What time should I get to Koi Palace?

[vulber]

I'm going on Monday, which is Labor Day. First, I'm assuming they'll still be open.

Also, will they be opening at 11am, their usual Monday opening time, or do you think it will be earlier b/c it's a holiday.

Lastly, I'm going with a group of about 8 or so. I was thinking about 10:45 to avoid waiting once doors open. Is that too late?

(And I don't mean what time should I get there so that YOU don't have to wait, I'm asking when I need to get there so I don't have to wait :))

[vulber]

Called ahead, about a 20-minute wait upon arriving at 10:35 (opened at 9am). (not sure if me calling ahead had anything to do with it.

Nonetheless, I thought it was very good, delicious, reasonably priced dim sum, but definitely not something I would drive out of the city for in the future.

However, we ordered fairly conservatively, and I might consider going back with a group of people ready to try some of the more exotic items (or going for dinner). One interesting thing that I did have was a pumpkin-sea cucumber roll, which tasted like a soft sushi, and very good.

[wolfe]

I did have was a pumpkin-sea cucumber roll,
Vegetarian sushi? ;-)

[Nancy Berry]

Sea cucumber is not a vegetable; it's an echinoderm. Starfish and sea urchins are also echinoderms.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com...

[wolfe]

I guess you missed the emoticon. WINK. WINK ;-).

[wolfe]

Additionally, I was corrected at the Maui aquarium when I told my granddaughter there are the starfish. The correct name is now sea stars as they are, as you say, echinoderms not fish.

[chefj]

If you show up at opening you will you can usually get in very quickly. There is a line but not longer than they have seats for. Check their web site for opening times

[wolfe]

Experience on a non-Labor Day Monday, party of 2.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/5700...

[Thomas Nash]

My memory could be paying tricks on me, but I think you can call ahead and get a number over the phone. They will give you a clue as to how long they think it will be. Let us know if this is still an option.

[vulber]

Perhaps this is a stupid question, but it seems like they speak little English there, at least over the phone, and last time we called to get a number, my Cantonese friend handled everything; can you call and get a number in English?

[Thomas Nash]

Probably. The main problem is the noise of the anxious crowd around the desk, rather than a language issue.

[SteveG]

No. I got a number, but when I made the mistake of checking in at the hostess desk, they thought, "white potato" and never called the number. I had to call in the cavalry (mother in law who speaks Shanghainese, Mandarin, and some Cantonese) to have her berate them on the phone to get our number reinstated. Your mileage may vary. I find the food not worth the hassle.

[vulber]

Dammit! So learning basic Cantonese conversational dialogue and numbers isn't enough? I have to learn how to berate in Cantonese too?

[hong_kong_foodie]

I don't think their English is that bad. Just give them a call again during off peak hours (e.g. 3pm) and ask.

[choctastic]

I don't speak any Chinese at all and have used the call-ahead system successfully, but it doesn't seem to shorten the wait during peak times by very much. Then again, I haven't done any rigorous tests to prove this (like have 1 couple just show up and one couple call ahead). Sometimes even with calling ahead, I would have to wait upwards of 45 minutes.

[bong]

I have called them multiple times and done the "get a number" thing without fail. It shortens the wait just a little not by much. (I dont speak/understand any chinese)
Contrary to popular belief, the hostesses speak english pretty well.

[SteveG]

They speak English, my complaint is just that the whole numbers system is much less scientific than is implied, and ultimately the hostesses make lots of game-time decisions about who to seat. Our number was skipped, we saw some groups seated who seemed to have an "in" with the hostess and never had any numbers, etc. We tried to ask the hostess about our number when we heard numbers higher than ours start to be called, but she claimed it was our fault for not hearing and refused to be reasonable. The chance that we didn't hear our number is around 1%, because we heard lots of numbers before ours, and knew ours would be coming up (though not necessarily in order, because of the size of parties and the size of available tables).

[K K]

Short answer: you will have to wait anyway regardless.

Probably best to call Koi Palace to find out what time they open on Monday. I'd say just go there 10 to 20 minutes before they open and line up, because others will likely have the same idea. Getting there right when they open won't guarantee you getting a table right away, and ditto for parking space closer to the restaurant.

The downside is that even if you get the table right when they open, most of the dim sum will be still steaming or starting to come out. You would have to sit for at least an hour to get most of the lineup doing the rounds. But I guess it beats waiting in elbow to elbow crowds by the lobby once the first seating is full.