Shikumen Shepherd's Bush (Restaurant, Hotel)

Top 10 things you need to know about Shikumen restaurant:

1) You’re 16 again. At least you feel it and you definitely look it. That old band t-shirt still fits and you look young at heart. You’re 16 again and you’ve just enjoyed an hour and a half in your favourite band’s company. Now, you’re ready to eat!

2) It’s Shepherds Bush. There’s no lack of places to chow down but hell, you need to eat somewhere that will add to this already insanely good night.

3) Dorsett Hotel is just next-door to The 02 Shepherds Bush Empire. It houses Shikumen, where you’ll find some of the fanciest Chinese food you will ever eat outside of Chinatown.

4) Go through the glass doors and enter into a plush world of simple but stylish Asian décor where the mellow atmosphere only adds to how you much you will enjoy the next few hours.

5) Look at the menu carefully as you discuss the masterful guitar solo and insane vocals at the concert, before choosing the steamed dim sum platter. It houses all the best seafood dim sum options and still leaves space for the main. You cheekily order the chef’s special of duck with pancakes, the most elegant chef’s starter on the menu. Beautiful duck. Skillfully cooked. Good choice.

6) This isn’t just duck. This is duck that will be presented to your table by an expert chef who will cut the meat off the bone with flair whilst waiting staff noiselessly set down the pancakes, sauce, cucumber and four of the fluffiest white bao you’ve ever seen.

7) Make a joke about “the good old days” as you finish the beautifully presented duck and dim sum platter (light as a feather, delicately balanced and moreish) and wait for the main.

8) More cloud-like bao descend from the heavens with wooden pots containing crunchy pak choi and meaty pork belly so juicy you’ll sip the sauce it comes with. The Singapore noodles add a curry kick and extra crunch to the silky pork. Scoff to your heart’s content.

9) By now you’ll have noticed you haven’t spoken for a good half hour. You’ve been eating and bopping your head to the band’s greatest hits in your head.

10) You’re full: of music, memories and celestial food. You probably won’t have space for dessert. Nobody will blame you. Head into the night, a full but happy teenager....read more