Tasty Dining 蛟塘酒家 — Restaurant in Melbourne

Placed order in person as often errors in phone orders. Despite reading back the order, on taking home one dish was missing. Returned, they insisted I had not paid for the missing dish. Having paid cash, I had no comeback. Having had to return from home, I was offered defensiveness and the insistence that the staff member who 'had just arrived from China' had not charged me but had just got the order wrong. So I had to pay again for the second dish. Then the manager's son tried to convince me I was wrong and failed dismally at resolving this customer relations issue. I suggested that the ability to speak English is needed when taking orders, but the manager's son stated "That's not how it is in Australia". The question is whether the staff member pocketed my money and it never reached the cash register. In any case, this staff member should not be left responsible for correct ordering and change giving unless her training has been adequate. I have been a customer at this site for over twenty years with family groups and friends but this visit - for which I never did receive a receipt for my cash, so I will never be able to prove this was a scam - this visit will certainly be my last to this establishment. And the food, when eaten, was very, very average and not worth a return visit. A sad decline in what was once a very good, friendly place, full of smiles and a sincere wish to please the customer. Tasty Dining leaves a nasty taste in this...

I honestly don’t know how the place has decent reviews on both google and uber eats. I ordered my dinner through Uber easts. Picture was the $26 roast duck, in my opinion, that’s gotta be a joke. So not worth it, and frankly I think it’s not even duck, tasted like pork (which is also $26 though) I also ordered Beef char kueh teow which is stir fried rice noodles, in my experience this dish is not usually spicy (hot) or you’d get asked but there was no options to select whether you want it spicy or not. It came a bit spicy for my liking. I did want something with a kick to it so I got hot and sour soup (which doesn’t taste right either) but had I known my dish was hot I would’ve gone for something like sweet corn chicken soup. All in all, disappointing experience unfortunately.

How hilarious was the owner’s response. It’s none of my business that you are refusing to hear opinions that are different to your own, (just saying, no one is perfect and it’s okay to accept criticism and reflect on ways you could improve on your business.) but I also don’t see you justifying that sad little pork dish...

On this visit I ordered the roasted chicken rice instead of steamed and was provided with dry chicken breast that did not look appetising (pictured). Request for a change was rudely denied as the server said ‘oh it’s normal, roast chicken doesn’t always come with skin.’

Feedback was not taken well and the server blamed me for not specifying (but he had not bothered to ask me when I ordered) which cut I’d like and this was not what I had expected from past visits.

The steamed chicken rice is good but this is the first time I’ve had to have more interaction with the waiter as I’ve always just came, ordered and paid for my food and left. After this incident, I’ll give this place a hard pass for other places with similarly good chicken rice that also provides much better...