Maxim Chinese Restaurant

It's a good sign when a restaurant is always busy, and Maxim in Ealing is bustling most nights. This long-established restaurant in Ealing is known affectionately by its customers as 'Mrs Chow's' in homage to the lady in charge of the cooking, who believes in using fresh, natural ingredients. Feeling adventurous? Swap sesame prawn toast for 'shredded jellyfish with three delicacies' or 'frog's leg in black bean sauce'. If not, don't worry - you'll do just as well with traditional starters like satay chicken or sweet-and-sour won ton. Follow with aromatic duck, a classic of its kind with crisp golden skin and tender meat, or push the boat out with a whole lobster, halved and served with ginger and spring onion sauce. Side dishes like glossy, crispy green beans are equally good. Finish with deep-fried banana and apple, the crunchy coating giving way to soft, fluffy fruit.