Hidden Garden by the Sea — Restaurant in Johor

To the Muslims who wish to dine here, it is better to ask for the halal certificate first. Also, ask whether the chef is Muslim or not. it’s not about whether the chef is Malay, Chinese, or Indian. We ourselves didn’t know whether their chef is Muslim or not. As Muslims, we take the matter of food very seriously. If the food is prepared by a non-Muslim, it falls into a doubtful category (shubhah). The menu also includes beer. As Muslims, we should not support establishments that openly serve alcohol. It’s as if we are indirectly supporting alcohol consumption. But I don’t know, maybe some Muslims don’t mind. What’s important is that I am informing others.

I came to Johor, Pasir Gudang, and I noticed that in many places, the chefs are non-Muslims, and there’s no clear display of halal certification. This is dangerous for us. Non-Muslims need to understand that for us, halal is not just about avoiding pork and alcohol,it is also about who prepares the food. You are what you eat.

As for the service, we raised our hands many times but the staff seemed to ignore us or were rushing.I don’t know. As a worker, you should check in on your customers, see whether we are still deciding on the menu or ready to order. In our case, we had already placed the menus on the table and were looking at the view, but still no one came to take our order. You were just standing at the counter until we had to call you over. Only then did someone come to take our order.

You need to remember, your menu is expensive, priced like Singapore. A simple tea like macha frape costs RM17, a small glass dessert is RM24, but the service is like a roadside stall. Honestly, roadside eateries provide better service and are more polite and well-trained than your staff.

And another issue,when we first entered the restaurant, one of your female workers (I’m not sure of her nationality, probably Myanmar) straight away stopped my child from sitting at the table we chose. Please send your workers to a PR (Public Relations) course, dear. At the very least, say something polite like, “Sorry sir, children below 6 or 12 years old are not allowed to sit in this area as we are concerned about their safety near the waterfront.”

But honestly, your place lacks safety altogether. Even adults can fall into the water. Learn how to build proper seaside restaurants like those in Melaka, dear, kids are everywhere there, and no one stops us from sitting by the sea.

Everything was bad for me except for the view: — Food — Service — Staff attitude — No halal certification?? — Beer stated on the menu — Overpriced food (this is my first and last visit, and I will definitely advise my friends to think 10 times before coming to this restaurant).

If you’d like, I can also help you write this in a more formal complaint...

Our visit to what is purported to be a "hidden gem" in Johor Bahru left us with mixed feelings, with more of the latter than the former. While the restaurant has clearly put effort into its aesthetic, the overall dining experience fell short of expectations, particularly in key areas that matter most: food and cleanliness. The food quality was a significant letdown. My Maryland Chicken arrived with an unappetizingly thick layer of grease, making it difficult to enjoy what should have been a simple, classic dish. The chicken burger also failed to impress, lacking in flavor and overall quality. The food and drink prices feel unjustified given the poor execution and ingredients. It's disappointing when the cost doesn't align with the value received, especially for what is meant to be a special dining spot. The ambiance, unfortunately, was a major concern. While the outdoor seating area had potential, it was marred by a serious cleanliness issue. Finding what appeared to be animal droppings near our table was unsettling and instantly ruined the atmosphere. This kind of oversight is a deal-breaker and speaks volumes about the restaurant's hygiene standards. The location itself is also a drawback. It's a bit far from the main city areas, and the ongoing road construction makes the journey difficult and inconvenient. On a positive note, the restaurant's main redeeming quality is its visual appeal. The property is filled with numerous "Instagrammable" spots, with interesting decor and thoughtful design that make it a great place for photos. Additionally, the service provided by the staff was genuinely humble and kind. They were attentive and polite, a welcome contrast to the other issues we encountered. While the beautiful decor and friendly service were appreciated, they were not enough to outweigh the significant problems with the food, price, and most importantly, the cleanliness of the...

I went there for my boyfriend’s birthday in the evening. I had made a reservation for 6:30 pm and brought a cake and a large surprise box to be placed on the table. When I arrived, I confirmed the change of time to 7:30 pm with the staff by 4:30pm, as I was running late due to heavy traffic. I ended up arriving around 8:30 pm.

For your information, there was no prior mention of any reservation fee or minimum spending. From my past experiences, other places typically inform you of such details in their confirmation message so that customers are aware. Once we were seated, we ordered two drinks and a cake since we had already eaten. Then the staff informed us that the minimum spending requirement was 100 because we had made a reservation. We questioned this, explaining that we weren't hungry and had never been informed about this fee.

The manager, a Chinese man, did not come to speak to us directly. Instead, he called the staff over to him as if we were servants. He sat there, legs crossed, while we were left standing. Not only did he fail to explain the situation politely, but he also raised his voice, publicly criticizing me in front of other customers, calling me "common sense-less."

I highly recommend avoiding this place, not because of the minimum spending policy but because of the unprofessional and rude behavior of the manager. He treated us as if we were working for him, when, in fact, we were the paying customers. The lack of basic communication skills and respect...