Fantasy Korean BBQ (Eden Terrace) 范特西烧烤(中区店) — Restaurant in Waitematā

First time to dine in here with my friends and our experience was an unforgettable one - a negative one! (Tap to read more below)

Btw, I have contacted this restaurant a week ago for dinner reservation as there were heaps of people coming - with table reservation and walk ins

Me and my friends arrived early (around 5:15 pm) so we tried to wait in the ‘waiting’ area, the lady (in the photo) IDK what got into her but she was plainly rude in terms of communication and the way she speaks, in an elevated tone ‘We are still closed. Did you even book a reservation?!’ I politely said, Yes

Told myself, ‘you really don’t have to raise your voice that way’ (strike 1)

When the time came 5:30, I paid directly for 8 people but this lady tried to put us at the end of the restaurant wherein you cannot move freely (to get the food) (that room looks like a kitchen as well) as the room is small for 8 people - I tried to tell her to give us the near table as it was also for 8 people but she said ‘No!’

I asked her if we could choose a table which is suitable for us but she appeared mad.

That time, I feel a bit frustrated for my friends and I who just wants to have a good time and enjoy their but cannot due to the table setting (strike 2)

Her other colleague (had a hard time understanding us and cannot speak english properly) looked confused and upset to us

My other friend who arrived 10 minutes after, saw our table situation and told me that something does not feel right - why is our table like this and not the same as the ones in the front, so we went to this cashier again and explained to her that we booked this reservation a week ago and we deserve the front seats as they were 8 chairs as well for 8 people - but I don’t know she could not understand our plea and was just ignoring us.

I’ve explained to her that I paid first so she could just simply put us in a near table or better yet put us at the other table wherein we could ‘move freely’ to get our food

After eating our buffet, my friend heard another customer requesting if they can choose a table which is suitable for them and the cashier just said ‘yeah sure no problem’

See?! Racist much?

Food was nice tho but the experience??? After all we’ve been through? Nah. Don’t treat your customers like that.

The staff, they are not friendly and cannot understand english that much. I’m giving them...

*Edit: Review below was made 8 months ago, I went again last week and here’s my recent review. TAKE YOUR RECEIPT and DO NOT order a table any later than 8pm, as they don’t refill anything 😒. My partner and I booked a table for 8:30pm and when we asked if they were going to refill their “hot cases” which were completely empty (and are still cold might I add), they said they can’t. My partner had also called the day prior, to book the front table of the establishment. To our disappointment on arrival, we saw people sitting on our table and were instead seated at the back of the restaurant, which was annoying. To end off the wonderful night they overcharged me $2. Not authentic KBBQ either, save your coin and go to Pocha, Nol Bu Ne, Seoul Night, Ah Ssak for some REAL Korean food 🔥

Kept on coming on my Tiktok so I had to try it. Definitely a clean freaks, people who get hot easily, introverts, newbie to kbbq worst nightmare 😂 the “clean” plates had an oily residue on it, the table I sat at felt sticky, I had gotten a free water bottle from the front and bought it back to the table, opened it and it was as if someone had drank out the pourer as it clearly had food crumbs around it; GROSS (did not drink water, at least they had soju lol), the tteokpokki was disgusting, the food in the hot cases were cold af, it was hot and loud and the toilets were filthyyyyy. Not much pros other than the self serve ice cream was yum, everything was well stocked every time I got up, decor is nice, came 20 minutes late but they still had our table. Overall I’d probably only go back here if my friends wanted too, otherwise when they fix their cleanliness I’d love to come back and...

I reserved a booking for 27 guests five days in advance and paid a deposit three days prior. Despite this, when we arrived there was no seating allocation, no staff member assigned to guide us, and no clear communication. Staff simply pointed us toward two separate areas in an already crowded restaurant, leaving my group without direction.

As additional guests arrived, they were instructed to vacate seats without any alternative arrangement provided. When I asked where we were formally allocated, there was no clear answer. Later in the evening, the receptionist insisted only 17 guests had attended and attempted to consolidate us, stating we would be charged for “empty seats”. After several recounts — done by myself — it was confirmed 25 guests were already present with two still coming.

Additionally, the $100 deposit I had paid was not acknowledged at checkout. I had to contact the restaurant after leaving to request it be returned. The fact that the final guests were charged as though no deposit existed suggests poor administrative oversight.

Under the Consumer Guarantees Act (NZ), services must be provided with reasonable care, skill, and accurate information. Unfortunately, this experience did not reflect any of those standards. Large bookings require organisation, transparency, and accountability — which were notably lacking.

I hope management reviews their booking processes, record keeping, and staff communication to prevent similar issues for future customers. I mean, at $41.80 the service was absolute rubbish. It completely ruined the aura of the night and lost my appetite. Did not...