The first thing you notice is the building. Black and gold, two storeys of floor-to-ceiling glass, a canopy that sweeps upward like an ancient Chinese temple. Tang Dynasty makes an unmistakable statement on Cecil Road before you've even reached the door.
But this is no cold monument to grandeur. The second thing you notice is the sign outside the door: A Place That Feels Like Home. And once inside, you understand exactly what they mean.
Tang Dynasty is no orthodox Chinese restaurant. Opening in late 2024 on the site best known in recent times for Dee Thai, it is the realisation of owner James Chen's belief that Hale needs the quality Chinese that it has arguably missed since the days of Man Zen.
But aside from the distinctive exterior, there are other things that set this apart from any other Chinese restaurant in the area.
It is, for a start, genuinely stunning inside. On both floors the mood is one of quiet luxury – golden bamboo and yellow orchids reaching upward, cream leather chairs drawn around marble tables beneath circular gold pendants.
Two curved bars are clad in a swirling slab of white, black and gold, and there's an old American Rock-ola jukebox loaded with classics from Baby Come Back to Somebody to Love.
On the busy Saturday evening we visited, the atmosphere was warm and buzzy. Service is evidently a major priority - attentive without being overbearing, nothing ever too much trouble.
We opened with the har kau – prawn dumplings, served in their bamboo steamer – and they were properly good: thin-skinned, generously filled and fresh tasting. A word too for the extensive vegan/vegetarian menu available at Tang - not always a guarantee at Chinese restaurants.
We opted for the Peking Set for Two (£44.80 per person), which started with a crowd-pleasing array of appetisers, including butterfly king prawn, crispy seaweedflakes, chicken satay skewers, chicken spring roll, spare ribs and sesame prawn toast.
The middle course brought the aromatic crispy duck – and it was, simply, outstanding. Skin that shattered at the touch, meat that fell away tender and deeply flavoured, served with pancakes, hoisin, cucumber and spring onion. As good a crispy duck as you will find anywhere.
The main course heralded a cast iron dish filled with sizzling fillet beef in black pepper sauce, chicken in sweet and sour sauce, sautéed broccoli and egg fried rice. A selection of refreshing fruit pieces wrapped things up nicely.
With such a dramatic exterior, Tang Dynasty could easily be all front. It is anything but. The space is beautiful, the welcome genuine and the food - honest, authentic Cantonese cooked with real care - is arguably the best Chinese you will find in Altrincham right now.
Tang Dynasty, 6 Cecil Rd, Hale, WA15 9PA. For more, visit tangdynastyhale.co.uk or call 0161 526 6555.
