Before we went to the TĪNG Restaurant at the Shangri-La The Shard we went to the Leake Street tunnel via The Sidings at Waterloo.
Then it was a quick ride on the Jubilee Line to reach London Bridge station. There the Shard is literally just down the tunnel at the station entrance. But we were early and instead walked up Tooley Street and crossed over to go into the Barrowboy & banker pub.
Then it was time to retrace our steps to the Shard. The entrance to the Shangri-La The Shard hotel is on St Thomas Street. This is around the corner from the entrance to the viewing deck of the Shard.
The Shangri-La The Shard
Our dinner was booked for 6:30 pm and we had been asked to arrive at least 15 minutes earlier. Instead we were there at n5.45 pm and we were asked to have a seat. We were in a small entrance lobby and once it was confirmed it was OK to go up to the restaurant our bags (not us!) were scanned.
The lift just went to the 35th floor hotel reception and as we left we were greeted and guided around the floor to the TĪNG Restaurant. We passed other lifts that presumably went up to the higher floors of the Shard for the hotel rooms and the much publicised infinity pool!
Ting Restaurant
The name of the restaurant (we read) is derived from the Chinese word for ‘living room’. The restaurant offers dishes inspired by Asian cultures served along with its signature dishes and modern dishes.
We were shown to a window table that overlooked Tower Bridge and that had views all the way to Canary Wharf.
The Experience Meal
The menu for the three course Experience Menu was available by clicking on a QR code. This code was on the card that was presented to us as we sat down. The wi-fi for the hotel was fast with no log in required so there we were with great views of London below us looking at our phones!
Our meal voucher from Virgin Experiences gave us the the meal and we choose to add a glass of wine each (Quinta de la Rosa, from the Douro and Sauvignon Blanc, Waterkloof, ‘Circumstance’, Stellenbosch from South Africa.)
As we ordered I added an aperitif of Pernod on ice. For starters we ordered Heritage Beetroot Salad and Beef Tataki; for our mains Dingley Dell Pork; and for dessert Berries Vacherin.
Everyone was very attentive and in particular our server. We started with shaped bread and seaweed butter.
The main course was spectacular and the pork simply ‘melted’ in our mouths. On the menu it is described as ‘Char Siu Belly, Hispi Cabbage, Sake Infused Plum’
Nearest the camera is our dessert – ‘Berries Vacherin’. On the menu this is described as ‘Vegan Meringue, Berries Mousse, Vanilla Cream, Fresh Berries’. Wow, this was delicious…
Away from the main dessert is the plate of other delicious sweets that was delivered at the same time – again delicious.
