MEET IN SHANDONG 天海聚鲁菜馆 — Restaurant in Melbourne

MEET IN SHANDONG is a newly opened restaurant in Blackburn that focuses on Shandong cuisine. However, after trying their dishes, we discovered that many of the dishes were not authentic Shandong cuisine. It is possible that this restaurant offers a fusion of various regional cuisines. Therefore, if you specifically want to try Shandong cuisine, you may be disappointed.

Here are some observations from our dining experience:

Due to being newly opened, the restaurant was understaffed. During dinner peak hours, there were only two waitstaff members who seemed inexperienced and overwhelmed. It was evident that they lacked proper training. However, one positive aspect was that the waitstaff had a good attitude. Inexperience can be improved with time and this is understanding.

The restaurant had a QR code ordering system, but customers were not informed about it. It was only after customers noticed the absence of menus that they had to ask the waitstaff and were then informed about the QR code system.

It was noticeable that the kitchen staff was also understaffed. The waiting time for dishes was quite long, and the order in which dishes were served was inconsistent. Often, the main dishes would arrive first, followed by the side dishes.

We ordered Shangdong Style Stewed Free Range Rooster with Mushroom and Vermicelli, Shangdong Style Deep-fried Pork Fillet, Crispy and Spicy Beef, and Homemade Boiled Pork and Chive Dumplings. Firstly, the Stewed Free Range Rooster did not have the vermicelli mentioned in the menu. While we understand that there can be variations between the picture and the actual dish, it is perplexing why the ingredients listed on the menu would be missing. The taste of this dish was not outstanding, and it was overly salty. I do not recommend it personally. The Shangdong Style Deep-fried Pork Fillet seemed to have been freshly fried, but when the dish arrived, we noticed that half of the meat was warm while the other half was already soggy. This raises suspicion that the dish was microwaved, and a large portion was reheated at once, resulting in some parts being undercooked. Similarly, while we don't mind eating prepared dishes, but it is important to ensure that customers are served fully cooked food. There are quality control issues with the dishes. The Crispy and Spicy Beef was at least served hot, and it appeared to be freshly fried. However, this dish seemed similar to the Deep-fried Pork Fillet, with the only difference being the addition of chili. Lastly, we found the Pork and Chive Dumplings to be relatively tasty among the dishes. Although it was not the best value for money, it was better compared to the other dishes.

Lastly, I would like to mention that their restaurant has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 on Google Reviews. I won't go into the specific reasons, as many people who give full marks understand why. I just want to say that a restaurant ultimately relies on delicious food and proper service to turn first-time customers into repeat customers. Despite a high Google review rating, how many people would actually return for a second visit? The restaurant industry is challenging because of its low profit margins. However, using that as a reason to do business, I doubt customers would repeatedly choose a restaurant with low value for money and realize it was a wrong choice for dining.

Overall evaluation: Not recommended. I hope the owner takes these feedback into consideration for improvement. If not, that's fine too, as the quality of the food speaks for itself, and the turnover will reflect the truth. Wishing...

We visited with a group of six, and while the food was fantastic and the restaurant was comfortable and clean, the service was lacking. Booking a table was a struggle. I tried texting the number on their website but received no reply, and when I called, communication was difficult due to limited English.

Upon arrival, the issues continued. The waitress had trouble understanding the details of our booking. We also didn’t want to use the QR code to order and asked for actual menus, but they didn’t have enough for our table as they had been given to anothe r table.

We planned to share dishes, but they came out one at a time, and each time a new dish was brought, the staff would ask who it was for, not understanding the concept of sharing. We also had to ask for serving utensils.

The food was the highlight. Everything we tried was delicious. However, there were a couple of mix-ups. The green bean dish was unavailable, and we ordered honey chicken but received sweet & sour chicken by mistake. The waitress offered us a free drink instead of correcting the dish, which we agreed to, but she only brought one drink for the entire table.

In conclusion, while the food exceeded expectations, the service needs significant improvement. Better communication, more attention to customer needs, and a smoother overall experience would go a long way in making this a better dining...

We were here for a team lunch and it left us all in a bad taste. We were provided the menu and were told we could order from the QR code. Dishes on the hard copy menu didn't reflect on the online menu, so we decided to go to the counter and order. I ordered chicken in oyster sauce with rice. The staff came thrice to check my order while everyone else on table had already got theirs. 20 minutes later and I received chicken fried rice. Reminded the staff of my order, they just left the fried rice on the table and left. I went upto the staff and said this is not what I ordered but their was no response. We had to go back to work, so I just ate a bit and left the rest of the food. No apology was offered for bringing my order 20 minutes later than others and that too incorrect. Discussing later with my colleague, he said he ordered pork fried rice and got chicken. The staff here are incompetent and prices are too high for the portion. Would...