Peony Asian Bistro — Restaurant in Durham

While the food here is normally worth the price and very tasty, my most recent experience was very subpar. The veggie tempura is normally an equal mix of: sweet potato, Japanese pumpkin, onion, zucchini, and broccoli. This time, it was sweet potato (the majority), onion, zucchini, broccoli, and an untrimmed stalk of asparagus (the bottom half was inedible). Strange, and disappointing that my favorites were the smallest amount or not there (the pumpkin and zucchini), but I assume because it was the end of the night, I was getting whatever veggies were left. The asparagus was a weird choice, though. The chicken tempura roll was delicious as always, except that I didn’t get my BOGO. I was just charged full price (and then some because of the delivery service) for a single portion. I’ve ordered delivery from here before, and they’ve always doubled whatever roll I order—until now. The Mongolian beef was tasty, but the amount of beef in the dish was laughable (and for $15 base, or $20 through a delivery service, the amount was offensive). This one can’t be blamed on it being late—this was simply overcharging for a dish that is 80% onions and 20% beef (if that). The only ingredients were onions, green onions, and beef. So I’m not going to just eat a forkful of onions. This is a complaint I have had about this dish before, and I unfortunately forgot about HOW disproportionate it was. Definitely do NOT order the Mongolian beef (unless you love eating onions by themself).

Now, I have been going to Peony for years, and this is mostly very unusual (except about the Mongolian beef, which I have had the same experience with when I last ordered it years ago). But the veggie tempura and sushi normally are delicious, well priced, and the BOGO deal normally works as intended. Though the tempura will get soggy if you leave it in the container longer than five minutes.

So the takeaway is: be cautious ordering veggie tempura late at night, since the ingredients might be weird; don’t order the Mongolian beef; and sometimes the sushi BOGO might not work if you...

NOT THE ONLY YELP REVIEW TO BE SCAMED BY THESE FOLKS IN THIS WAY

So, my girlfriend and I love sushi and eat at Peony once or twice a month. Today, however, we dealt with the rudest staff and supervisor and will not be going back. The story...

Usually we order their buy one get the (lesser) priced sushi set for free. Pretty simple, you buy a $14 sushi set and a $8 sushi set and you get the $8 set for free. Today we decided to buy four sushi sets between us. We ordered two (roughly) $14 sets and two $8 sets. When the check came they charged us for the two most expensive sets. We asked why we weren't charged for $14 and $8, which (we thought) seems reasonable and is why we ordered the way we did. Or server said no, that's not how it worked and then told us we can speak to her supervisor...

The supervisor was the most arrogant, unhelpful person I've seen run a restaurant. We explained the situation and he flat out said he wasn't going to change the price. When we asked what would happen if, say, I came in and purchased the two $14 sushi sets and then had my girlfriend purchase the two $8 sets, wouldn't the price be $14 for me and $8 for her? He said "yes" but we didn't split the bill that way at the beginning. WHAT?!?! I about lost it and told him that for $6 he was about to lose loyal customers, which he didn't seem to care about. I made a bit of a scene and told my girlfriend we should just walk out and not pay (which she didn't want to do), at which point the guy said he would call the cops.

In the end, I didn't leave a tip, which would have been $6. They lost a loyal customer and hopefully will have others think twice before going there with theis "buy one get one free sushi" scam.

TLDR: Longtime customer, wont be going back due to rude staff/supervisor and "buy one get one free" sushi scam. Avoid restaurant...

It is my favorite restaurant. Whether you get the bogo made to order sushi rolls, any of the entrees, or the build your own bento box dinner, I have never found such consistently good quality food (and so much of it) for the prices.

The staff is very friendly, and takes adjustment and accomodation requests very seriously, without being overly attentive.

Visually, it perfectly straddles the line between decadent extravance and simple coziness. Thanks to the glowing fish tank at the front and simple dark wood and black furniture throughout, the red walls with shimmering, intricate art, and the lighting, while appearing a little dim at first, is warm and centered over each table, allowing it to be perfectly balanced by the time your back touches the seat.

The bathroom is always clean, well lit, and stocked, while remaining a small, 2 person use at a time, comfortably relaxed and private affair.

I have been going for years now on every excuse I have to be in the area. And I have never brought someone here only once. Everyone I've introduced to Peony has happily returned (if not requested) again multiple times.

*having a couple of small shopping centers next door, across the street, or max 3 mins way, with stores ranging from total wine and more to dsw, home depot, old navy, party city, Barnes and noble, Joanne's, and more doesn't hurt.

**And neither does the Frozy's Frozen yogurt and bubble tea being right across the way. (Which is how I discovered Peony to begin with, and is now the essential second stop for us, no matter...