Goodwin Tea House & More 古韵 — Restaurant in Duluth

Went to try out this place yesterday with family. Customer service when sitting was horrible! A young girl waitress was not paying any attention to us. Place was so small, cannot accommodate large family gathering. Was told the waitress will slide the small table next to another table to form a larger table, but never did. We had to do it ourselves. Waitress left my family alone with no water and no introduction. Waitress kept serving other customers, but not us. Had to wave down waitress every time we need something or had questions. Waitress never attended to us, or check on us. Then, when ready to order, no one came to take orders, but we were supposedly expected to order via the app. We asked for a menu and was told initially we needed to use the QR code. Hello? Why r we expected to do this or that? What if u have people who r not technology savvy? All we asked for is a menu, why is that so hard? Finally, the waitress handed us the menu and then had to be convinced to take our orders. Some of us had questions about the food before ordering. Yet, the way this restaurant handles customers was not at all professional. Customers r expected to do everything, like ordering via app and making sure we have a table and enough chairs, etc, then what is the point of having a waitress/waiters for? Employees need to be trained showing empathy and respect and willingness to help customers if they are not accustomed to using QR code or take orders via app when eating in-person in a restaurant. Don't think my family will come back to this place again unless they hire better waitress/waiters. Customer service needs major...

A friend told me that Goodwin’s bubble tea could rival Glazed Tea, and that their beef bowls were also really good. So after picking up a pastry surprise bag nearby on Friday after work, I decided to stop by and check it out. As soon as I walked in, they were playing old Jay Chou songs—which instantly gave me a wave of nostalgia. Those were the songs we grew up with in the late ’90s and early 2000s. The decor matched the vibe perfectly too—retro and charming, making it a great spot to relax or hang out with friends. I ordered the classic braised pork rice bowl, an unsweetened Black Milk Tea (香韵和鸣), and the fried shrimp rice rolls. Everything was satisfying—the pork bowl was rich but not greasy, the milk tea had a deep, smooth flavor, and the shrimp rolls paired beautifully with the dipping sauce. It wasn’t until halfway through the meal that I realized I had actually ordered delivery from them before. All in all, really glad I visited in person this time—it definitely won’t be my last! Came back for a visit and they were still playing Jay Chou’s classic songs, which brought back so many memories. This time I tried the crispy fried squid with savory chili powder—really tasty. The spicy hot pot is still one of my favorites, especially with all the add-ins like potato slices, lotus root, and squid soaked in rich sauce. The only downside was that it wasn’t very spicy and a bit on the oily side. Of course, I had to pair it with a milk tea for that...

I’m not sure if this place is new or if I just never noticed it in the plaza but so glad I tried it ! This place is more similar to a self-serve restaurant. Chowbus QR codes are on the tables to order and pay, water station is complimentary, and there is a counter to grab to-go containers, utensils, and napkins. The decor inside feels like I’m on a C-drama set following a cute modern couple.

Food-wise, I will definitely be coming back for the cucumber salad, chicken skewers, and malatang! The Chinese skewers taste similar to ones you’d get at a Chinese skewer spot or skewer hot pot place. The beef malatang flavor reminds me of satay flavor, especially with the peanut dipping sauce. (Not the usual malatang flavor but still very delicious) The braised beef noodles were okay for me but you get a hefty portion of the beef. (I personally prefer this type of soup paired with the Chinese pickled mustard greens, iykyk) The portions here are generous so come hungry 😂 I didn’t order boba here like some people did just because I wanted to try the food here and there are other boba options nearby. But overall, great place to eat on a rainy...