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2024-05-07
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Sharing our disastrous experience (several staff very rude) at our usual Sai Kung seafood restaurant with friends (who did not seem surprised), they suggested to us Sing Kee nearby in Sai Kung.A week later, we when for a family dinner on week end to Sing Kee.It was not full nor empty, but having decent business. The staff was very welcoming and soon it was the head waiter that took care of us.The ordering was smooth, seafood and types of cooking.The very friendly, and efficient, head waitress wa
A week later, we when for a family dinner on week end to Sing Kee.
It was not full nor empty, but having decent business. The staff was very welcoming and soon it was the head waiter that took care of us.
The ordering was smooth, seafood and types of cooking.
The very friendly, and efficient, head waitress was a bit puzzled about the large number of dishes we ordered.
Could we eat all that? 😊
No problem, we could still bring the left-over home and finish that the next day.
Then he brought to us the seafood alive (clearly fresh) in plastic bags (classic and expected in such restaurants).
Once we were “acquainted” with them, he took them to the kitchen.
A little bit later, staff started to bring dishes to our table and the head waiter seemed worried: Space!
Would there be enough space on the table for all we ordered?
We were laughing, told him not to worry as we love seafood and can eat quite a lot (saved the shells, there is usually not a lot left after us, not even the cartilage of crabs!)
And we got to work!
Did we make an impression because of the quantity we ordered (and very different seafood to share)?
Maybe. The fact was that 2 or 3 waiters were regularly circling around our table very attentive to any potential requirements.
There is a serious difference between being very attentive to patrons needs and rushing them out.
The Sing Kee staff was absolutely on the right side.
Wet towels were coming when needed; side plates full of shells were replaced at the right time, and the head waiter was coming from time to time to make sure everything was smooth, while happy to crack jokes with us.
At some point, he saw our son struggling with his crab and us laughing about it.
He looked at us then seeing an implicit blessing (i.e. no potential face issue in sight) he provided some “training” to our son about how to tackle the crab. Everybody was happy.
Oh, and the food?
It was excellent! Everything gone into our stomachs, saved the fried rice (precaution order) that was bagged and we took home. The seafood (many different) was excellent, the cooking great.
No sauce was left when the staff took back the plates of the defunct seafood.
I do not feel bad about doing that. It was excellent and we proved it.
As we were full, we settled the bill and the tip we left
…walked the talk about our very high appreciation of everything there, seafood, cooking, service.
The head waiter said few words in Cantonese to a waitress nearby …and I would assume (I don’t speak Chinese) it was about “the gweilo clients are very happy and proved it.” Yes we were.
If trying very hard to find a “negative” (which is in fact a positive in such environment),
I would say that there was a little bit less choice than in the other one (that shall not be named)
…but if there is less turnover, with seafood, freshness is critical, so that works with me.
And why having a large choice, if you barely have time to finish your plate before that the staff takes it away?
Conclusion:
We will come back and recommend that place.
General comment:
Knowing Hong Kong for decades, in such a difficult business environment, on MANY aspects (not only F&B…but everywhere including taxis),
I can see 2 totally opposite attitudes:
•Some go for short term “scorched-earth” “thinking” with some short-sighted sloppy behaviour totally undermining/sinking their future (they are walking blind to bankruptcy but they don’t know yet), i.e. self-destruction loops,
•Some go the extra mile to deliver quality and attention, something that is very visible to us and that we happily reward. For us, Sing Kee is clearly in that categories.
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