Lawd have mercy! For a place that started off with so much potential, who knew it could all go so…read morehorribly wrong. Fusia was a nice addition to the Centenary Square area of Bradford, and prices were reasonable, food was good, value and service was exceptional. In the past three or so years, I'm afraid it's all gone down hill from there. What started out as an all you can eat buffet, with lean and tasty Chinese cuisine, three distinct courses; starters, mains and desserts, refill drinks, good customer service and smiles and pleasantries and all that has now ended up as an inflated prices buffet with time limit (who the frig puts a time limit on food) of about 90 minutes or an hour depending on your day and time of day, no refills, and quite frankly sub par food.
Ok so the details, the establishment itself is rather nice, clean pale wood and cream leather stools, set together in formations of long tables or tables for two, you don't ever really feel out of place in here eating by yourself if you're grabbing a quick power lunch and you're on a time limit. And on the other hand, the long benches make good for larger groups. Nice clean lines, gives a nice light bright atmosphere to the place, especially with the large glass window that fills the restaurant with light on nice days.
Back in the day you ordered a soft drink and you paid more for it, but you could refill it, grand idea, not any more, the food was always piping hot and fresh, and trays were regularly turned out, lately, if it's running low and looking a bit oldish, you have to ask for them to refill the trays up, won tons and spring rolls and such all seem to leave a healthy residue of grease on the plate, which as my dear friend discovered, is whisked out from under your snout before you've had chance to place the fork down. My veggie mates never used to have much trouble finding something to snaffle, but the last ditch attempt we had left her eating broccoli and vegetarian starters. Dessert used to save this, but the ice cream machine complete with plethora of syrups and bits and bobs has now been replaced by really crap ice-cream in boxes, all piled up on top of each other, open, stuck in a freezer with residual previous scoop marks from other flavours. Nice(!) Other dessert items include Jammy Dodgers, mini Swiss rolls cut in half, jaffa cakes, all kinda stale if I'm honest, and the saving grace, fresh fruit.
And the wholesome family relaxed vibe got shot out of the water, when I actually witnessed two members of staff rushing a family out who had been there 60 minutes as their time was up, they actually looked more surprised than peeved, they were relaxing over food, and enjoying conversation, the place wasn't packed, in fact it was on the empty side which made it even more astounding, and they were bringing back plates for their children, of which were paying customers too, so it took longer to get everyone ready to eat than say a couple. Eventually the anger set in as they left without finishing their plates and loudly vowed never to return.
For a place that three years ago was buzzing with people, lately it's empty, a couple of people fill tables as opposed to the usual busy atmosphere. Shame, as it really was lovely when it opened, now it's pants.
