A couple of my family members & I, thought we'd try this new/revamped restaurant out. We went with positive attitudes and expectations. We were greeted and seated promptly, and courteously enough. We ordered the lunch buffet, which was surprisingly small in terms of variety and size. I asked very casually and politely if this was the whole buffet area, and the woman serving it confirmed that, saying they do it like that, making a little at a time. I found that unusual, but decided it was nothing to complain about. I actually saw the genius of it, on an afterthought - as it helps to reduce food waste, and ensures that everything stays fresh and hot. And said as much. The remaining positives: They made a few customized things, for my vegetarian mom. We were impressed and grateful for that. They stayed on top of clearing our empty dishes. And we found the setup & decor to be beautiful and intriguingly rich, with tasteful and cultural touches. They also had a HUGE menu - which I would have SO loved to work my way down, over the next decade. Lol - truly impressive, that monster was...
The negatives which weren't deal-breakers: It could have been kept a little cleaner in there. Our table and everything we ate on or from - was clean, so I could deal with that. Also, plenty of what should be "backroom workings" were in plain sight, which was a little cringy and brow-raising. And the women's bathroom was a bit...crazy. Clean, which was a plus. But the ceiling was water-damaged, and untreated long enough that there was a sizable patch of black mold staring down at you while you did your business. There was also a dinner saucer flipped over on a square of foil, taped to the floor. Um... ??? And - one of the stall doors had a nice wide gap in it, so anyone walking up could get a nice frontal. And the door would trap you against the wall, if you didn't handle it a certain way. Ok...so - I can find a bathroom elsewhere, I guess.
Why I won't return:
That small & rationed buffet table? Was NOT kept filled. If you are going to do it like that - you MUST keep it stocked; I mean, if the buffet isn't there...what are you paying for?! We actually had to ask - even though they stood right there, seeing us hovering over scraps - if we could please have more of this or that. Then they'd ask how many or how much. WHAT? Really? Just fill the pan, like it should be! They were small to begin with! And no - we did not come in at the end of lunch, when things were wrapping up. Yet it felt like we were eating the LEFTOVERS of a buffet. Few dishes had more than a couple servings in them, at any given point. Some didn't have even one serving. Several items stayed empty; there were dishes I wanted to try, but they never restocked them. Several dishes were missing ingredients. Like a meat dish missing the meat (not kidding), or something else missing the veggies. It was like the labels were wrong, but they weren't - the dishes were. So, forced to eat a buffet that was more like hors d'oeuvres sample plates - we were also hovered over, each time we returned; hearing half-whispered Chinese conversations between the watching staff, who came off as though they thought we were being greedy. Okay, we might not understand what you're saying - but communication isn't just verbal, and we can still SEE you, you know! Standing around, looking dead at us. Just - wow.
Also - our waitress actually took it upon herself to question and chide us for who was paying! This was shortly after we were seated. She found it odd and apparently unacceptable - that a "younger one" was paying for an "older one". Her words. My cousin wanted to treat my mom for her birthday - but what business was that, of hers? So inappropriate and rude!
And - we were rushed after our first trip to the buffet table. Not directly, mind you. There weren't many other patrons. We were the only non-Chinese, and all the others seemed to be family and/or good friends of the restaurant staff (based on the dynamic and interaction I observed between them). And no one else was rushed. They brought the check and fortune cookies before we were even done with our 1st plates. They hawked over us, like they couldn't wait for us to finish and leave. Yet in direct interactions with us, they couldn't be bothered to even look at you while you - or they - were talking.
The greeter and the lady who customized dishes for us, aside - the staff were varying shades of rude. And the management and service - varying shades of unprofessional. I realize some things can be chalked up to cultural/communication differences. But some things are just uncalled for and poor business. I got the feeling that they wouldn't miss any visitors who weren't friends or family of theirs. And that's unfortunate, from both a business and community perspective. There is so much potential there that will never be realized unless and until, they change some things. It's sad, really - because they have so much more to offer. read more