Mencius Gourmet Hunan — Restaurant in Houston

MENCIUS GOURMET MISTAKE We have been long-time customers of Mencius Gourmet Hunan in Kingwood. We were impressed with how Horace and Cindy built a fine dining experience with excellent food quality. When it was recognized by the Houston Chronicle as one of Houston's best fine dining Hunan restaurants we couldn't have been more proud of our home town restauranteurs. It became one of our go-to restaurants for special occasions and holidays. We spent many a Christmas Eve having dinner with family at Horace and Cindy's Mencius.

A couple of years ago while celebrating Mother's Day, we began to notice a decline in both service and food quality. We learned that Horace and Cindy sold the restaurant. Last year on Christmas Eve we again had a disappointing experience but rationalized it with the fact that it was Christmas Eve and very busy. After posting our concerns on Nextdoor Neighbor, to get the opinion of others, we were encouraged with several of the responses and decided to make reservations again this year.

After about ten minutes of no wait service, we noticed that though the restaurant was full, there appeared to be only one waiter working. There were several service personnel, but only one person was taking orders using an iPad. It was almost 20 minutes before we were asked for our drink order. Other than a couple in our party ordering wine, everyone else chose iced tea or water. Then it was another ten to fifteen minutes before our dinner order was taken. Up until now, while frustrated we were not upset with the slow service. Again, it was Christmas Eve and a packed restaurant.

The first indication of how the rest of our evening would turn out was when three people who had chosen Wonton soup were served but those who ordered Egg Drop and Hot and Sour were not. It would be another ten minutes before two of the three who ordered Egg Drop would be brought a cup of cold soup. Those who ordered Hot and Sour and the third Egg Drop would arrive after another 15 minute wait. When delivered, all five were served cold soup. A plate of Egg Rolls was placed in the middle of the table and the five who chose a Chicken Stick appetizer never received their selection. We would wait another 30 minutes before any of the entrées were served. They came out one or two at a time over a 30-minute time frame. People politely waited until all had been served but those who received their entrée were encouraged to eat so that their meal would not be cold. Each entrée came with a choice of fried or steamed rice. However, many of the plates served either had the wrong selection or none at all. It took almost an hour before everyone at the table had been served their entrée. By that time, some had eaten, most had not because the quality of the food was so poor that they preferred not to eat. When the final two people received their entrée, I being one of them, they were served cold and we had been at the restaurant 2.5 hours. That was the last straw, half the table had already left because they had other Christmas Eve family obligations. I said to those remaining, all of whom had chosen not to eat their meals but were waiting to be polite, "I'm ready to go." We all got up and left the restaurant. We had not seen our waiter in over 45 minutes and he was not on the dining floor when we left. However, while standing outside the restaurant, saying goodbye to the few family members who had remained, our waiter came to the door waving the dinner check. I said to him that I was not going to pay for what we had just endured. I told him that I had explained that to the manager earlier. The service, food quality and experience were not worth purchasing.

The biggest disappointment of our entire evening was the realization that the Mencius Gourmet Hunan that we had enjoyed over many years was gone. Kingwood no longer has an award-winning, Hunan restaurant. The era of Mencius Gourmet Hunan and Horace and Cindy is over. At least we were able to enjoy it...

So we decided to try this place since we were in the area. As we drove up, even though we only saw a few ppl dining in were a bit hesitant. We were seated and the couple staff there was friendly. It was cold inside but the heater wasnt on at all, though it was a chilly night. We both ordered drinks and mine was a mai tai. Unfortunately it was a miss on both drinks even though a mai tai is common. The egg drop soup was pretty good though little egg but plenty of fried noodles to nosh on. The egg rolls we ordered were really good though there is no pork inside but we were fine with that but price and menu should reflect that. Our entrees came out and I ordered the pricier hibachi steak which tasted strange like the outer parts of a steak very fatty and hard. The owner/server mentioned it as he heard me and agreed but didnt offer to take it back or offer something else. The other entree pepper steak lacked flavor and mine had few veggies though I requested them. The meal was $70 without tip and though I wasnt satisfird I still left a small tip trying to support them bc my work is involves businesses. Sadly, many places have cut corners on quality or even standards and I know prices have gone up for meat etc. but it shouldn't be ar the expense of the customer. As we drove off we had to pull over and i got sick. We...

This is my second order from Mencius Gourmet Hunan in Kingwood Texas and my very LAST! They forgot to put the requested Sweet and Sour and Hot Mustard for the driver to bring to the house. Wife only eats fried rice with the 2 sauces. So, I called and the person at Mencius Gourmet Hunan in Kingwood Texas said he forgot to put them in the sack and would have them to us within an hour to hour and half. I also explained that her food would be cold by then. He said no problem he would send new rice and a spring roll to make her happy. OK fine took his word that he was being truthful. Food was originally delivered at 6:43 pm. I called back at 8:15 pm to find out where the food was. Well he gave me line that he misunderstood and would have it right to us…. Ok fine she is hungry. At 8 :38 pm I get a call from Grub hub to tell me the restaurant was not going to deliver at their cost. I became livid but calm to her. Grub hub said they would give me credit for the Fried Rice and if I would reorder from the restaurant, she could get her food. PFFFFFT know I am boiling why would I want to spend money again for their error. This turned into a cluster for the people at Mencius Gourmet Hunan in Kingwood, Texas lying to me twice and then calling Grub hub to cover their arse!!! This is no...