New China — Restaurant in City of Oneida

I have left this one star review for several reasons. To start, however, I have to say the following:

The food is always at least decent, usually better. Considering it's a buffet, and how often my fiance and I eat there, that's a pretty good record.

Now onto the bad things.

Service used to be excellent. It has been CONSTANTLY declining over the past several years, reaching the point where you can barely get a refill on your drinks even if you literally get up and ask the waiter.

Tonight, however, was the final straw. I try so hard not to be petty, so I apologize if this seems like an overreaction but...

My fiance and I are strapped for cash, but we like to try and go on a simple dinner date once a month minimum. We chose the buffet for the (admittedly) reasonable prices and the expectation of reasonable quality food.

The food was decent. Not quite good, but definitely far from bad. The problem was the young girl, child of someone who worked there, or maybe the owner. She was sitting in the lobby, with the mouthpiece of a clarinet, letting out these ungodly screeches from the poor tortured instrument part - obviously trying to learn how to get consistent wind through the mouthpiece, I think.

That much is fine. Girl wants to play clarinet? I really hope she likes it, and goes far with it. The problem is allowing your child or the child of an employee to do this in the lobby of an active bloody restaurant, when you don't have ANY music playing over the sound system, as if they wanted the guests to listen to each 'kicked-cat' tier honk.

The young male, under the age of ten, shouting 'STOP!' at her, twice, didn't help. As far as I know, he is also child of the owners or an employee.

Seriously. This place is not where you want to go if you want good service OR a nice dining experience. Our waiter, today, during the... concerto... was literally listening noisily to a radio around his neck, headphones I believe - loudly. I mean, ten feet from the table, you could hear it.

It was just a deplorable experience. I recommend takeout, or not spending money here at all.

Be it known I do understand having to bring your kids to work after school, etc. I don't blame the kids, I don't blame the parents for them being there, but when it literally interferes with your guests dining experience...

Well. Other guests seemed equally displeased. Remember, these are children of an employee, or...

I left in tears. After "allowing" me to get a takeout tray, I was refused when I wanted to use a credit card. I was $0.35 short for cash, so I wanted to pay by credit. There was no posting of a minimum. The front person did not greet when I entered and w a s extremely rude and refused to let me speak with a manager. I was never ugly in any way!!! I just wanted to pay. She refused to sell to me and other than being a size 16 to her size 2, I have no idea why. I was a repeat ...twice per month customer and whenI said she was going to llose a customer, she loudly exclaimed, "I don't care." I was so shocked and so amazed by this, I left in tears with her smiling. Beware. ..I didn't take more because I wanted to buy what looked fresh and not old...

Stopped in for lunch. We were in the area for a dance workshop and the girls were famished after a long morning of dancing. The restaurant is small with a small variety of food. It was very dimly lit and didn't appear very sanitary. They were piling up plates of food on tables to come back and clear and there was 1scooper for ice cream in dirty water. The bathroom was cold, very dark with what appeared to be a nightlight on and no hot water. It's a cheap lunch, but we likely...