ROBOTS AND MICHELIN GUIDE DUMPLINGS HEAD TO CENTRE POINT
BellaBots deliver famous Xia Long Bao at West End Skyscaper
For a taste of the old and the new, head to the latest Din Tai Fung in London’s Centre Point, where robots will be serving up traditional, Michelin Guide recognised Taiwanese dumplings from 22 September.
Taiwan’s famous dumpling chain made waves across the world with its Xiao Long Bao - sexy, steamed soup dumplings - and its London sites in Covent Garden and Selfridges have proved such a hit, it is now planning to launch this third restaurant in the West End’s iconic skyscraper.
Din Tai Fung has proudly offered the same, authentic Taiwanese cuisine for more than 60 years, so the new spot will follow suit with the same menu, which includes handmade dumplings, rice and noodle dishes and our personal favourite, the Salted Egg Yolk Custard Lava Buns, a sweet twist on their steamed buns.
Unlike the other sites, this chic 13,500sq ft space will also have its own, swish bar area, with floor-to-ceiling windows for guests to enjoy their signature cocktails, including the Din, Tai and Fung.
Visitors can also enjoy meals on wheels, courtesy of the restaurant’s resident BellaBots - robotic cats - which glide around the floor, helping the human waiters deliver dishes and clear away plates. You can show your appreciation by patting them on the head, and will be rewarded with a wink - this only works with the robotic waiters. *Do not attempt this with human waiters*
To celebrate the artistry and skill that goes into each Xiao Long Bao, the restaurant will also have an open kitchen in the middle of the space, so diners can watch the craftsmanship that goes into making them, which includes 40 minutes of hand preparation, rolling, filling and making 18 precise folds.
So next time you’re wondering where to get your fix of robots and artfully folded buns, you know where to go.
Din Tai Fung, Centre Point, 101-103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DD. Opens 22 September 2022
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