Ben Ben Restaurant — Restaurant in Ottawa

I visited the restaurant with my family. Initially, it took a while to be seen by a host to have our table of 9 set. The waitress (Linda, I think) was happy to set the table to accommodate our party size.

When we all were seated we had to write down each of our appetizers and entrees. (Tip: They should have numbers next to the food item which would make the process easier). When the food came it was okay, we ordered duck which was pretty dry, and a list of other items including fu kin rice.

The dining experience took a turn for the worse when a plate of rice was being placed on the lazy Susan tipped my sister in law’s glass of red wine into her plate. The server went for napkins for my sister in law to wipe her plate clean. You’d think they would give her a clean plate right? No, in fact, when brought to the server’s attention that the wine fell as the food was being placed by the server, she and the “host” became combative when kindly asked to replaced the wine.

To our utter surprise, the host insisted that they review the cameras to see who spilled the wine. The reviewing of the cameras took at least 15-20 mins and we noticed that my sister in law wasn’t in the view of the cameras. The host ultimately provided a refill and dropped some wine on my sister in law’s yellow and beige sweater.

Finally, when the bill came, the items were handwritten on a sheet of paper with totals next to them. I was in awe. It was not easy to read and just paid the bill. We left no tip and when the host noticed, she repeated “not nice, not nice” as we walked out of the restaurant.

Overall, the food was okay but the service and atmosphere were absolutely terrible. The restaurant seems like a mom and pop and could benefit from hospitality training.

I wouldn’t...

I was excited to dine at Ben Ben after reading the reviews online. The food ranged from unseasoned to average, nothing impressive! The biggest downside was the service; it was simply awful! The barbecue duck was ‘old’ and appeared to have been cooked several weeks before. The shrimp fried rice was unseasoned and lacked basic salt seasoning. Turning back to the awful service, we ordered quite a lot of food and drinks. When the server who barely spoke english was placing one of the dishes on the table, my daughter’s glass of wine spilled, entirely in her plate. We asked for the wine to be replaced and the server insisted it would be for a charge. We (party of 8) insisted that it was her fault and the wine spilled at the time she was placing the food on the table, she refused a complimentary replacement wine and unbelievably said they would review the cameras to determine whynthe wine spilled. After about 30 minutes of reviewing the tape, (we had suspended eating as our attention shifted to proving how thr wine spilled), it turned out that the cameras were not even positioned on my daughter and it could not be confirmed. She finally grudgingly replaced the wine, complimentary, and while doing so, spilled a few drops on my daughter’s bright yellow sweater.

When we settled the bill, she openly insisted we leave a tip, she said more than 15%; I settled the several hundred dollar bill, and left. She shouted several times as my family of 8 left the restaurant, that is not nice! I did not understand what she meant but do know that I am a generous tipper and her service (lack thereof) ruined my entire expeience and caused me to write my very first...

Need to learn how important customer service is !!!

Having travelled all the way from Stittsville to the Restaurant for my daughters birthday meal, her one wish was to get Seafood rice noodles. We ordered and I confirmed before we left. When I arrived I saw the cook give the wrong noodles and checked with the owner, where she confirmed the right order.

We got home and it was egg noodle (looked like Mr Noodles) and not the rice noodles. When I called to complain, other than saying sorry she said that she put the right order in but the cook made the mistake. She said that I should have checked before I left the restaurant. Really! Is that my fault I asked? After having a series of issues with my last few large orders from this restaurant, that’s it. No more. There is only so many chances you can give.

One time my parents were visiting so we took them to the restaurant to be told at the table that my tip was too low. Recently, the lemon chicken was over cooked and with old meat. The lid of the sauce was badly put on and all over the bag when we got home. Having worked in a Chinese Restaurant, I know how things should be cooked and the flavours.

As you can tell I am so disappointed since this was a special occasion and the series of previous mistakes will make me never to return.

Having my own business, customer service is paramount where we go above and beyond our customers’ needs. This clearly is not the case with Ben Ben

I think it is time to be visiting the Yangtze restaurant across the road from now on.

DO NOT bother writing back as you have a very clear message and don’t need to hear an...