The New Great Wall — Restaurant in Calderdale

Price escalation scam?

We went to The New Great Wall in February, 2023, as my Birthday treat.

Click the "Menu" link on The New Great Wall's Facebook page, and you are shown a menu for a 5-course meal at £20. On double-checking, we noticed the menu was uploaded in 2016, so decided to check their website. - That's the 1st scam... Misdirect you to old prices.

On their actual website, click the "Menu" link or the "Dine with us A-la-carte" button and you are directed to a take-away menu with prices! That's the 2nd scam... Misdirect you to a cheaper menu.

There was a 5-course meal advertised on their website for £30. Believing this was the price, we phoned to book a table for 2. We were then told that the website was out-of-date (It's now 2 weeks later and the same menu is online), and the price was actually £34. That's the 3rd scam... Increase the price while you're on the phone, while accepting no responsibility for the £4 increase. Not accepting the price displayed is possibly also illegal under the UK Trades Description Act.

We decided to accept the price of £34 quoted over the phone, and booked a table for 2.

On arrival, there was no menu displayed before we sat at the table - That's the 4th scam... Get you to the table so that it's uncomfortable for you to leave - This is illegal under UK law.

When we were seated, we were presented with the menu... and the 5-course meal price had risen again... another £10 to £44. That's the 5th scam... A rise of £14 from seeing the meal advertised to being seated at the restaurant.

We immediately asked to speak with the manager, James. James said the price we had been quoted was for a take-away meal. We explained that this wasn't feasible because we had booked a table (hence, dine-in) at that price. He then asserted dismissively that he wasn't bothered about a couple of pounds, before raising the quoted price by another £2! - That's the 6th scam... The manager didn't take responsibility for incorrectly advertising a lower price, and covertly rising their prices along the way.

The attitude of the restaurant seemed to be that The New Great Wall would rather get you seated, bump the price and risk you feeling too uncomfortable to leave the restaurant. We stayed only because it was my partner's birthday treat for me; however, it tainted our evening a little.

I understand that businesses are cutting corners due to the high costs the UK is currently bearing; however, businesses need to understand that people have long memories, and repeat custom might be the difference between survival and bankruptcy.

Obviously, we did not enjoy our dining experience, and will not be returning. The food felt more take-away quality than dine-in, and it certainly wasn't worth the eventual price. There are so many quality restaurants nearby with good food, reasonable prices, and that give you a...

Used to be 5* takeaway but not quite as good anymore.

Don’t get me wrong the takeaway food is great restaurant quality still. They don’t deliver but that is ok, sure it would add to the price if they paid for delivery drivers. The menu has loads of choice and the price is not bad.

The main issues are that on busy nights the restaurant, understandably I suppose, takes priority over takeaway and it can mean waiting ages. They should probably just not take takeaway orders if the restaurant is busy.

A few family favourites have been removed from the takeaway menu as apparently they “don’t travel well”. Seems weird as all food goes cooler etc on drives home. I offered to risk it as the dishes had always been fine but was told no which is sad. But they have other good dishes so not a dealbreaker.

A big, more recent problem, is that they seem to be increasingly often getting one or two items on takeaway orders wrong. Happened for the 4th time in a few months to us tonight.

They are always apologetic and offer either to remove the missing/wrong things from your next bill, which doesn’t work as you’re then short of food, or to do it for you to come and get - which is fine except it means paying the petrol costs twice (not a joke now) and that the rest of your food has gone cold by the time you get the things the messed up.

I have started experimenting with other local Chinese places but none do food quite as good so I do keep coming back to Great...

The chicken wrapped in lettuce was delicious. For my main I had the seafood special, but I was disappointed with the squid which was inedible- although another member of our party said that hers was perfect. I did mention that I couldn't eat the squid to the staff as they were clearing the table but I didn't get any comment or apology. The staff were attentive but not obtrusive. Parking is an issue - I couldn't find anywhere close by so parked at the back of the building, as we were leaving I was boxed in & on finding the owner of the car was told that it was staff parking , however, there are no signs to advise that is the case. I doubt that I will...