Chino Latino Tasting Menu Review – Park Plaza Riverbank

Chino Latino is a multi-award-winning modern Pan-Asian restaurant located in Park Plaza Riverbank. With a Latin cocktail bar, the restaurant has amazing panoramic views of the River Thames and Houses of Parliament. This month Chino Latino launched an exciting new menu blending Peruvian and Asian flavours. The food is accompanied by a new cocktail menu that captures the spirit of South American flavours. I was invited down to try out their Tasting Menu called Rengin’ Chino Set Menu.

The Tasting Menu is for a minimum of two people and is £65 per person. That might sound like a lot but once you realise just how much is included, it suddenly becomes very reasonable. The menu includes eight dishes, brought out in three sections, and a dessert platter. It’s a great chance to experience a variety of flavours and dishes from the menu. You also get to see an overview of the chef’s creativity and skill.

MAKI ROLLS & SALADS

The first round of dishes included Tiger Maki, Marinated blowtorched salmon, and Duck and watermelon salad. The tender duck meat was complimented by just the right amount of crispiness. The addition of lime mustard maple syrup brought an interesting blend of tanginess and sweetness. The watermelon and added pomegranates brought a sweet and juicy element to the dish. The only thing I would say is there was so much salad that you had to dig through to find the duck.

Surprisingly, as someone who doesn’t typically enjoy sushi, I found the Tiger Maki rather enjoyable. It was a beautifully presented dish with a lovely combination of prawn and crab meat. Dressed in a sesame beetroot yoghurt dressing it gave the dish a real vibrancy. I did have to remove a bit of the dressing as it was a bit much for me. But overall, this dish gets high praise from someone who would usually avoid the sushi menu. Finally, we had the Marinated blowtorched salmon which was very delicately presented. Now personally I don’t eat salmon, but this dish received high praise from my friend Nikki.

SMALL DISHES

Moving on to the “Small Dishes” section this consisted of Calamari, Prawns wrapped in shiso leaf and Vegetable gyoza. The calamari was one of the standout dishes for me with its lovely tamarind dressing. And I was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t cool off too quickly as is usual for calamari. The dish was a masterful blend of textures with the tender meat and slight crisp to the batter. If you are a fan of seafood, this is a must try from the small dish selection.

Despite a bit too much batter the prawns had an excellent flavour and a nice kick of heat. Ponzu sauce had a zesty and citrus flavour and was an interesting pairing with the prawns. The Vegetable Gyoza were skilfully crafted, and you could see the crisp texture. I don’t eat vegetables but can appreciate the artful skill of dumpling making. And it was great to see an example of the restaurant’s vegetarian options.

MAIN DISHES

The main dishes section did not disappoint with two incredible dishes of Casterbridge sirloin steak and Black cod. The steak was served on hot rocks and whilst ours wasn’t sizzling, many of the surrounding tables were. The mix of the steak, soy, mirin, and garlic created an irresistible aroma. You can order the steak to your preference and then control the level of doneness with the hot rocks. I must admit that I ate the majority of the steak and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The showstopper of the evening for me was the Black cod with a miso glaze. I was left obsessed by its remarkable flavour that was both delicate and rich. Cooked to perfection, the fish effortlessly fell apart with every forkful and just melt in the mouth. The miso glaze brought a well-balanced sweet and savoury combination to the dish. I was getting quite full by this point of the meal but couldn’t not finish this beautiful dish.

DESSERT PLATTER

For dessert the platter was an indulgent assortment of delights including refreshing raspberry and blackberry sorbets in ice cream cones. There was also a matcha sponge, homemade chocolates and truffles, and vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Each element led to a symphony of textures and flavours. You can’t go wrong with homemade chocolates and truffles, and vanilla and chocolate ice cream and classic choices. The sorbets were our favourites bringing a refreshing and tangy end to the meal.

Overall, the Rengin’ Chino Set Menu at Chino Latino was a remarkable dining experience. It was an exciting culinary journey and I’d highly recommend for anyone seeking a memorable gastronomic adventure. You can also experience a selection of signature dishes from Chino Latino with the Taste Of Chino menu. For £48 each you get six dishes and two desserts, which includes the Duck Salad and Shiso Leaf Prawn.

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