Peninsular Cantonese restaurant is considered one of the nicest in Tamworth. For a few years…read morerunning, they've received rewards for the Best Chinese food in the region, and everyone you speak to who's been here can't stop raving about it.
With those firm recommendations under the belt, we've now eaten in Pensinsular twice, each time with the same experience -- ok food, twee decor and very slow service, at exhorbitant prices.
I hate when everyone I know recommends a restaurant, and then I find it a bit blah. I feel as if I'm missing something, and always want to try it again to see what might be different the next time.
Technically, we've been to Peninsular three times. The first time, it was mid-week, and we noticed they weren't very busy (about half full), so decided to pop in on a whim, and hadn't heard of it.
We went in the small door at the front, through the strange, residence-style lobby, and waited at the hostess desk. After waiting a few minutes, and with three waitresses having walked past us without greeting us, we thought perhaps they were busier than we thought.
The bartender, who was at the bar right near us, was staring at us, but without saying anything, so I walked up and asked him if he could let someone know we were waiting for a table. He shrugged and said, "I don't know where they are". So we resumed waiting.
Finally someone without a waiting staff uniform walked past, so we grabbed her and told her we were waiting for a table. She looked us up and down and barked, "Have you booked?". We said no, but pointed out they were half full. She shook her head, and said she wasn't sure, she'd be right back.
After five more minutes, we'd been waiting a full 15, and she hadn't returned, so we walked out, pretty appalled at the experience.
The second time we went in, we'd had enough recommendations to figure our experience was a fluke.
This time we were greeted and sat down within five minutes. We ordered an array of food, as we'd been decorating all day, and were tired and hungry.
The beers on tap (draught) were Carling and Stella, and our starters came within a few minutes.
The crab won tons had obviously been freshly fried, and were very tasty.
The service was very slow, and twice we waited more than 15 minutes for someone to come and ask if we wanted drinks, or take our plates away. The restaurant wasn't very busy, so I presume they were understaffed.
The rest of the food was definitely just OK, with all of it being on the lukewarm side, and the flavours, which were slightly Chinese fusion, not really working.
Our third trip back, we had the same experience, but this time, we waited so long for each portion of our meal, my husband had to get up and go find someone. The food the third time around was a bit hotter, and seemed better cooked, but again, the flavours weren't anything to write home about.
Freshly cooked, higher-end takeaway could definitely knock the culinary socks off of Peninsular. Peninsular is very expensive for the basic cuisine and bland presentation. This is higher-end takeaway fare at foodie prices.
So despite copious recommendations of a Birmingham area Chinese favourite, Peninsular gets a resounding "meh".
