May Kwai Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Sydney

Dear May kwai staff I just want to say how unfairly and badly we have been treated tonight at your restaurant. Yes, we are one of the two families who were not able to confirm our booking today. So my Friend made the booking for my family and her family to eat at your restaurant and somehow she didn’t confirm the time of our booking. We got there first and the first guy approached me and said ‘next time you make a booking call because I don’t know what time you were coming’. I apologised and said It was my friend who made the booking. The guy was ok and gave us a table. As we have 3 young kids I immediately ordered their food upon sitting. Our friends arrived and sat next to our table. We chatted, they got served and got their usual welcome prawn crackers and table water. About 40minutes later, I noticed that all our surrounding who ordered after us were already getting their food. Our table has got no water, no prawn cracker, no beer. As the kids were starving I followed for their order politely. More waiting and some of our order started to arrive. A very angry lady (short bob cut hair) served our food. We said thank you and followed up the kids fried rice to which she responded angrily ‘I call you today to confirm your booking you didn’t answer THAT’S WHY I DIDNT WANT TO SERVE YOUR FOOD TONIGHT’. completely shocked, I again apologised and explained it was my friend who made both our booking. (At this time my friend was out getting something so she wasn’t able to explain herself or defend me). This woman was so angry at us, I watched her leave and proceeded to all other tables to greet them. I understand that your restaurant was so busy tonight. We weren’t not a first time guests. We have been going to your restaurant for the last 15 years, and as for my husband and his family maybe 30 years. I also understand my friend was not able to answer your call to confirm our booking. She said there was one ‘no caller i.d’ call that she missed today. I think it was an honest mistake and that she obviously assumed she told you a time of our booking.

You should have not given us a table to begin with. You should have just said you cannot accomodate us tonight because we didn’t confirm our booking. Why did you have to treat us that way?

our mistake was not leaving after telling us that you didn’t want to serve us food. With 3 young children, it will be quite hard for them to understand the situation. We left quite shocked and very upset when It wax supposed to be a fun treat for our kids...

My friends and I recently went to Mai Kwai for a special occasion. The food is always good. We visit the restaurant quite frequently and are known to the owners. When booking a request was made for the large round table to seat 11 and the host said it was available. That afternoon the restaurant called to confirm the booking and the requested table was still available. When we arrived we sat and waited for menus. As they were not offered, one person in our group managed to find 2 take away menus. The young girl who served us was lovely. Whilst we were eating the lady owner came to our table and rudely complained that where we were sitting blocked them from placing and serving another small table. We were shocked at her aggressiveness especially since it wasn't our decision as to where the table was placed. Later in the evening one of their employees came and turned the "open " sign around to "closed" and made a point of telling us that the restaurant was closed. He then repeated the words of the lady owner. He said to never ask for that table again and the most it could accommodate was 8. Mai Kwai agreed to the 11 request and the mistake was theirs not ours. To top it off, we were overcharged $205.00. Luckily we've been there enough times with large groups to know the approximate total of the bill. We did a quick calculation and found a huge error. We queried the error to the waiter and the bill was taken away - the correction was made with a simple comment - sorry. The whole experience made us uncomfortable and could have been handled much more diplomatically. Especially since we are regular clients. We all looked forward to an enjoyable evening but ended very disappointed. We will not...

This was the very fist local Chinese restaurant. And yes I notice that another review says it is not authentic Asian and may only meet Baby Boomer tastes. My father lived part- time in Asia and was very versed in authentic Asian food and still enjoys a meal at this establishment. What is authentic Asian food anyway? There is so much fusion in Sydney these days and in global restaurants. These people are also very kind, so I don't know what the bill review of one star is about. They have looked after all sorts of my needs for years. It has a nice ambience and by the way often has many Chinese people in it. So I don't know where that comment came from either. Vaucluse to date does not have a huge Asian contingent and it is a local restaurant. It has good consistent...