The Experience Menu That Feels Like a Mini Holiday
Inside the sleek Pan Pacific Hotel by Liverpool Street sits Straits Kitchen, where Southeast Asia gets dressed up for a night out in London. I dove into their Experience Menu – five courses of flavour fireworks – and honestly? These dishes deserve their own Instagram posts.
Atmosphere:
This is hotel dining but make it cool. Think soaring windows, earthy tones, and a vibe that whispers “fancy” without screaming “intimidating.” It’s plush but not pretentious – you can sip cocktails, gossip with friends, and still feel like you’re at the grown-ups’ table. Bonus: lighting that makes both your food and your selfies look good.
Service:
Top-tier. The staff at Straits Kitchen strike the perfect balance of friendly and polished. They tell you about each dish like they’ve personally auditioned for it on MasterChef – and honestly, I was here for it. Friendly, smooth, and zero awkward pauses.
Drinks:
I kicked off the evening with a glass of champagne – and honestly, that’s always the right answer. I didn’t go for the wine pairings this time (though they’re available and definitely worth it if you’re after the full “foodie experience”). What I can say? The cocktails could easily headline the night on their own – bold, balanced, and seriously fun to sip brought from their bar.
Price: £££
The Experience Menu is definitely worth the price, the quality, theatre, and all-around vibe, it felt like a mini holiday built into a meal.
What I Orderd:
Chilled Native Scallop
Cool, silky scallops with a hit of chill and citrus flavor, topped with a crunchy red curry crisp. Like an edible postcard from the beach. I could’ve happily eaten ten.
Jimmy Butler’s Pork Skewer
Sweet, sticky, char siu-glazed pork with plum ketchup on the side. Street food energy but wearing black tie. If this had a fan club, I’d be signing up.
*Cornish Crab Pappardelle
Stop the show. THIS is the dish. Creamy laksa sauce hugging silky ribbons of pasta, chunks of sweet crab, little pops of salty caviar. Would marry this pappardelle if I could.
Hereford Beef Short Rib
Fall-apart tender beef drowning (in the best way) in glossy soy-stout jus. The hibiscus onion brought a sassy little zing to cut through all that richness. The kind of comfort food that just got a hotel dining makeover.
And don’t forget the sides: the croquette and the spring onion on top were another perfect touch, adding texture and a little pop of freshness.
Ice-Cream Sandwich
Vanilla with a soy and sesame caramel centre, all neatly tucked into an “ice-cream sandwich” that had me grinning like a kid. Sweet, nutty, playful – basically dessert with a wink.
It was almost too fancy to be called an ice-cream sandwich (they even gave me a fork and knife… ). A little awkward to tackle at first, but of course, I devoured it happily.
Conclusion:
Straits Kitchen is the kind of place that makes dinner feel like a mini adventure. Gorgeous setting, faultless service, and food that bounces between nostalgic, playful, and downright luxurious.
Executive Head Chef Adam Bateman has created a menu that’s both comforting and elevated – turning street food favourites, Sunday-dinner classics, and even humble ice cream into dishes that feel special.
Well, I also love Temper and Mews by Tom Aikens in London, and I’d be thrilled to meet Adam in person someday (if it happens…!) to tell him how much I appreciate him – especially as an Asian myself, him showing the potential of Asian food in such a creative, elevated way.
Go with people who love food, and definitely go ready to fall in love with laksa-crab pappardelle.
Tips:
- Dress Code: Aim for smart-casual at least – unless you’re a hotel guest living the luxury life, best to leave the dirty sneakers at home.
- You can check out their full menu, including the tempting afternoon tea, here!
