Leigh House — Restaurant in England

Chinese restaurant serving Beijing (Peking), Szechuan, and Cantonese cuisine. Will be celebrating 40 years this September (2024).

Inconspicuously located in Beaconsfield old town. Hasn’t got the usual large, flashy sign outside. In fact it would be easy to miss!

Similarly inside, it is not littered with cheap Chinese decorations. I’d go as far as saying it looks very high class.

The front of house staff are very attentive, regularly (but not annoyingly often) coming to check if everything is ok or if you need any more food or drinks.

We went there for the Sunday buffet on the August bank holiday weekend. Got there about 1pm. It wasn’t busy at all, but as we were eating a number of people turned up. Talking to the waitress, we were told that Sundays, and the whole weekend in general, is usually very busy.

So booking a table in advance is recommended. If you do it through the website you’ll be directed to a third party site. This site ‘warns’ you that that the Sunday buffet ends at 1.30pm. Ignore that! It’s not true. The buffet is served all day Sunday.

How it works, is that you’re offered a mixed platter of Peking ribs, spring rolls, deep fried vegetables, crispy seaweed, chicken satay skewers, and prawn toast according to the number of people at the table.

Then you get a “tick list” (see photo) where you mark which dishes you’d like to order. So it’s a kind of “a la carte buffet”. Once you’ve finished what you ordered, you can order more, including topping up your starter mixed platter. There’s no limit how much you can order- as long as you eat it all!

We chose Chicken with ginger and spring onion, Crispy chilli beef, Szechuan beef, and Twice cooked pork.

What’s our thoughts?

Definitely much better than your usual Chinese fast food from ‘down the road’.

Yet, perhaps not as good as I had expected.

From the mixed platter the giant spring rolls, seaweed, deep fried vegetables ,and the peking ribs were the best. The prawn toast didn’t really taste of prawns, the satay sauce didn’t even have a hint of peanut flavour.

From main courses: the Chicken with ginger and spring onion tasted of ordinary chicken soup. The Crispy chilli beef was crispy and tasty but I couldn’t tell if there actually was any beef! There was no “chewiness” in the crispy bites.

The Szechuan beef was tender and flavoursome, not overly spicy. I couldn’t see any Szechuan peppers…

The Twice cooked pork was also tender and tasty.

Dessert is also included - deep fried apple and banana with caramel drizzle and ice cream. Pretty bland, to be honest. Disappointing, as I was looking forward to it.

Overall, all the dishes had flavour but there was just that “little something” missing to make it stand out.

Also, typical of many buffet meals, it left us both rather thirsty. I think the idea is to make the dishes a bit saltier (or use MSG?) to make you order more drinks and eat less food...

STAY AWAY!!. It is very unlike me to leave a review but with the amount of stress Wai put me through. I most certainly don’t want this to happen to any other bride. It took Wai almost 2 months to get us a quote, and every time he said he would call back he never did. Throughout the year, we did everything he required from us. We discussed the menu, did the tasting and he set up a meeting with us at the venue to run through the final details where he did not even show up. Wai said he will go to the venue himself on another day to make up for it and will call at the same time to run through the final details instead but never called. Bear in mind we are now in January and still had not heard from him.

Eventually I had to contact him again for an update where Wai told me everything went smooth at the venue and quote, “everything was all set to go.” I mentioned about amending the quote as numbers of guests changed and he said that we will have a final meeting 2 weeks prior to the wedding, and if I had any questions in between to contact him. So at this point you would think you can relax now until then as he assured everything is sorted. WRONG! Given he’s track record I decided to contact Wai earlier to book our final meeting which is where he told me that I was not booked with him and that he had another wedding booked now the day before mine?! He tried to blame me that he had not heard from me for a while so assumed I did not want to use he’s services. (Even though the proof is in our texts him telling me everything was set and we would talk again 2 weeks before the wedding) Makes absolutely no sense! Told him that he needed to refer back to our messages of what HE said. And instead of admitting he’s wrong, he would blame me instead. So after a whole year of planning, Wai had completely wasted our time with less than 1 month away from my wedding!

I managed to find another caterer and found out this is not the first time Wai has done this to as my new caterer were having to also cater for another couple that Wai had messed up on. I also found out after through a mutual friend that Wai actually catered for a wedding in the past where mains did not come out till 10pm and again the couple being blamed for things rather taking responsibility.

Finding a Chinese caterer for our wedding was difficult but it’s not worth the stress and him potentially not even turn up to your wedding seeing how forgetful he is and...

The Leigh House in Beaconsfield is a culinary gem that delightfully marries traditional Chinese cuisine with a dash of modernity, making every dining experience both nostalgic and refreshingly innovative. Under the masterful leadership of Mr. Wai Kee Tang, the establishment not only promises but delivers an impeccable gastronomic adventure.

From the moment one steps into The Leigh House, the ambiance sets the stage for a memorable evening. The lighting, particularly the LED bar lighting, is not only impressive but also artistically implemented, creating an inviting glow that enhances both mood and decor. This thoughtful lighting complements the sleek, contemporary interiors, providing a vibrant yet intimate setting for diners.

The staff at The Leigh House are a testament to Mr. Tang’s leadership, reflecting his passion for excellence and hospitality. They are knowledgeable, warm, and remarkably attentive, ensuring that every guest feels both valued and pampered. Their professionalism and courtesy are apparent in every interaction, adding a personal touch that elevates the overall dining experience.

Culinary skills are front and center, with dishes that showcase a profound respect for traditional flavors infused with creative twists that surprise and delight. The menu is a thoughtful curation of both classic and innovative dishes, each prepared with high-quality ingredients that speak to the chef’s dedication to excellence and innovation.

Mr. Wai Kee Tang's influence is palpable in every detail, from the meticulous presentation of dishes to the seamless service that guests receive. His vision for The Leigh House as a top-tier dining destination is realized through continuous dedication to both culinary artistry and customer satisfaction.

In conclusion, The Leigh House in Beaconsfield stands out as a premier dining establishment. It offers more than just a meal; it provides an experience that is rich in flavor and steeped in a welcoming ambiance, making it a must-visit for anyone looking to indulge in exceptional...