As a general rule i will write this statement to any establishment in the hope that they will address the cultural problem of less than acceptable customer service interaction. (Issue will become clear later in review)
To begin with the venue is fun , interesting and lively with two levels of dinning and bar areas with heritage foundation feel to them. The staff were very friendly and attentive and helped us move to a better table location. The menu was average in selection options and with a large portion of the main side meals costing between $32 and above was trending into the mid range priced menu. One of the most popular dishes the Dim Sum consisted of 8 large bite size prices these where full of flavour and by far the best dish over all with the dish being over $30 it was unsubstansial for the price. The mains were a Seshwan Pork chill hokien noodle - $21 (far to dry and average flavour) The Pippie with XO Sauce was just a plate of pippies in a un-adventurous sauce...and this is where the tricks began...with the Pippies we were asked if we would like the dish with or without bread (thankfully we did say yes to the bread because it was the only thing that saved that meal from being a bunch of cooked shells in a plate of liquid.) But the bread was not a side...no it was a $6 extra....for bread! This size of my fist at best! Yes it was crunchy and well made but it should come with the dish that cost $34 on its own.
Dessert was average and $15...by this stage whatever in for a penny in for a pound right.
Then the bill. Double charge for the cocktail...hmm maybe cause we were moved they booked it twice...we informed the waitress (who aside from this was a great server) she said no problem ill remove it...returns and says "oh it was a double" my wife tells her i didn't order it as a double...she doesn't comment hands us the Efpos machine we pay and get out of there. Im sorry if your still reading but this needs to be addressed not just by businesses but by everyone we need to change how we treat a customer. My wife is American we visit America often and the service even at small seamingly budget establishments is always to a far superior standard all while having significantly lower minimum wages than here. There is NO way that after a meal costing over $100-150 that if we had an issue a staff member would blank start a customer and not work to resolve the mistake usually by REMOVING the extra cost as most savy business people know at the cost of a $10 shot you don't shoot yourself in the foot by having people leave in an unhappy manor. This NEEDS to change not just here but everywhere.
In closing i will say its one of the less enjoyable dinning experiences I have had , service issues aside the food was left lacking , the prices where at least 30% to high and in comparison to other places I have eaten unbelievable meals for the same price point. ($100-150)
In the better food areas of Sydney (Surry Hills) this real did earn its single star tonight. Once again being located in Newtown this eaterie has taken the road so many before have as well...over priced , over hyped...underwhelmed. read more