CHOPSTIX BUFFET — Restaurant in Gretna

RATS !!!!!! one caught in old grease.

I want to add on to Marie's review from 3 weeks ago regarding mice w/crawfish head. I speak Spanish and today heard the Spanish speaking cooks complain the health department made them drain the old oil in fryer after a mouse was caught in old grease and died between fryer.

Was charged $40 - arrived at lunch 3 pm {dinner starts at 3:30} instead of upgrading me from $11 to $19 manager said charge me for lunch and dinner.

I was already grossed out by the cooks speaking in Spanish about dead rat caught in fryer grease. I thought they were kidding until I read Marie's review below.

What I have personally seen. I am half Asian [Thai] so I was super chatty with one of them. She felt comfortable enough to tell me they do not like hugging the white men. Management said it makes them loyal customers. Only a VERy few try hard for tips wear glitter on eyelids and squeal hug the men. But majority won't and said they do not like hugging men.

If you go for cheap $11 buffet ($19 after 3:30) not including drinks and tip ($3 drink $2-5 tip) $17-$25 next time CHECK THE INSIDE OF GLASS. Its sticky right?sometimes the plates have little debris? Their commercial steam washer always breaking so same cooks have to spray and wash by hand in a sink of murky soap water. This is what the male waiter told me.

Which is another thing. I asked him why majority of the waitresses do NOT speak English. He said the owner places ads in China to work in the restaurant. She keeps the green cards and has a home where the waitresses can live together. He said when they arrive they are told to pick an American name and are taught a few English words like "More" "Drink" etc. He said he is going to take his green card and find work in NYC and leave.

Go to the other 2 Chinese buffets in Gretna. They are cleaner {this one even has broken soap dispensers in bathroom} and hostesses managers are friendly {this one the manager seems distant, cold shoulder, and never starts conversation. Its always about money and she tapes rude signs to tables DON'T WASTE FOOD EAT WHAT IS ON PLATE [to keep food cost low she explained]

So this IS a cheap place yes. But not cheap as in food ($11 is really $15 and don't eat after 3:30 pm That's the $19 dinner buffet)

UPDATE ...after reading all the bad complaints below 1. Yes they do get the ticket fast to you. I eat light. Salad and light entree no seconds ticket arrives.

No they will never say thank you even if you leave large tip to the no thank you review. They stare at bill to see how much they got and scamper away. The male hostess with glasses will say goodbye if you say thank you but the manager owner waves hand without looking up "uh-huh" to you.

All bad reviews below are accurate. I...

critical violations over and over even after many get sick still city has not closed this place go to nine roses across street its clean no violations at all look at city website do homework people its not cheap if you have to pay doctor to make you better like miss work too with sick tummy not nice Critical violations are considered by the state Office of Public Health to present significant health risks to the public. A look at the Top 50 restaurants and establishments in the New Orleans metro area with critical violations, this is one of them .. do your homework before you get sickkkkkk OMG DONT EAT HERE SAVE YOUR MONEY AND STOMACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG GOT SOOOOOO SICK ! Such a shame I read reviews still went still sorry I did. cold greasy gross mice droppings around table.. EXAMPLES OF CRITICAL VIOLATIONS: 1.Rodents/insects are present in the establishment. 2.Raw animal food is not separated from ready-to-eat food, or is placed, stored or displayed above ready-to-eat food. 3.Ready-to-eat potentially hazardous food prepared on premises, and held under refrigeration, was not disposed of after 7 days. 4.Food for hot-holding and service was held at a temperature of less than 135 degrees F. 5.Food stored for cold-holding and service was not held at a temperature of 41 degrees F or below. 6.Chemicals are stored with/above food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service or single use articles. 7.Food contact surfaces and utensils are not clean to sight and touch. 8.Working containers of chemicals are not labeled. 9.Employee was drinking in a food preparation or other area where food equipment, utensils or other items requiring protection were stored. 10.Employee did not wash hands and exposed portions of arms at appropriate time. 11.Employee was using tobacco products in a food preparation, storage or service area. 12.There is no hand washing lavatory installed in the food establishment. 13.The three-compartment sink is not used in proper sequence to wash, rinse and sanitize. 14.Prohibited live animals are present within the establishment John was nice to us after removing rat droppings from table he did say sorry so...

Chopsticks has been around forever, and it's... very okay. Chopstix exists in this weird space of being so average, it just kinda blends in with the background of the Westbank. No real identity or personality. Not memorable and not forgettable. Not particularly welcoming nor hostile. Even the name is in conflict with itself, being spelled two ways: Chopsticks and Chopstix.

The food tries to include too many cuisines and ends up appealing to few. For example, I can appreciate fried plantains at a buffet, but why not some black beans or roasted pork to have with it? Taste-wise The food is juuuust over or undercooked or over crispy or too soggy. Pretty much all meat is cooked in a syrup or sugar. It's edible! But meh.

As well, handwritten paper signs are littered throughout---"please don't waste food so we can keep the price low" and "pay at table." Why not increase the cost just a little and get a better quality selection? People would waste less. Or keep the same quality, raise the price, and let people waste as much as they want? Why not just pay upon arrival, like pretty much every other buffet? Less confusion, fewer walkouts, and faster table turnaround. Afterall, It's not like the service is personalized enough to warrant an end-of-meal check.

Finally, Chopsticks is a sort of a last holdout of yesteryear's Chinese-American buffets. And it shows. Flat musky carpet, aged ceiling tiles, and many dim/broken lights decorate the dining room. TVs are on the walls, blaring at full volume and full brightness. I guess what I'm saying is: place could use an overhaul. Overall, it's a place to go if you haven't been in 5 years and want to remind yourself that it was as forgettable as last time. Otherwise, there are...