China Bar Burwood One — Restaurant in Melbourne

My first experience with China Bar a few days ago. Store front entry I noticed the what I assume is traditional in Chinese restaurants, the hanging of meat to be used in the dishes in the window. I quite liked this touch, however can see how some may be put off by it. It also made me question how fresh these displays are? Are they just for aesthetics or are they functional? It did make me think my order would be very full of lots of delicious fresh pork, to a different standard than other places I have eaten Chinese meals. I stood at the counter for a little while with no idea who was doing what. I wanted to order but didn't know how. Within a few minutes a very courteous employee attended to me to ask if I wanted to order. He handed me a menu which I looked through briefly before deciding on the China Bar special rice (I think this was the name of the dish) due to the 5x large prawns on top. I think a special fried rice can tell you a lot about a Chinese restaurant. I wasn't underwhelmed or overwhelmed. It was just okay. I thought the prawns didn't exist until I got to the bottom of the container (I ordered take away) and they were okay. The rice itself at $16 in a regular size takeaway container seems pretty steep. I had expected something pretty special not just fried rice with 5 prawns but it was really quite average. Not any extra bbq pork or flavour than anywhere else. There was some fresh spring onion/shallots which I liked. I ordered a mango drink which came from the store next door. It was also okay. At $8 it was only $2 more than a regular soft drink in store so not bad value. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again but it wasn't so bad I'd avoid it either. Perhaps they have other dishes...

I brought a BBQ pork and Chicken drumstick rice today, came home to realise they gave me a chicken with rice, no BBQ pork, tried to call the store but it kept saying the number is unable to take your call. I am half an hour away, not going to drive all the way back to exchange it, they changed me for the BBQ pork and Chicken with rice but did not give me the BBQ pork, their number is not reachable, very unhappy about this.

Follow up comment: Someone finally answer the phone, the lady apologies and asked me to go back to get my BBQ pork but I told her I am not driving half an hour back, I will get it next week, she said ok, hope she still remember this when I get there. If I got my BBQ pork back then I will change the stars.

I didn't ended going back to get the bbq pork, it's been too long. But we gave this place 2 more chances, my conclusion is, unless I am too lazy to drive 5 mins, otherwise I will never go back again. I understand it is quite busy sometimes, but that's not a reason that you can be rude to your customers. Both times the stuffs there, especially the cashier, so so rude, rush you into ordering, with very cold attitude, when you ask questions, she treats you like you are an idiot, rolls her eyes, if you so don't want to work then resign, if you feel sick being in a busy environment then find another job, don't put your frustration on your customer who pays so you get your salary, without customers you won't have a job, customers didn't go there to get a free meal, we pay you for your food and services. How can you put someone who has no patient and extremely rude at the cashier. There are so many options nearby, never...

I'm a regular customer of China Bar Burwood One - but not anymore. I like to dine in and takeaway here. Today I chose takeaway ordering my usual: Hainanese chicken rice. I mentioned to the waitress to include the soup as it was missing last time I ordered it. She was blunt, stating that unless you ask for the soup, they don't it for takeaway orders. The establishment should tell the customer if their dishes are modified depending on dining/takeaway - how would a customer know otherwise. However she stated it was on me to inform them I wanted the complete meal instead of a partial other.

Then, I took takeaway chilli condiments for my order. Without my request, she inspected my bag, and again, was abrupt, this time stating the condiments cost. I just wanted 3 chilli condiments. I mentioned that I have lots of chilli in my meal and when I dine, there's no charge - I was willing to take what I needed from the dine in jar which is free. She was relentless, didn't listen and just aggressively stated the cost of condiments.

There's too many lovely restaurants in Burwood One to engage with poor customer...