Peppercorn Station 青花椒 Jersey City — Restaurant in Jersey City

TLDR; I can say the food quality is not there and there are much better options in the area, namely Chef Tan and Jiangnan. These will now be my go to. After my recent visit at Peppercorn on January 25th, I feel compelled to share.

That evening, a friend and I enjoyed dinner - the cauliflower was a delight, but unfortunately, the twice-cooked pork fell short, being excessively salty. The real issues, however, began with the bill. As a rewards member, I used my Mastercard, expecting not only a fair split of the bill but also the application of my well-earned $5 discount. To my dismay, neither happened.

The total came to $39.46, and we agreed to split it 50/50. Yet, the division was not 50/50 - I was charged $25, while my friend’s total was $20. My $5 discount was nowhere to be seen on the final amount, despite it being indicated on the receipt.

Seeking resolution, I contacted the manager, June, on the night of January 25th and then again in person on January 26th. June’s response left much to be desired. He suggested implausible solutions, like having my friend Venmo me, disregarding the fact that the discount was linked to my account, not hers. His demeanor was dismissive, and his attitude bordered on rude. At one point, he even laughed and shook his head as he went to the register to print a copy of the receipt, a gesture that felt like a direct jab at my concerns.

The resolution offered? A mere $5 discount for the next visit, which ironically, I already had in my account, because as mentioned, I frequent the place. It was a hollow gesture, failing to address the core issues – the billing discrepancy and the unapplied discount. June’s suggestion that I “use the coupon now and order something” only added to the feeling of being dismissed. He acted like it was such a great gesture when it really wasn’t since it did not do anything to fix the current situation.

What stings the most is not just the financial aspect, but the principle of it all. The lack of empathy and the cavalier attitude towards a customer was disheartening. This experience, coupled with the poor customer service reflected in other Google reviews, leads me to a sad conclusion.

I’m writing this not out of anger, but out of disappointment. This experience has left a sour taste. As much as it saddens me, I cannot see myself returning. To those considering a visit, I caution you - it’s not just about the food, but also the respect and service you expect as a customer. Double check your receipts.

As a bonus, I had a stomachache the following 24-48 hours after eating there. Upon checking the reviews for this place, I see how poorly some have rated the food safety here. June, may you eventually grasp the profound value of customer service and embrace a transformation in your approach, ensuring that future interactions reflect a more considerate perspective. Please honor how you resolve things with your customers rather than changing it up on them the next day and giving a bad attitude.

Also the food really isn’t anything special, hence why the other two options listed above are much better service wise...

Serious Food Safety Concerns and Discrimination

Despite hearing from various friends about experiencing vomiting and diarrhea after dining at Peppercorn Station, we still decided to visit this place for our family gathering dinner today. And that’s a BIG mistake.

Firstly, we arrived with a service dog that assists a family member with a disability. However, the dinner manager, June, displayed a flagrant disregard for the law by denying the validity of our service dog's papers and outright refusing our entry with the animal. The documentation we provided complies with all legal requirements and is what we use to board airplanes and access establishments throughout the country. Peppercorn Station's discriminatory behavior in denying the entrance of a service animal is a clear violation of the law. I have already engaged my lawyer to address this matter promptly and effectively.

In addition to the discriminatory treatment we endured, we discovered a piece of plastic in one of the dishes we ordered, which posed a significant choking hazard to one of our family members. Online reviews from other customers complaining about finding plastic or hair in their meals indicate that this is not an isolated incident but rather a recurring food safety concern at the restaurant.

Despite providing Peppercorn Station with multiple opportunities to rectify previous disappointments, it is disheartening to see that these issues persist....

We were very excited to try this new Asian restaurant in our neighborhood. But to say the overall experience was dissatisfying and disappointing is an understatement. The food was salty (especially the Dry chilly chicken and Maha Chicken) at such an extreme level that it triggered diarrhea and vomiting for my husband. The other dishes were moderately salty but extremely oily. We could not finish most of our food and was thinking of providing the feedback in person when someone in the restaurant would have asked us about it, which brings me to the next section of review- the service.

The service was so disappointing. It took the staff forever to arrange our table. The person who took our order almost made us feel that we were completely not welcomed in the place. Not at one point, did someone bother to ask how we were doing (or refill our water which was the only way to survive the salt trauma!!!)

I never have provided a restaurant review before, but was compelled to do so this time so that people are aware of the potential health hazard that will accompany a dinner...