I pray you're reading reviews before going and you see my most sincere message. Like you, I come to yelp to check out other's experiences. There are times what's written seems sus and I try it anyway. Tonight was one of those grave errors in judgement where my risk taking got the better of me.
I'll save you from having to read all of the other reviews. Just. Don't. Go.
1) Confirmed, there is food that tastes like detergent. I couldn't nail down what it was -- the soy sauce at the sushi bar? At least 4 different things on my plate tasted like chemicals. It truthfully ruined the rest of the meal.
2) Confirmed, food not served at ServSafe temps. Yes, I'm a science nerd and probed at my table within 2 minutes of plating. Needless to say, I passed on the few items that didn't pass muster. (You don't carry a temp probe?!?! ThermoPro or CooperAtkins have great pocket probes!)
3) Filth. The napkin holder on my table had sticky mess all over the top of it. Their mops (or the mop operator?) likely need replacing because edges in the dining room and bathroom have a sludgy wedge of floor juice in the corners. Flies zooming around isn't a good sign either. No hot water in women's rest room. ALL of the sinks. (Never mind that the "rest room checklist" was BLANK and numerous other disgusting things found on attempting to find a usable stall.
4) Confirmed, it's a damn ZOO in there. Not entirely the restaurant's fault but holy sh*t, the customers are savages, esp related to kids and the lack of parenting. Unsupervised at the ice cream, running through the rows of hot tables, galloping up and down the table aisles pushing/shoving one another. Not a single staff member intervened, even when they nearly knocked 2 customers over or when an entire plate of food hit the deck over a child tantrum.
5) Confirmed, this place is NOT safe. I should have turned around and driven away when I saw no less than 4 signs from the restaurant AND Phila PD warning about vehicle break-ins. Despite a security camera trailer not too far from the entrance, I came out to find a car a few spaces from mine had been smashed and tossed. Also, dirtbags in an ungodly noisy catless DP'ed Civic were tailgating and tossing beer bottles in the parking lot like they owned the place.
6) Confirmed, the waitstaff is pushy and not entirely friendly. They post up at the ends of the table aisles before you walk to get your food. In theory, this might be great for them to rapidly serve customers, but it's gone sideways. Scowls on their faces. GLARING as you eat. It completely stressed me out.
7) Confirmed, whatever's going on there causes GI upset in someone known to have a cast iron digestive tract. I've been accused of being raised by wolves and being able to eat carrion but tonight got the best of me. I'll be cutting this short to go hang out with my porcelain friend. FML
PS. Seriously question the lived experiences of folks who give this establishment 5 stars!!!! Ugh my belly!!!! read more