Dim T is the chain of dim sum restaurants that professes to offer their customers a whole new world of Asian dining in a relaxed affordable setting. Do they really practice what they preach?

The Venue
You will find this Dim T restaurant in the leafy north London suburb of Highgate. With its variety of quaint Georgian shops and array of pubs all within close proximity of each other, Highgate’s well-to-do village setting seems like the perfect place for a cool, well-run, inexpensive eatery. The restaurant itself is small but with a selection of different types of seating from booths to tables, good use of space is made to suit all. The dark wooden floors, deep purple walls with soft lighting and mirrored backdrops do strangely generate a cool, relaxed vibe.

The Atmosphere
The venue buzzes with many locals of different ages, so expect everyone from the young after-work couples still in suits and girls on a night out to the older generation attempting to fully embrace the sharing ethos of Asian dining. Everyone seems to enjoy themselves, which is a good sign, and a steady stream of takeaway customers hurry through the door for an easy meal. The staff are very friendly, and efficient in a non-intrusive manner, which adds to the overall experience. They're also pretty well versed in the specials on offer and are able to enthusiastically make suggestions when asked.

The Food
The food on offer includes many staples of Asian cuisine. All of the mains are categorised into specialities, dim sum and dishes from the noodle bar, but on the whole much of what's on offer are pretty recognisable and lack the kind of innovation to offer any surprises - which is probably just what folk round these parts want.

The food is fairly reasonably priced. Starters are between £3 to £6, dim sum is £3.60 per basket and the noodle bar dishes come in at between £8 and £9. The specialities need additional noodles or rice to really complete the dish, and this pushes the price for these up to the £11-12 mark. Unfortunately, the duck spring rolls starter lacks flavour, with the filling a little bland in comparison to the crunchy coating. Salt and pepper prawns, also lack a certain bite from the pepper, but the prawns themselves are cooked well and retain their subtle, delicate flavour.

The main courses however, are a vast improvement, in both taste and flavour. Thai green curry with a cute wicker basket of steamed rice is presented nicely and packs a punch of flavour. The chilli, lemongrass and creamy coconut sauce that soaks into the rice is a delight. The Shanghai lemon chicken is nicely breadcrumbed rather than battered, and has a fresh lemon sauce with a touch of stickiness from the honey which allows the dish to be refreshing and not too heavy.

The desserts are the biggest treat and are also pretty funkily presented. The banana fritters with toffee sauce (£4.95) are sweet, crispy and just a little bit naughty. The chocolate bento box (£4.95) consists of more than enough chocolate brownies and ice cream, and is like opening a present of chocolate delight. The brownies are lightly crisped on the outside with the centre being spongy and chocolaty and deliciously filling.

The Drink
The teas on offer are the main highlight of the drinks menu. There are various types of green tea, as well as white versions, mint teas and even iced teas, all priced from £1.95 to £2.95. The wine and beer menu is more limited but all the usual staples are on offer at a reasonable price, with some wines available just by the glass. If you prefer, you could order a cocktail where effort's been made to throw an Oriental twist on some better known flavours, such as in the Mandarin mojito (£6.25).

The Last Word
On the whole Dim T is a pleasant dining experience made all the better by the excellent staff and service. The food can lack a little depth of flavour at times, but the traditional dishes are done really well and the fact that they're served in such a relaxed atmosphere means that this place is still worth looking up.

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