Ginger Buffet & Grill — Restaurant in Fairview Heights

I visited on Thursday, June 13, 2024. I was eating Lo Mein and Chicken and Broccoli. As I was about to put a fork full of broccoli into my, I happened to look at my fork and noticed a loooong dark string of hair attached to the broccoli on my fork. I immediately looked for my waitress. When I DID see her and attempted to get her attention, she ignored me. So as she was about to walk the other direction, I finally got her attention. She did not come to my table or approach me, she just looked in my direction with a “what” look on her face as if I was inconveniencing her. So I had no other choice but to announce “there is hair in my food” while holding up the fork with the attached hair. This is when she came walking over (fast) and grabbed my plate. She actually had the nerve to ask if I wanted something else. I responded with a “ no” and gathered my things. She promptly went to scrape the plate! As I was leaving, they actually had the audacity to try and hand me a bill!!! I refused to accept the bill and repeated about the hair. By this time, the waitress was on the phone speaking with someone and another older lady was at the register. Of course, I could not understand what they were saying because they were speaking in their native tongue but I stood there until they acknowledged that I was NOT going to pay that bill.

(No, I did not take a picture of the plate/food with the hair. It is not second nature for me to immediately think about taking pictures...

I have been going to Ginger's for two years now. At first I professed to everyone about how good the food was and how courteous the staff were.

But unfortunately I have to admit that the food has gone by way of the Dodo bird. Meaning that good food here is now extinct. It is very dry and if you don't have sauce on it is completely tasteless.

So I am very sorry to have to say. That at this point you would not even pay me to convince me to go back to eat there anymore.

I truly am very sorry because I do not take pleasure in reporting these kinds of opinions for it is not of my nature. But unfortunately charging $18.45 with tax for dinner service per person and here is the finite kicker. The fire mentioned price does not include a beverage. It is absolutely criminal and management should be ashamed of yourselves. You can and have done better in the past. Please if you no longer have passion for your craft Stop pretending your customers are happy. Because if they were as honest with you as I am now. Maybe you can see the big picture of...

Asked ahead of time if they give a military discount and they said yes, they do. Our bill was almost $62, so I looked at my final bill, after military discount, which was much higher. They give a $1 discount, before taxes, on the bill for military discount. The food was almost all something breaded. I'd called and asked ahead of time if they had a large low-carb menu, with food that was not breaded or doused in bbq sauce. I was told, yes, yes, LOTS of choices! I had 3 choices. Green beans, salmon (which tasted overly fishy) and yakitori. That was all. My son tried the oysters which had a seaweed beard inside many of them. I advised him to steer clear of all, since they hadn't been cleaned properly. All in all, the staff was very friendly. They spoke in Chinese to my kids and I (who speak some Mandarin) and were very prompt to fill our drink glasses; clear away dirty dishes and present the cheque. Very clean restaurant, no dirty tables and we were seated immediately. I just wish the food were better and they didn't mislead about...