禧宴 Joyous Chinese Cuisine — Restaurant in Toronto

I rarely write reviews. I've have bad experiences at restaurants and eatery before but often small things that can be looked past and forgiven.

But today was one of my worst experience and I feel bad for the cooks and the other staff because we had such a bad experience this is the first time in my whole life that I didn't leave a tip.

We ordered a "purple rice shrimp noodle" wrap, my mom picked up one piece and was about to bite into it before realizing it was cold. Not to mention this was the 2nd dish that came out cold. So we called the captain over to report it. Since it had shrimp inside we were concerned.

My husband placed the back of his finger over the noodle wrap, gesturing that the dish was cold, right away the captain called out my husband for "touching" the food.

Then he took the plate away mumbling that he will "do something" about it. On the spot my husband asked him to cancel the dish instead. The guy ignored us completely and walked away.

Me and my family were shocked, stunned and appalled. A few minutes later he return with the dish even though had asked him to cancel it. I questioned him what he did with it and he said he microwaved it for us. If this was a meat or soap dish I would've let it slide.

But this particular dish consisted of crispy fried dough wrapped with a bed of noodle skin. If you microwave it, it would become soggy. Also we were unhappy that he took the dish away without consenting us first.

We tried to reason with the captain that we're not satisfied with how he handle the situation. Basically he blamed us for touching the food before cancelling it. How the hell would we know it's cold otherwise?

We asked him if he didn't see us "touch" the food, was he planning on serving it to someone else? He said YES (basically slipped his mouth). That's when we started raising our voice because we couldn't believe it.

I'm not sure if other people next to us heard it but I repeated my question again and this time he just said if the food is untouched it would be brought to the back. We voiced our concern then he said this TIME he will "help us" cancel this order like he was doing us a huge favor.

I was so upset, so I asked to speak to the manager or owner but this guy said "he's in charge" here. We decided to pay and left right away. I regret not getting this guy's name, but he wore glasses, had a slim short build with short black hair.

I'm so upset and angry, I've never been to a restaurant where they would blame or question a customer's actions for reporting a cold dish. I'm sure the other staff and workers are nice and hard working people but this guy is a joke. He's the type that clearly only gives "good" attitude or service if you order the...

We go for dim sum every Sunday and decided to try Joyous this past Sunday as we saw an ad on IG and it is fairly close to where we live. When we got there they sat us right next to the dish washer room, literally 5 feet from where they are doing dishes, VERY noisy so we asked if we could be moved to another table, the manager/owner was very accommodating and they moved us right away. Unfortunately they put us right at the front door so whenever someone opened the door cold air rushed in and we had to put 1our coats back on. Finally we couldn't take it any more and asked to be moved again, the gentleman who moved us gave us such attitude and didn't even say one word to us he just grabbed our menus and brought us to another table and threw our menus on it and walked away. They advertised a dim sum "Platter" for $40.00 (down from $50.00) so we decided to try that and added a couple of more dishes that we normally eat in the other dim sum restaurants tat we go to Beef ribs and pork puffs.

We were told that we could ONLY order that special platter if we write a 5 star review on Goggle. I was kind of shocked as we hadn't tried the food and it was our very first time at the restaurant. BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!

The ala carte dishes arrived and they were quite tasty. An hour went by and our "Special" platter still didn't arrive even though servers and management kept passing by our table and looking at us. Finally I flagged the senior manager down and told him that it had been an hour and our food still hadn't arrived, turns out it wasn't punched into the POS system, no apologies no explanation, nothing. Our food tray finally arrived and we were told that two of the major dishes were not available and they offered us other alternatives. The selections that they brought we the least most expensive (cheapest) items `on ANY dim sum menu of any restaurant that we have been to. Even with a $10.00 discount it was NOT worth $40.00. The food was JUST okay as far as quality. With the food and 3 iced tea the bill was $95.00 before tip (yes we tipped) A bit rich for the quality of food and the absolute horrible service. Not even an apology. Needless to say we will definitely not be going back. There are so many other choices in North York and Markham for our regular Sunday Dim Sum that we dont have to be treated to such a terrible experience...

Atmosphere 禧宴 Joyous Chinese Cuisine boasts an elegant and inviting atmosphere. The interior is beautifully decorated with traditional Chinese elements, featuring a blend of modern and classic aesthetics. The ambiance is warm and welcoming, making it a great spot for both casual dining and special occasions.

Service The service at 禧宴 is top-notch. Staff members are attentive, courteous, and knowledgeable about the menu. They are quick to assist with any requests and ensure that diners have a pleasant experience from start to finish.

Food The cuisine at 禧宴 is a delightful fusion of traditional and contemporary Chinese dishes. Here are some highlights from the menu:

Dim Sum: A variety of dim sum options are available, each crafted with precision and high-quality ingredients. Favorites include the har gow (shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (pork dumplings).

Peking Duck: The Peking Duck is a must-try. It is expertly prepared, with crispy skin and tender meat, served with traditional pancakes, hoisin sauce, and scallions.

Seafood: The seafood dishes are fresh and flavorful. The Salt and Pepper Squid and the Steamed Fish with Ginger and Scallions are particularly noteworthy.

Noodles and Rice: The selection of noodles and rice dishes caters to various tastes. The Yangzhou Fried Rice and the Beef Chow Fun are both delicious and generously portioned.

Vegetarian Options: There are several vegetarian dishes available, such as the Stir-Fried Vegetables and the Mapo Tofu, ensuring that all dietary preferences are accommodated.

Value While prices at 禧宴 may be slightly higher than average, the quality of the food and the overall dining experience justify the cost. Portions are generous, and the attention to detail in the presentation and flavors makes it worth the price.

Overall 禧宴 Joyous Chinese Cuisine offers a memorable dining experience with its exquisite food, excellent service, and elegant atmosphere. It's an ideal place for those looking to enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine in a refined setting. Highly recommended for both regular dining and special...