Phoenix Gate Chinese Cuisine — Restaurant in Calgary

We were somewhat regular customers here. Food is good, but service and attitude of staff has taken a massive nose-dive and we won't be returning if it's by our choice. Tl;dr: this restaurant is now proof that tipping culture has gotten out of hand.

First of all, this place started out with the "pay in cash and get a discount" arrangement, cool, yet another reason we come here. The daily special (item at discounted price) thing is something we loved to try out. Quality of the dishes is a little hit or miss--lots of the dishes come out looking and tasting different week-to-week depending on what veggies they have on-hand (e.g. a dish that's supposed to have green onions can often come with no green onion at all; celery or no celery etc. At times, their noodles fried in soy sauce can taste completely different, like they switch types of soy sauce depending on what they have on-hand or how much they have).

Things were good for a few months, but then today when we walked in there were 2 staff. One was at the counter and the other was sweeping floors. We stood at the entrance for 2 minutes and neither one acknowledged us or seated us. The person I was dining with got fed up so we seated ourselves (restaurant was empty anyway, only 2 tables other than us). It was only after taking our seats that we were offered tea and a menu.

At the end of the meal, we opted to pay in cash and be on our way--should have been the usual exchange. Tip was included, same as it's always been. The lady at the till was someone we've never dealt with before. She wasn't there when we entered the restaurant and she wasn't part of serving us throughout the meal at all. She refuses our payment, says it isn't enough to cover whatever amount she imagines is on the paper (it was more than enough to cover the bill and a generous tip).

We felt like this was highway robbery--to reject payment completely until some unstated/unwritten "acceptable" tip is put up is ridiculous. Essentially, we weren't allowed to pay for our meal (and leave) until we coughed up whatever figure was in her head. Not written anywhere, no "mandatory tipping" notices anywhere in the restaurant.

Tip is optional. Tip is at the customer's discretion for quality of service. That's literally what a tip is supposed to be.

We used to love this restaurant, but after experiencing the toxic tipping...

The Pros= I Really enjoyed how the place was Brightly Lit which was kind of a Big Plus for me. Then there’s the Excellent Taste of every dish and Top of that but I found that all of the Dishes Where Really Sizeable Too. Then next is how I also Loved how Every Waitresses and Waiter where So Friendly. And the Fact that I’ve noticed that at least one was still Wearing Face Mask, but regardless everyone seemed to be Wearing Gloves. Even 4 or 5 years after the start of COVID. Where it seems that not many was Masking Up nor Wearing Gloves anymore not even when they are going Grocery Shopping. Moving on I also liked how the Floor looked really clean even on a Busy Boxing Day Night.

The Cons= The first down side that I have is that the Chair that I sat on was so Uncomfortable especially for someone with a Medical Condition such as the one that I have. As it was one of those Bare Hard Wooden Ones, in fact by the end I was constantly Shifting Positions just to get Comfortable or at least Attempt to with out very much success. All the while when I looked around all of the other chairs at all of the tables seemed to be Padded. At least in the Bottom Area. And since we had 2 tables it seemed that the other table got there food before our table did. For example they were on their Fifth Dish while we only just gotten our Second Dish. And I also Feel that the Place was a Little Cramped when Filled with Patrons like when we first entered. But once when the other Patrons stared Leaving the Place Started Looking Wider and Spacious. And as for Parking Sadly there doesn’t seemed to be enough even after closing time for the rest of the mall.

Final Thoughts= Still...

Family came here on a Saturday after an action packed day of activities and running errands. This location is in a little strip mall with a very small parking lot so it was a challenge finding parking. Thankfully, a person pulled out when we came. But be prepared to park on the street or in the adjacent gravel lot. It looked like the businesses attached to the gravel lot had closed so not sure if you're allowed to park there.

We have been to Phoenix Gate before but only to get frozen Siu Mai to go. We never have eaten there. This location has changed restaurants quite a few times. I remember when it used to be Tropika Malaysian Cuisine and then various Chinese restaurants over the years.

We called ahead and they had a table waiting for us when we arrived. Good thing as it was packed. I noticed they were super efficient as well as tables left, they cleared it, and a new group sat.

The food was excellent and they family thoroughly enjoyed their meal. We got 1 course Peking Duck - there were more wraps then at other places and the meat was tender. My wife craved for steamed fish so we also got the 1 course Ling Cod. The fish was flaky and came right off the bone. The kids love Fish Maw with Crab Meat soup so we had to get that. It was quite thick and tasty! My daughter wanted the Pork Belly and it was quite tender with good sauce. For veggies we ordered Stir Fry Snow Pea leaves which were also great.

It was super busy at this restaurant and quite loud but we could still hold a conversation. Parking is a pain unfortunately. But other than that it was great and we will...