Baron's Sino Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Bellevue

Last night was a special event for my Chinese wife. First it is the beginning of the mid-Autumn festival where this is typically a special time to share with family. The second is a celebration on recent news on her health. She was feeling nostalgic so we wanted to go to this restaurant as we looked to the reviews on the Beijing Duck that is specially prepared and of a quality a natural born Chinese would readily recognize. We had reservations for 730p with notations of the special occasion. The issue ended up being the service. We upon ordering asked the wait time in the duck and the server told us we were second in line and the duck would be out in 10 minutes. We ordered three (one desert after duck) other dishes in addition to the duck and after 30 minutes of eating the other dishes we inquired on the duck. Again told 10 minutes away, so we ordered some steam rice for our other dishes. After 15 minutes wait on the steam rice (one bowl) we asked another server could they expedite the rice as our server had gone missing. We received it right away. After 55 minutes and no receipt of our duck I contacted the server and told him to cancel the duck and desert and prepare our bill. Ten minutes later we noticed the waiter servicing other tables and we talked to the manager on our prior delay issues and request to receive our bill from our original waiter. She did this immediately and while away the desert was brought to us that I informed our waiter I had cancelled with him earlier and to take it back to kitchen. The manager brought the bill and was kind enough to give a discount, but it included the desert. I informed her this was cancelled with the original waiter and she went away to revise the bill. At this time the waiter returned with the desert in a takeaway bag knowing full well we cancelled this with him. We informed him we did not want the desert as we removed it from the bill. He took the bag off the table in a huff and literally and I mean I am not exaggerating opened a door to the kitchen or trash area 6 feet from our seating area and flung the takeaway bag into this room. We were shocked at his behavior, but not surprised due to his prior actions. The manager returned with the corrected bill and we paid and left, What can I say? The two dishes we did receive were outstanding. The wait now at more than one hour we asked the manager what we can do differently in the future and she shared it was a mistake by the waiter not to inform us the normal waiting time is between 1-1.5 hours for the signature duck unless we are there at 530-600p then we can get served in about 10 minutes. As such I write this review as this is a high level Chinese restaurant in Bellevue and it was one of the more important Chinese holidays and for the restaurant not to have planned sufficient materials for it's key signature dishes in advance or planned sufficient labor, then it shows the lack of commitment to customer service. I must share the manager was very friendly, but the server was rude and honestly quite inappropriate in his behavior. Overall quite a bad experience for a high end restaurant in Bellevue where there are many options for other service oriented restaurants. I can recommend this restaurant if you are ok with spending in excess of one hour to receive your food as the food quality does appear to be quite good. The issue though is regardless of the wait time, the server was dead wrong in his behavior and mannerism in dealing with us. The manager went out of her way to try to make an unpleasant experience the best she could, but honestly she is unaware of the employee behavior hence my writing this long review. The discount provided was appreciated, the experience though was quite...

Dinner, duck... It's a dud. Panda Express does Americanese fusion better than this place, at and least their food is hot. Everything we got here was lukewarm at best.

The place was practically empty at dinnertime and that says a lot. We were served by 4-5 different people in one dinner. They didn't have enough customers for all their staff and pretty much threw them all at our table. I feel awful for them, no idea how their tips are supposed to work out with not even one table for one server.

Extremely inconsistent food. If you look at the photos, the presentation and garnishing is different among the same dishes. On the duck alone, in some photos, the duck is cut in front of the customer, it has a flower on crossed legs, or it has a flower directly on the meat, it has some weird crumbles on it, or some sprouts, sometimes it has nothing at all... Ours received nothing on it.

The peking duck is supposedly cooked for 45 minutes, according to the menu. We asked the server how long it would take the duck to come out. 'On a night like this,' he said, 'probably 20 minutes at most' . That translates to: 'It's so slow tonight, we can't be bothered to cook something fresh, so we're gonna reheat something'. At a fine dining restaurant, food coming out fast is NOT a good thing.

It came out in 7 minutes, barely warm.

We ordered a hot and sour soup with beansprouts that was actually OK, as it had some flavor and was approaching hot.

Another soup, however, was wildly confusing. Chicken, or seafood soup, I couldn't tell, tasted more like egg flour soup on steroids. The broth itself wasn't bad but it had some off tasting meat in it. The worst part was the random goji berries thrown in and the dried...I don't know, it could have been abalone, cuttlefish, or squid, which was sitting at the bottom of it, emanating cat food.

The goji berries hadn't been in the broth long enough and so they were barely soft and hard and chewy on the inside. Totally unpleasant, lending absolutely no flavor to the dish. Same with the dried (I'm just going to guess here) abalone, there were little chunks of it sitting at the bottom. Maybe to give the broth flavor but it was a horrible way of going about it because, like the goji berries, the chunks were still hard in the middle. It was as if the chef had dumped the items into the room temp broth right before we were served.

Scallops were gummy and stringy, pork belly was dry and chewy...I really don't think there's any point in talking about the rest of the dishes, just barely mediocre, room temp food across the board.

Oh, and their 'specialty' dessert, the black gold custard bun. Custard bun? That looks like a raw egg yolk bleeding out onto the plate. The black color comes from charcoal, which gives an odd, gritty texture when chewing. It wouldn't be bad if it could be balanced by a velvety custard but as you can see, that's no custard. There is no way you can tell me that looks appetizing.

Also, for some reason I can't fathom, playing in the restaurant was a revolting techno remix of Dancing in the Moonlight by a Swedish pop group. In a restaurant that's supposed to be upscale Chinese American fusion? This isn't a club in Amsterdam, although it is dark in there. It's giving me more depression than anything else.

Perhaps the lunch chef and menu is better. Avoid...

Baron's Sino Kitchen & Bar: A Masterclass in Contemporary Chinese Cuisine

After multiple visits to Baron’s Sino Kitchen & Bar, I can confidently say this establishment has redefined my expectations for fine Chinese dining nowhere in-sight in Seattle area. Nestled in the heart of the Bellevue's culinary district, this elegant restaurant masterfully bridges traditional Chinese cooking techniques with modern gastronomy.

The dining room sets the tone immediately upon entry. Dark wood panels complement the full panel glass screens depicting classical luxury, while thoughtfully spaced tables ensure intimate conversation. Soft traditional music plays in the background, creating an atmosphere that's refined yet welcoming.

Executive Chef’s tasting menu is nothing short of extraordinary. The Dim Sum Trilogy opener showcases his technical precision – the dumpling's translucent wrapper reveals the perfectly cooked juicy meat within, while the thoughtful birthday celebration desert adds a surprising heart warming moment to the occasion. The standout Peking duck requires 24-hour notice, and it's immediately apparent why. The skin achieves that elusive glass-like crispness, while the meat remains succulent. It's served in three courses: traditional pancakes, then the meat wok-fried with fresh vegetables, and finally, a deeply satisfying duck bone soup.

The wine program deserves special mention. The sommelier has curated an impressive list that includes both established house wine of its own brand and emerging Chinese wineries, with particular attention to selections that complement the complex flavors of Chinese cuisine. The tea service is equally sophisticated, featuring rare varieties like 20-year aged pu-erh and high-mountain oolong.

Service strikes that perfect balance between attentiveness and discretion. The staff demonstrates extensive knowledge of both the menu and Chinese culinary traditions, readily providing detailed explanations without becoming intrusive.

While the pricing reflects the premium ingredients and exceptional craftsmanship in such an elegant atmosphere, the value is justified by the quality of food, service, and overall experience of enjoyment. Reservations are essential, especially for weekend dining or large groups.

Baron’s Sino Kitchen & Bar proves that Chinese cuisine deserves its place among the world's finest dining traditions. It's a restaurant that honors its cultural heritage while confidently embracing contemporary...