Mr Liu Chinese Restaurant

[Abe_froeman]

Does anyone know if this place has closed down?

[Siduhe]

Apparently a refurbishment (but no direct knowledge).

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,1998176

[Abe_froeman]

Ah, thank you! I did search for "Mr Liu" but nothing came up oddly.

[Siduhe]

You need to use the Google custom search for any word of three letters or less - forum quirk!

[jimbo1964]

It's changed ownership and closed for a month for a refurb. The new owner was in on New Years Eve. I think she said it was going to be called 148. Same chef and staff.

[Sazzle30]

Same chef, phew!

[Earl Aelfheah]

Haven't been to Liu's for ages. Really fancy it now.

[Nigello]

It's good that it is getting a refit but with the same chef. It was looking tired and unappealing - that green moss on the canopy over the door was uninviting to say the least. I wish it well in its new incarnation.

[ED Light]

Sweet, sticky, stodgy westernised chinese food - hope the menu gets a revamp with something more modern than the 1980s appeal they have today

[fishbiscuits]

ED Light Wrote:

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> Sweet, sticky, stodgy westernised chinese food -

> hope the menu gets a revamp with something more

> modern than the 1980s appeal they have today

Don't get your hopes up! Unfortunately I think a lot of Chinese restaurants and takeaways are a bit stuck in their ways. They know what their existing customers like, and they're not prepared to take a risk by doing something a bit different.

[jimbo1964]

On NYE everything was delicious. I think the game was slightly upped by new owner.

[Sue]

ED Light Wrote:

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> Sweet, sticky, stodgy westernised chinese food -

> hope the menu gets a revamp with something more

> modern than the 1980s appeal they have today

Yes, sadly it wasn't very appealing the last time we ate there (some years back admittedly).

It didn't really encourage us to return.

Hopefully, as jimbo says, they have upped their game.

[TheCurryKingBrown]

I've had Liu once and I shan't be going back. If you have anything about you you'll try Mamalan take-away from Brixton. It's superb. Or I get my noodle kicks from Thai Corner Cafe.

TCKB

[JoeLeg]

Mamalan is superb.

[fishbiscuits]

Thai Corner isn't though!!

[jimbo1964]

Nothing wrong with Thai Corner.

[sela]

My Vietnamese wife cooks deliciously but so far no plan to open a restaurant.

[fishbiscuits]

jimbo1964 Wrote:

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> Nothing wrong with Thai Corner.

Yeah I don't think there's anything "wrong" with it as such, it's just very run-of-the-mill.

[Sue]

jimbo1964 Wrote:

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> Nothing wrong with Thai Corner.

It has had its ups and (very very) downs over the years since it opened.

Unless I was sure that it was now consistently "average", I wouldn't risk eating there again :(

[DovertheRoad]

fishbiscuits Wrote:

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> Thai Corner isn't though!!

Hmm. It's straight up Thai food without a hipster flourish but I disagree. It got very average for a number of years but I was pleasantly surprised to find they have raised their game and have had several recently as a result. Flavours are good and they deliver super fast via deliveroo.

[Mick Mac]

Haven't been to Thai Corner Caf? for years and don't really know why - must pay it another visit soon.

[DovertheRoad]

Yep - sometimes it's worth revisiting a long standing staple - chefs come and go.

One Thai I never went back to was Sema Thai (now Lux Thai?) - it was like British Airways Thai food. Again it may have improved...

Mr Liu was at one point one of the best for well made bog standard Chinese. But its been really poor last few years.

[Mick Mac]

DovertheRoad Wrote:

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>

> One Thai I never went back to was Sema Thai (now

> Lux Thai?) - it was like British Airways Thai

> food. Again it may have improved...

>

Went once on arrival in ED in 2001. Havent been back, as they made me keep my starter cutlery for my main course. i don't like that in a restaurant :0

[KidKruger]

Dover - Lux Thai (formerly Sema) is a wasted opportunity. I don't think it's moved on a restaurant in the 28yrs I've been in ED. Real shame. We went during the summer and I chose an obvious easy dish (Pla Rad Prik) which unfortunately was disappointing because it's sooo easy to make.

They are not even trying and the menu is plain. Thai food is such a great cuisine and we see little evidence of it there I'm afraid.

[Pierre]

DovertheRoad Wrote:

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> fishbiscuits Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Thai Corner isn't though!!

>

> Hmm. It's straight up Thai food without a hipster

> flourish but I disagree. It got very average for

> a number of years but I was pleasantly surprised

> to find they have raised their game and have had

> several recently as a result. Flavours are good

> and they deliver super fast via deliveroo.

I have to disagree with the delivery part - we waited over two hours from ordering to delivery the other day. Hangry doesn't even begin to cover it. They even hung up on us when we phone to ask how long our order was going to be. They kept the poor deliveroo rider waiting for over an hour. Poor show.

I'm looking forward to the revamped Mr. Liu - when I first experienced it (in about 2004) I remember it as "really good, but expensive." Worth it as a treat. My experiences in the last couple of years have been more "soggy, OK, but expensive." I hope it gets good again. I wish them good luck in the refurbishment.