While hunting for flats in Cambridge, I was told by a kind London girl, who was also hunting for flats in Cambridge, "ooh, you should try to look in the Belvedere - my favorite Chinese restaurant is located in the building!" Interesting, but I hope she wasn't offended when I was a wee bit skeptical that it could be all that great, as how much could a Cambridge-bred Welsh Londonite really know about good Chinese food?
A lot, apparently.
I've only been here once and I can already tell you that it's a foodie destination - one that I would gladly not only travel from City Center Cambridge to come eat at, but even from London. Had only 2 dishes - one quite good (dry fried string beans), and one that was amazing (stir fried smoked chicken). Both dishes were composed of fresh ingredients and prepared to order, so it took about 15-20 minutes for them to arrive, even though the restaurant was completely empty. The green beans were french-style haricot verts, the kind that you pay triple at the grocery store for, all evenly wide -- the first time I've ever seen a Chinese restaurant use them. They were well seasoned and expertly cooked to a vibrant green, not over-done as you would find at many restaurants. Two minor quibbles: I wished they were cut slightly longer, as it was more difficult to get a full mouth-full with chopsticks at their (2 inch) length. The beans were also not quite "wrinkled" enough, which probably meant the wok temperature could have been higher -- but frankly, that would also have meant more oil and more chance of overcooking.
The smoked chicken with chilis was one of the best stir fry dishes i've ever had, and I've eaten a LOT of Chinese stir-fry at a LOT of different restaurants. The dish is not a low-effort dish, and was put together with care and attention to flavor. Most Chinese restaurants cut corners (I'm not faulting them for this - my grandparents did it) by doing prep work (including pre-cooking meat) for a few days at a time, using MSG to enhance flavor, etc, and it was very evident that this wasn't the case at Peking Restaurant. The chicken was perfectly moist and was expertly shredded into equal size pieces. Moreover, the taste was exquisite - smoky, fiery, pungent - but not overpoweringly so or overly greasy.
The proprietress told me that her husband spent many years cooking for the Chinese Embassy here in London, and like picking its gymnasts, the Chinese govt doesn't mess around with picking its chefs. She was very warm and friendly and chatted with us quite a bit when we asked her where her food came from. She speaks near-perfect English as well, so one need not be intimidated. She also mentioned that her husband will be retiring soon-ish, so I feel all the more urgency to come back and eat his food many times before it closes.
A few caveats: it's not cheap. they don't take cards. they tack on a service charge, even for small parties.
Expect to pay 8 pounds for a veg dish, and 12 quid for a meat dish. Expensive for Cambridge, but about average in London (excluding hole in the walls). Given the quality of ingredients and the care that goes into cooking, it's a very reasonable price. Some people have this expectation that Chinese food should cost 6 quid a plate, and while some places can deliver on that promise, you usually get what you pay for.
But if you're someone who goes to Chinese restaurants valuing flavor above price and convenience, there is not reason you shouldn't be eating here and eating here often. read more
