Mr. Chow's last night -- what is it that people like?
I decided to start a new thread on this because I'm curious if anyone else feels this way. I had posted about my plans to go to Mr. Chow's earlier this week and people responded very graciously with great suggestions and loving endorsements, but I went there last night and -- no offense guys -- I thought it was SO incredibly mediocre. And it has little to do with the fact that it is inauthentic or even that it's pricey. The food was just BAD. Half the dishes arrived lukewarm, the flavor was bland, the service was AWFUL. Waiters reaching over us, taking dishes away when not done, leaving finished plates there endlessly following our meal while they leaned against walls, having us move plates around to accomodate them, outrageously bad pacing. But even then, I would suck it up if the food had delivered -- it did not! I can't believe that people like this place so much! It struck me as completely riding on its rep. The room ws lovely, yes, but I wouldn't go to a restaurant just bc of the room. Ther are tons of beutifully designed restaurants all over the city with food and service to match. Any one else feel this way or is everyone down with Mr. Chow?
beyondmymeans
Sep 28, 2005 11:00AM
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Admittedly, I haven't been to the NYC location in a while. I was in the Bev Hills spot this summer, and the food was not great. I figured it was just becuase it's SO much more of a scene out there. What did you order? In my experience at the NYC location the food had been great, but the waiters def. have 'tude. Even when my parents threw me a private party there, the manager was a total jerk...
Sad to hear the food has gone down!
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Thanks for the review....I was going to go there for my Birthday.
I dodged a bullet on that one!
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beyondmymeans, Thank you so much for this review. I was planning to go here for the same reasons you went.
I'm SO glad I read this.....thanks again.....
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I contend that there are some tasty dishes there- especially the squad, ma mignon, gamblers duck, seaweed, etc....
But lukewarm food? Send it back...make a fuss..
Bad service? Unacceptable.
The service there is snooty and aloof- I guess that's what happens when you put on a white tux.
But having not been there for about 5 years- it is unfortunate that they think they can coast at $120/head for chinese food.
I know some people like glam, but they are not the only game in town.
I wonder what they would have done if not for a resurgence they enjoyed in the nineties mainly attributed to the rise of ostentatious hip hop and star culture. Would well monied upper east side regulars put up with this stuff? Uhh....No.
The snobbery and attitude used to be part of the fun and experience. Seems like it would not be worth it anymore.
Chico
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perhaps 5 years ago they were tasty, but now, they are just average? a lot can happen in 5 years. And I don't think the attitude and snobbery (and really, the contempt that the staff seemed to have for the diners there -- I watched them throughout the evening)could ever be part of the fun. It's not 1984 anymore, you know? Yes, there were hip hop celebs there and faashionistas, but there were also a lot of upper east side ladies there with way too much plastic surgery and that just blew my mind -- I mean, even if they don't know from good chinese food, they must be used to better service than this. What were they all doing here? The only answer could be out of habit and convenience and not knowing any better. I like glam too, but jesus, this isn't even high up on the good glam factor. I'm not saying you have to go to Chinatown for the good stuff, but I wouldhave taken Chin Chin or even Mr. K's any day over this stuff. At least the food at those places is decent and you are treated with a modicum of respect. Still, the place was absolutely packed -- I just don't get it.
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I wondered too but i conclude that maybe its catered to the people working/living in the neighborhood who minds the long trek downtown with money to burn or company expense accounts.
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i've only been to the Beverly Hills branch...same deal: mediocre food, bizarrely snotty and pretentious service...based on that, i've never had a desire to go to the NY branch...
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I've been to the Mr. Chow's in Beverly Hills, London and NY, but unfortunately not in the last 15 years. Back in the days of the explosion of szechuan take-out places in NY, Chow's was a very refined break from the usual orange beef and greasy fried dumplings. As was David K's and a few others.
I remember the fried rice being a novelty at Chow's because it was white, unlike most of the drenched-with-soy-sauce brown fried rice of the era (the pork in it was white as opposed to red, which was a novelty back then too). I also remember the fried dumplings being very light and greaseless compared to the doughy norm. At First Wok on east 78th Street, my friends and I would play a game where we would bite the corners off our fried dumplings and see who could pour the most grease out of them into our tea cup -- so you can a imagine what a change Chow's was. Sorry to hear it's gone downhill. Though evidently Li'l Kim still likes it!
Link: http://www.snapshotartifact.org/
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hmmm...that makes sense. I could see how it might be a nice break from the glut of take-out joints at the time. I guess I'm just surprised that the clientele hasn't wised up and moved on, as there are so many wonderful chinese restaurants in new york now. Although the person who took us there is definitely sort of trapped in the 80s...
I am noticing that no one on this board seems to have been there in the past five years. As for Li'l Kim, poor thing, to have that as her last meal before she goes into the clinker...
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hmmm...that makes sense. I could see how it might be a nice break from the glut of take-out joints at the time. I guess I'm just surprised that the clientele hasn't wised up and moved on, as there are so many wonderful chinese restaurants in new york now. Although the person who took us there is definitely sort of trapped in the 80s...
I am noticing that no one on this board seems to have been there in the past five years. As for Li'l Kim, poor thing, to have that as her last meal before she goes into the clinker...
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I saw your earlier post, and was surprised at the number of generally positive reviews. I've never been to Mr. Chow's, but do frequent many of the other upscale NYC Chinese restaurants -- Mr. K's, Canton, etc.
However, your experience is EXACTLY what I've heard Mr. Chow's is like.
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Thank you, Ok, so I'm not crazy. Because I thought that place was just hideous and I figured I must have been missing something.
Interesting that no one on this board has been there in under 5 years or so -- I suppose there's a reason why.
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I think it manages to coast on a once "in" reputation. Andy Warhol featured it a lot in "Interview Magazine" when he was alive and it attracted a lot of very chic and beautiful peeps in the 1980's when chic was all the rage. The Chows were also very chic and always being interviewed in magazines etc. The food went downhill years ago but the regulars don't care apparently.
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Went there once with some out of towners who had heard of it, I didn't check the rep beforehand. There were 8 of us, the bill was large, the food not worth it, the service was worse. The only redeeming experience was giving the waiter a 3 cent (yes $.03) tip and staying at the table to explain why he got that.
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really?!? I wish we had done that! But I wasn't paying...
Please, tell me more. why such a bad tip and what did you say to him? And how did he respond?
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They were pulling plates before we were done and argued when we asked them not to. They had a lot of attitude since I suppose we weren't stars and acted like we should be lucky to be served at all. If they only want stars they should leave us plebes outside. If they take me in they better be nice. When we did it they realized that they had it coming and for once they didn't fool us. Similar story from years ago at Ben Benson's... 4 couples, bill was $1000+, they were rude to our wives/girlfriends, they actually tried to block us from leaving and told us the line about mandatory service charges for large parties (not enforceable) the group included several lawyers and assorted others not easy to intimidate... they relented.
Ever notice the service at Sparks (aside from the long wait) they act like they're serving customers who may be packing... even when they clearly aren't.... or Gramercy, or Gotham B&G or Strip House where you are treated like you're paying the waiter's rent or try Banjara or Amma.. the staff trips over themselves to serve you and those meals are cheap (they are a bit clueless... but SO gracious)
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Wow.
I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. You didn't tell us anything that you ate, and what you did or didn't like.
All I can say is that I eat there 5-6 times a year, and I've always had terrific food, and I've never had a problem with the service. Since I usually know what I want to order, they're quite efficient with the service they provide me.
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I was just so...underwhelmed.
What did we have...for apps, the crabclaws on the crispy seeweed, steamed dumplings, some sort of shrimp, all of it blah. For mains, the duck, wich was very dry, the crispy filet mignon (was fine, but served lukewarm). Shrimp in a creamish sauce, which was ok. Some sort of chicken that was drenched in a red sauce, no flavor. Oh, and they brought riice out when we were just about done with our entrees.
Regarding the service: it wasn't that they were inefficient, per se, there weren't any glaring servie offenses, it was more of a "death by a thousand cuts" scenario, where the staff just had no idea how to provide proper service. And I don't mean, strict fine dining type service -- I mean the basics. And they all seemed so unpleasant. When you go, Matson, do the servers strike you as people who are happy to be there?
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