Chilli Kitchen 蜀香園 — Restaurant in Birmingham

Unfortunately we had an awful service yesterday (been here 3 times now, second visit they forgot one dish off our order so we had to cancel it in the end). Lady that took our order confirmed our braised pork belly (learnt our lesson from last time) and we even pointed it on the menu and she nodded her head and said ok. Fast forward to when the food came out we still didn’t receive our pork belly so we ask 2 more staff to confirm if it’s still on its way and they both said yes (in separate occasions, about 15 mins apart). The third lady then came so we asked about the dish and she said it wasn’t written in the order so we said to cancel it as we were about to finish the other 2 dishes we ordered (luckily we over ordered because of what we experienced last time). When we went to pay the bill we can clearly see that the pork belly we ordered was scrubbed off the list (they write down orders hence was able to see it) so I questioned it and said “why was we told it wasn’t ordered when it’s clearly written down” staff was speechless because they didn’t know what to say when it’s in plain site. She proceeded to tell me our total bill. I made sure the pork belly wasn’t on the bill so I manually calculated it before paying. When I started to calculate it one of the staff said “ow there’s a 10% service charge on your bill”. So I said in a calm manner “Isn’t the service charge optional? If the service we received today was good then I wouldn’t hesitate to pay it but today is not the day so can you take that off the bill”. She tried to say the service charge wasn’t optional so I challenge it before I handed my card to pay the bill. In the end they gave up and only charged for the food we had. In the past (not just in this restaurant) I give either 10% or £10 tips because the services was great (even if they just get me a glass of water, simple things that make a difference in someone’s dine in).

The moral of the story is: DON’T LIE (just be honest and say you can’t make the dish because it takes a long time to do or if it’s too busy (I’ve seen busier restaurants and a simple solution is to hire more staff, which on this occasion it wasn’t super busy). Note: if you want to charge service charge then mention it before the customer orders and do a good job at serving please.

I hope this constructive criticism will help you realise why your score is what it is and can only hope you take it on board for a better dine in.

PS. Food was good so no...

OF ALL PEOPLE, for the second time this Chinese Restaurant in Birmingham’s Chinese Quarter asked me to pay before I’d have my meal. I’ve been there 4 times in the past. Last time I paid in advance (no problem) At this time, i said: I know this is not how this restaurant works, and I asked: Did every single customer here paid in advance? The waiter didn’t justify and persisted that I must pay in advance. He then asked me if I have an UK Bank card, which I confirmed. Then the waiter walked away. So I had chosen my meal, and he again asked me to pay in advance. Which I replied, there’s no way all these people here paid in advance. Bear in mind I noticed that I was the only black customer in this small but full restaurant. So, of course I left the venue. Just at the corner I met 3 Police officers (1 Black + 1 Caucasion females and 1 Caucasian male) The Black female, never opened her mouth (youngest and clearly new to the Force) and the Caucasian male Police officer (early 40’s) said on his own words Its a discrimination, then he asked me to write a review: which I said: I thought you’d go there and see it and sort it out yourselves. A REVIEW???? ARE YOU MAD??? The Police male laughed, and they walked away.

What I mean is: There’s not need to look for it, as it’s right and easily spotted. Different from London’s Underground slogan: If you see it, say it, sorted. This ain’t...

The one star is for the nice food. The taste of food is quite good, spicy sichuan flavor... However, their card machine and service are absolutely awful!!! Normally if Chinese restuarant does not take cash at all, they would put a lable 'Cash only'... or they accept card payment but prefer cash payment and offer them discount!! But this one, no lable... and their card machine is ALWAYS BROKEN! When we ask whether we could pay by card today and have u fixed ur card machine this time... they said we need to check and without checking they said we only took cash! LIAR!!! When my friends talked with waitress in English, they did not understand... when i talked with they in Chinese asking for discount for cash payment... they pretended that they did not hear anything!! I nearly shouted, do u underdtand what I am saying! SO BAD SERVICE!!!

My other experienxe as take away: When I order delivery from a third party website... the delivery took nearly 1.5 hour!!! As this stupid restuarant put the delivery order as last in the queue!!! The driving only took 15 mins... how could they decided the order without respecting the queue!!!

They make the rule, unrespect the rule! Food okay, but there are lots of nice Chinese restuarants in Birminham China Town... But this stupid service, if u want to enjoy, please get...