Choi's — Restaurant in Melbourne

Wow, where to start? We loved this restaurant ten years ago and decided to come back for a trip down memory lane last Sunday evening.

When we arrived the sliding door at the front didn't work and we had to grab it and push it forcefully to one side. While we waited for our table we saw two other guests had to do the same thing. It was also freezing in the restaurant - maybe 15 degrees - quite uncomfortable.

Tap water was placed on the table. OK, I guess no sparkling tonight. The drink order was taken quickly but took 30 mins to prepare. On arrival the martini was half vermouth and half gin. On request the waiter quickly prepared another which was fine except for the year old olive. ughhhh. I discretely placed it in wrapped napkin - which the waiter then tried to unwrap and put on my daughters lap - but that was an honest mistake and a bit funny tbh.

We ordered some old favourites - peking duck, HK style pork, special fried rice, tofu, mix greens, mongolian lamb. The peking duck was appalling. The duck itself was fine but the pancakes were filled with so much hoisin that it poured onto the plate. Clearly no-one had shown the waiter how to prepare the dish. One pancake was folded haphazardly so half the filling showed along the side. It tasted awful - like a mouthful of hoisin and not much else.

Then the staff knocked a wire wine holder downstairs that hit me on the leg. It didn't hurt, barely noticed it, but the staff just picked it up and replaced it and didn't acknowledge the metal intrusion at all (LOL).

The other food was fine. The HK pork was still amazing and the other dishes were good. But we'd already jumped the shark by that stage.

Finally the head waiter brought the bill, pointing energetically at the screen to show that THIS WAS THE SCREEN ON WHICH YOU ENTER YOUR TIP!! which I politely hit enter on. And we usually tip generously at every restaurant we go to.

Summary - the food is still worthy of the reputation but everything else, from the environment, to the staff, to the drinks is without question 1/10 and there are simply too many other restaurants in Melbourne that deserve and want our patronage to ever be bothered going here again. With the noted exception of the one waiter who remade the martini and showed some great initiative and interest, the rest of the staff we encountered lacked...

This one star is for the way how they do business. We went there for a farewell dinner, a group of 7 adults and two toddlers, got charged with a whopping $1200, with only one beer on the bill. The most expensive chinese food i have ever had in this life and probably for next life and the next (and none of the food was gold-plated, disappointing).

We only got offered a chinese menu with no prices. Upselling skills was aggressive with a very fast pace and felt like a lot of decisions needed to be made quickly, i mean QUICKLY.

First two dishes were presented on individual plates that we have not been told. One of them were pork ribs, but each pork rib cost $20?!

The best is yet to come, we ordered a steamed fish. Yes, we are aware the Mor Wong is an expensive fish. However, for 7 adults and with 7 other dishes, they decided we can down the whole 4.4Kg Mor Wong, which ended up costing $431. Again, we had no idea that they were going to select a fish this big for us.

As of the menu today from their website, steamed rice is $4 but we got charged $5. Yes, we cannot find the dishes we had in the English menu, fair enough that they offer one that is more suitable to asian palate. You can argue they are being thoughtful, but without a price tag and avoiding to tell us how much for each dish? I have grounds to believe this allows them to adjust the prices however they like.

To be honest, food perhaps was just slightly above average and not extraordinarily good. Service was not bad. The entertaining thing was when we saw the bill, we almost fell off our chairs.

We felt like we have been ridiculed by the crazy bill. A bit perplexed, i should be upset but i found it funny.

Will I come back? Give me a million reasons why I should.

photos? not...

Went to Choi's for a quick mothers day meal after the football. We were told earlier in the day to come after 8.00pm as it was booked out until then. We arrived just after 9.15 thinking it would be fine as the restaurant?kitchen doesn't close until 10:00pm. We didn't intend to make a night of it just wanted a quick meal. The waiter'e attitude who was standing over the counter like he was on holiday was appalling, looked us up and down as if to say what are you doing here? Rude receptionist told us we had to be quick as the kitchen was closing at 10:00pm . The manager must have seen or heard this & quickly ushered us in saying it was o.k. We ordered quickly basic food which was fast & easy. I would love to have taken my time & chosen something a bit different as I was so looking forward to going there for my mothers day dinner. We felt rushed at the table. While we were sitting there I noticed a few large tables still being served their main meals at 9.30. We ate within 30 mins & asked for the bill at 10:00pm The waiter was rude when we asked him where to pay. The receptionist came to the table with the eftpos machine and then asked if we would like to leave a tip. We just looked at her in disbelief. My son who was paying (who has traveled the world) told her if you all had a better attitude towards your customers he would have considered it as the food was ok not fantastic for the expensive prices. I have worked in the offices across the road for 3 years & always wanted to go there for a meal. I was so disappointed I will never go back.and will suggest the same to my work colleagues. Choi's you need to lift your game and attitude & respect your customers as they are the ones keeping you...