The food was ok, but the seating and service is awful!
Having slept on the experience here is my honest review. We visited for a friend's celebration as a party of 6. we were essentially put on a table which was like a booth in a Hong Kong Cafe, room from table edge to seat back was exactly from wrist to elbow, absolutely squashed ! We had asked to move but there was no option offered for our average sized party, even having booked in advance, essentially this means you would be slightly better off going as a couple and sitting on a small round table, or if a larger group please ensure everyone is extremely petit.
The tables are very small width, and reading the huge A3 size menu is an art in itself as you can’t move it far away from your face due to the risk of knocking glasses over, you are also unable to stretch your legs out unless you want to play footsies with your neighbours... it reminded me of the heady days of regular air travel and being downgraded to economy class seating, consequently it was a relief to stand up and stretch my legs.
Staff were constantly harassing us to order, or to clear away dishes we had not yet finished. The serving staff were also at a disadvantage and unable to reach the far end of the table, literally just the first 25pc of the table. Consequently this meant we were interrupted many many times to move or pass dishes, as I was on the serving staff end of the narrow table my place setting and wine glass would be moved constantly by the staff all the time back in my way so I could not reach the dishes making the whole experience super irritating.
We opted to order some dishes and starters first, and then wanted to order further mains after reading the menu further, however the serving staff said we should order the mains quickly before it gets busy (it being 6.30pm and the restaurant only at 50pc capacity) we declined and ordered later.
The wine was nice, although pricey, and glasses were refilled very very quickly, a bit too quickly if we are honest.
We then ordered some mains, but for some weird reason the serving staff kept trying to get us to order vegetable dishes, and when we asked to order the “Moutai Chicken” (a friend had recommended) we were told by the server that she did not recommend as it was a “strong taste” and perhaps we should order Prawns! We went for the chicken….
When it arrived it looked nice, the serving staff poured half of some flaming Moutai over the chicken and then left the saucepan of not used Moutai flaming away next to me whilst trying to pass us the dish, the flaming pot was then taken a few meters further away from me and nearer to the reception area whilst still on fire and sat on a sideboard burning away, I was wondering whether it was to serve as a beacon to light the way and welcome new customers like a moth to a flame or whether it was an unintended fire hazard and we would need to soon evacuate through the fire exits. Thankfully, the fire burned out after a few mins, shame really as it was probably a wasteful use of Moutai that I would of preferred adding to my dish seeing as I would eventually pay for it.
Nonetheless the chicken did taste very nice, and was very moist with a great flavour, I definitely recommend this dish even if the staff don’t want you to have it.
Having travelled extensively including to Sichuan, I have to say I was very very disappointed with the whole ambience and experience, I also don’t see any value that the dress code brings to such cramped conditions unless its to help justify the far above average price.
In short, food was “ok”, but as a venue and experience its over hyped.
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