Mandarin St. Catharines — Restaurant in St. Catharines

Edit: I still stand by what was said in this review, but I was contacted by management today and they were so very kind to me regarding what had happened. As stated in my review, the food was good and I felt bad about wasting the little bit I had to, but I truly didn't want to have to never go back. Thankfully, after speaking with management and being reassured that staff will get proper training, I feel more comfortable going back to this location. It really does feel like the management cares deeply for their customers, and that's always a good thing.

The food was as good as mandarin food can get. It was hot and the only thing I saw that was out ever was the egg rolls. I was disappointed that I had to waste an entire bowl of soup as I scooped it thinking it was egg drop (that’s what it was labeled), but it was hot and sour, which had tofu that I cannot handle the texture of. The service was horrible. We were sitting in section B. I don’t recall the names of the servers working that section. We hadn’t ordered drinks, just water. My sister, who was the only other person I was dining with, was getting upset because her water was not being refilled. She only had maybe 2.5glasses by the end of lunch, and the last refill we had to ask a server to get us water, which was wild because the two servers were very frequently walking around Area B. It wasn’t that busy either, maybe like 4 or five other tables? Finally, we asked for our bill around 1:20pm and the server acknowledged us and said she’d be right back. About 20 minutes later, the same server came back and asked us if we were okay or wanted coffee or tea. I requested the bill once again, stating that I had asked for it about 20 minutes ago. The bill promptly was provided within a minute or two and the server seemed to force me into tipping, which just left a sour taste in my mouth. I would have tipped regardless, but the horrible service and the practical demand for a tip has made me never want to dine with this...

This was my first time visiting the St. Catharines location and I was so disappointed. Firstly, it was an extreme heat wave and the entrance to the restaurant was so warm. The lady at the reception took us to our table and was walking so slow and explaining things in the restaurant. We just wanted to sit down and away from the heated areas. Secondly, the food was terrible. The dumpling soup was the worst! The dumplings were hard and not fully cooked. It tasted doughy and tasteless. The soup pot had only broth and no dumplings. Also, it was leaking when I was pouring the soup in the bowl. It leaked all over the counter, onto my clothes and on the floor. The noodles and curried chicken had no flavour. The egg rolls were bad. The bean sprouts in them tasted off. I've been going to Mandarin since I was a kid and their food never tasted this bad. Although our waitress Jenny was nice, she kept saying "enjoy" every moment we sat down. It was a bit annoying. Not a big deal. After a while, she stopped checking up on us. Overall, we didn't have a pleasant experience. If you want really delicious and fresh food, with better service, go the Niagara...

I had an incredible dining experience at Mandarin St. Catharines restaurant! From the moment I walked in, the warm and attentive service made me feel right at home. The variety of dishes was impressive, with everything from savory mains to delectable desserts, all bursting with flavor and made with fresh ingredients.

What truly set this visit apart was the outstanding staff. Shivika, Elly, Sean, and Mateo went above and beyond to ensure every guest was well - taken care of. Shivika greeted me with a bright smile and guided me through the buffet layout, making sure I didn't miss any of the highlights. Elly was constantly on the move, promptly clearing plates and keeping the dining area clean and tidy. Sean was so knowledgeable about the food, answering all my questions about the dishes with enthusiasm. And Mateo made sure my drinks were always refilled, adding a personal touch to the service with his friendly banter.

Thanks to their exceptional service, my meal was not only delicious but also incredibly enjoyable. I'll definitely be back, and I highly recommend this buffet to anyone looking for great food and...