May 02, 2011 02:04 PM
28092 Views
(Updated May 09, 2011 12:43 PM)
I had high expectations from this place. Reserved for two on a Saturday afternoon and opted for Buffet. They gave Prawn Coriander Soup which was good. Starters started comin in. There were fried crispy veg, steamed chicken momos, fried dimsums, some chicken starter and fish starter. Don't ask me the names:) I eat only chicken. Steamed chicken momos were great among all these. There was complimentary Herbal Tea too which is nothin but tea leaves in hot water, but I still liked it and got it refilled a few times.
For main course, there was Prawn Fried Rice which was just plain rice with some prawns n egg thrown in. It was absolutely bland and tasteless. Then there was Noodles, which was li'l better than the Fried Rice with some colour and taste. There were chicken, prawn and fish gravies to go with the Noodles and Rice and some dry crab dish. All of these were very average and tasteless. I don't know what exactly was missing. It was not just the spice that was missing.
The waiter noticed us trying hard to eat the main course and said"Hope you are enjoyin the food" to which we replied "Kind of. Starters were good but cant say the same about the main course". He immediately informed his manager who came to us and asked if he could send some other dishes(not on the buffet menu) and insisted on it. I didn't wanna trouble them but my friend agreed to the manager's suggestion coz we deserve it for the kind of money we are payin. Then followed Noodles and Fried rice which had some spice and taste this time, Ginseng Chicken which was good, some Prawn gravy which was great and some Fish gravy which my friend said was good too. The Manager's manager too came to us to ask if we liked the new dishes. This is Customer Service at it's best, not because they gave us new dishes, but because they followed up on those dishes too!
Desserts were the usual fare- Chocolate brownie, fresh fruits, Stawberry Mouse, Cakes, Vanilla, Mango and Chocolate ice creams with chocolate sauce, nuts and raisins as add ons which were all great. This seems to be the norm in all buffets- good/great starters and desserts, average main course. That's why I always fill myself up with starters and desserts and almost pass the main course.
I doubt if Mainland China's food appeals to the Indian tastebuds. Its best for Westerners who prefer subtler tastes. I love my food hot and spicy. For a whopping Rs. 655/head, I'd not call this place VFM unless you get different dishes not on buffet like us. On this count, I would rate Aromas of China better anyday. I love their buffets(costs around Rs.450 on weekends) and the food is neither bland nor spicy and totally VFM. They even have better ambience and interiors but not-so-great Customer Service.
Would I go to Mainland again? Maybe yes, maybe no.
Would I opt for their buffet again? No, it has to be a-la-Carte the next time around.
