orchard

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