Dumpling Delight — Restaurant in North Island

Disappointing Experience – SERIOUS Hygiene and Food Quality Concerns

While the staff at this restaurant are friendly and welcoming, unfortunately, that was the only positive aspect of my visit. The overall experience left a lot to be desired, as the cleanliness, hygiene, and food quality raised significant concerns.

Hygiene and Cleanliness: The restaurant’s condition was concerning. The walls appeared to be covered in years of grime, which immediately gave the impression of neglect. If the front of house is kept in such a state, it’s hard not to worry about the hygiene standards in the kitchen, which customers don’t see.

Adding to this, birds were freely flying around the interior of the restaurant. Bird droppings were visible ON tables, creating a significant health concern. The birds also posed a real challenge for diners – when I got up to refill my water at the self-service station, the birds swooped in and contaminated my food. It’s clear that steps need to be taken to keep the birds out, and at the very least, table-side water service should be offered to minimize the risk of this happening.

The restroom facilities also left a poor impression, with a musty and moldy smell that further underscored the need for better maintenance and attention to cleanliness.

Food Quality: Unfortunately, the food didn’t make up for the poor environment. I ordered the chicken dumplings, and they were so disappointing. The mince was of noticeably low quality. My first bite was rubbery and filled with gristle, while the second contained a large bone that almost chipped my tooth. The ingredients weren’t properly screened or prepared, which made the meal unenjoyable and concerning from a safety perspective.

Overall Impression: While I appreciated the friendly staff, the restaurant as a whole needs significant improvement. Addressing the bird issue, implementing stricter cleaning standards, and improving the quality of food should all be top priorities. I sincerely hope the management takes these issues seriously, as this place might have potential but is currently falling short. For now, I would recommend looking elsewhere until these concerns...

Sadly this was a totally forgettable experience. Poor service ( in reality next to no service) from a totally disinterested cashier who wore a mask so we couldn't hear her properly and who sat at the till more interested in her phone than providing any sort of help, It was a dirty restaurant, totally lacking in any ambience or warmth, no tea cups, no indication or explanation about where to find cutlery, water etc. had to ask for condiments, no serving spoons for the shared plates. The vegetarian fried rice was palatable but the dumplings produced en masse in some factory somewhere were tasteless and inedible. We took them home for the dog - poor dog - and they were not steamed (boiled nor fried properly. The pork was ho hum and more rice than anything but then rice is cheap right? Look here's the thing...many, many restaurants and cafes around the country are really struggling and we need to eat local. But I suggest you support the places that are genuinely interested in providing a quality hospitality experience and dedicated to delivering high standard of food and service. This place did none of this except happily take our money. It lets the entire industry down. Not worth a visit and if I could give it no stars I would....

A++++ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

I ordered through Uber Eats and was very impressed.

I got spicy for both the soup and meal, and it was a rapid escalation on the lips and mouth initially, and then hit a comfortable plateau to enjoy the meal with.

(A very enjoyable Hot with flavour and heat balance that was perfectly on the dial for me, and similar to an “Indian hot” as opposed to white man “hot” if you like your curries)

I got the Beef Brisket noodles, which the broth was a beautiful red colour and a very generous serving. This could easily serve a couple for dinner, and I made up a second bowl up for leftovers.

My pictures don’t really show it, but if your compare the noodle sizes vs the bowl size, you will see that first bowl is huge, and almost a fruit bowl size, and the second set of pictures is a normal...