Nine Spices Hot Pot — Restaurant in Duluth

This place isn't too shabby. My fiance and I wanted to go here (when it was still 89 Hot Pot) but they were in the middle of renovations. A couple of weeks later my family invited me to go eat here after renovations and I thought it was great! I don't particularly judge based on customer service, especially since Hot Pot is pretty independent... unless you're specifically asking for something, then I get it. But, I thought the service was fine. Aside from the skittish nature of the obvious first-timers being in the fast-pace environment of a dinner rush food service, they were trying their best, (Repeating things, forgetting things, eh, not worried about it, everybody's gotta start somewhere.) The conveyor belt was a pretty cool feature. But I felt bad for everyone sitting behind us because my cousins, siblings and I can EAT... so... sorry for those who didn't get the dishes they wanted. LOL.

Anyway, the meat selection was good. Beef, pork, and surprisingly, lamb. Seafood was also great, since I enjoyed all of the squid, mussels, clams, and fish paste.

I was also impressed that they had bean curd and a large variety of vermicelli. Also there was udon.

Oh yeah, also I like that they had snow pea tips. Napa, spinach, daikon, coriander, watercress.

Most of these items are more on the pricier side that I don't find in any other hot pot places, so it's a good variety. Also based on previous experience for places that generally supply better types of items (out of your generic norm) I would not be surprised if it lacked consistency. (i.e: Clams one day, no clams another day etc).

Overall I think this place is great for what it's worth. But - I cannot relate to others here who complain about not being served right or blaming the restaurant for their frozen baby. Or maybe I'm just too laid back to care. It's good food, I had a good time with my family, and the servers were trying their best and we helped them out along the way.

Definitely will come back...

My friends and I made reservations, some of my friends had already arrived and just a few of us were joining. As much as I do appreciate covid protocol, I thought the attitude and services need a change. There was a lady who just straight up pointed the temperature thing on my face without warning and straight up told me "sit down" as if I was not at all welcome (felt like I was dog at the store, mind you I just came in and I was met with this attitude, I understand the problem if she didn't usually speak English, but a simple please, would you mind just sitting here would be nice). She straight up told us to just sit now, no customer service at all. There was a pleasant waiter there that did attempt to make up for it in politeness saying that sometimes the temperature thing can malfunction and asked us to be patient. That would've been nice to be said for the start. In general the experience was so-so. I understand Chinese and I did believe the lady working there needs to attempt to do better for customer service, she ruined my whole experience there. The food was alright for hot pot, but I feel like there's better places for better service (I personally like the meat they provide if you ask them). The waiters were new looking, but the lady needs to calm down with yelling across the room, there's been times where her rudeness could be heard from all the customers there. Even in Chinese, her language did not sound at all polite. I didn't like how tip was automatically included, I truly wanted to leave my tip for that one polite waiter who tried to make the experience better. Still not better enough, I don't think I'm coming back to this place again as I end up paying around 33 just for myself because they...

This place should have learned from its previous one - 89 Hot Pot. I read other reviews and I feel like I need to have my own review, too. We've been to this place before when it was still 89 Hot Pot. We've been there also after the renovation, mostly out of curiosity - what has changed. I agree with others that the service is poor. Though the y have a wide selection of food, it looks like they strategize what to put on the conveyor belt. We had to wait for the other selections to come as they don't put the more desirable (must be more expensive items) as often as the others. They also give you your check even when you are not done yet as if they are telling you that, "You have eaten enough, it's time for you to go." If you have a big group and you don't come or start together at the same time, you would probably get a reminder that your time is about to be up and you need to leave not considering you are with a group who came in later. And yes, water is not refilled as needed. Contrary to their response on one of the reviews, I don't think that the "10% discount if you pay cash" was given not because they were friends with the owners but it is pretty common in a lot of establishments like theirs as it seems that it is their way to avoid credit card fees and (who knows what else?) other fees and taxes. It is not new to us and we are not so naive not to know the reason why. For this restaurant to thrive and not just survive, they need to improve the customer service (after all, they are in service industry, too), the quality of food and place (cleanliness) and to be competitive in price, too, and learn to listen to what their customers say and take...