Old Kingdom — Restaurant in Melbourne

So we come here ever so often for its 3 course Peking duck meal. Always went fine when dining here. Tonight we took our parents in. Ordered the 3 course meal - duck , beansprout and soup, 2 extra dish for the parents , 3 bowl of rice, can of Fanta and a desert. Duck came speedy. We finished it and waited for the rest of the dishes. Nothing came. 4 tables near us came, ordered and got their meals. I was thinking we should be getting the beansprout or the soup from the meal first. Seeing those tables sitter after got theirs but we thought maybe because we had the extra 2 dishes from the menu , they might come together. No , it is when one of the tables that came after us and finished their meal and left we decided to ask the staff, we thought maybe it’s because they’re busy. One staff came and ask if we were waiting for food we said yes, can you check on the order. Came back with the soup. No beansprout. We drank the soup and waited. Mind you , few more tables had their meals and left. Then we asked again then the 2 dishes came. No rice. Asked again for rice. No beansprout yet. Asked again for beansprout , one staff said those are hard to cook, takes time. Saying that to us when the table literally next to us , sitted 30 mins after us and got all their meals and eating. We said maybe we should go up to the counter and ask if not maybe just pay and leave. Came to the counter , asked for the missing dish, the lady shouted “it’s coming , you want that in takeaway ? Take away ? “ we said no. Then she aggressively instructed to the other girl “then same price “. Just when we paid , the beansprout came. We didn’t wanna eat it. Was already put off with this.

Honestly , it’s not about the money, and we also work in hospitality so we certainly understand how it is. but telling us “same price” , for somthing we were patiently waiting for at first. Made it asif we were at fault in the end….is just…..so fng awful.. insanely awful restaurant. And to think of it now , cash only and pay by mobile number ? For a busy place like you guys, surely you can afford an efpos merchant and pay the taxes like...

Old Kingdom is a casual Chinese restaurant that has been serving the Surrey Hills community for over 20 years. The restaurant is known for its signature Peking duck, which is made with a special blend of spices and roasted to perfection. Other popular dishes include the stir-fried noodles, the dumplings, and the crispy pork belly.

The interior of the restaurant is simple and stylish, with white walls and wooden furniture. The service is friendly and attentive, and the prices are reasonable. Overall, Old Kingdom is a great option for a casual Chinese meal in Surrey Hills.

Here is a more detailed review of the pros and cons of Old Kingdom:

Pros:

Peking duck is delicious and made with a special blend of spices. Other dishes are also good, such as the stir-fried noodles, the dumplings, and the crispy pork belly. The interior of the restaurant is simple and stylish. The service is friendly and attentive. The prices are reasonable. Cons:

Some reviewers have complained about the service being slow.

The restaurant can get crowded, especially on weekends. Overall, Old Kingdom is a good option for a casual Chinese meal in Surrey Hills. The food is delicious, the service is friendly, and the prices are reasonable. However, if you are looking for a quick and easy meal, Old Kingdom may not be the best choice, as the service can be slow and the restaurant can get crowded.

Here are some tips for getting the most out of your meal at Old Kingdom:

Make a reservation, especially if you are dining on a weekend. Order the Peking duck, as it is the restaurant's signature dish. Try other dishes, such as the stir-fried noodles, the dumplings, and the crispy pork belly. Be patient with the service, as it can be slow. Enjoy your meal in the simple and stylish interior of the restaurant.

The star of the show was the Peking Duck. Got to be one of the best in Melbourne. Really good.

Service was OK. It was not very responsive but passable.

Overall the food wins...

Food here is great, the Peking duck is lovely and juicy. Noodles are delicious. Service was brisk but not rude by the waiters. The manager (or who I assume was the manager, maybe the owner?) needs some attitude adjustments though. I don't expect the highest quality service from places like this, but he really shouldn't be front of house with an attitude like he has. The staff at the front desk also had some attitude problems.

Our party of 8 was squeezed onto a table which is meant to fit 5-6 max, because our table booking had been mistakenly given to someone else already. No explanation or apology given, just squeezed onto a table which was way too small considering the amount of people, and the amount of food served.

When it came to paying, we were surprised it was cash only, and we were told with an attitude "Even if it's $1000 still cash only!". We are in 2019, and you're not a restaurant serving $10 dumplings. The bill is frequently more than $250 for 8 people, yet they expect people to know they are cash only and treat them like they're idiots for not knowing they're cash only. Your business is the exception to the rule, not the norm! If people are consistently shocked that you're cash only, so much that you've got an attitude about it, do something about it!

Either tell people when they book that it's cash only, or set up an EFT system. It's horrifying when you're the host and are expecting to pay by card, only to find out that you have to pay cash for a bill in the hundreds and now you have to ask your guests for cash.

Anyways, come for good food but don't expect any great service. Also bring plenty of cash. As a long time customer, I won't be coming back anymore, and I will not recommend this place to...