Summer Canteen — Restaurant in Los Angeles

FYI: The restaurant added a mandatory 22% tip, which is completely uncalled for. No one checked on us, introduced themselves, or provided the kind of service expected at a full-service restaurant.

(Simple Google Search) No, California has banned mandatory gratuities for dining in restaurants due to the price transparency law (SB 478), which requires all fees to be included in the menu price.

Initial Review: Disclaimer: this review is only based on what I personally ordered, I cannot speak for other foods that my friend ordered

Short version: DO NOT order the chicken rice, and the service can be improved.

Full Version: I ordered the chicken rice expecting a standard Hainanese or Singaporean-style dish, but it was quite disappointing. The chicken had no skin and was extremely dry, more like boiled chicken than poached. It honestly felt like the kind of chicken you would use for a gym meal, not a proper Hainanese chicken rice.

The menu mentioned soy sauce, which was strange because it is not typical for authentic versions of this dish. The service also felt rushed even though we came right when the restaurant opened and there were only two tables occupied. When I asked for chili sauce, the waiter pointed to the soy sauce instead, which was incorrect. When I asked for ginger, she said it was incorporated into the rice, which confirmed that this was not authentic at all. This was especially disappointing for someone who grew up in Singapore and knows how it should taste.

Another concern was hygiene, since the waiter pointed very close to our food, almost touching it, which was uncomfortable. Overall, the experience was disappointing from both a culinary and service standpoint. I rarely leave negative reviews, but this one deserves it. In an area full of great Thai and Asian restaurants, this place could and should do...

One of our FAVORITE local restaurants....not your typical Thai or Asian restaurant in LA...the menu is truly unique, and there have so many YUMMY options. I think it’s probably majority Thai food, but seems to have a California fusion feel to it.

One of favorites are the Tofu Fries to start (I’ve never been anywhere wheee tofu is prepared so crispy...I don’t know how they do it). By themselves, they’re kind of bland, but when dipped is sweet chili sauce (with peanuts and cilantro), the Tofu Fries are DELECTABLE!

Other excellent menu items include: Ribeye with String Beans (small pieces stir fried...YUM!); Garlic Chicken Noodles; Thailand Yellow Curry; Pad See Ew (so?). They also have tons of delicious seafood options, but our family isn’t big on fish very often, but or friends say the love it all.

We eat here about every 2 weeks, and we bring friends and visitors all the time. The service is truly EXCELLENT! (Very friendly staff who know us by sight...all so nice). It’s casual enough to wear shorts and a nice T-shirt or polo shirt in the summer, and most people don’t dress like slobs, but it’s definitely not too fancy.

Overall. If you’re looking for a nice local restaurant to add to your places to try, Summer Canteen is great choice. It’s a great place to bring people visiting from out of town, as they probably have never had food like...

Worst dining experience in years and cost me $253 for a lamb shank and a beer.

After miserable service from several servers who spoke roughly 2-4 words in English, they brought the check for over $300. After arguing that the service was doubling our drink orders, we finally got it down to the appropriate $208 balance. Since they were too incompetent to not understand how to break a check 8 ways, everyone paid in cash except me. My receipt comes back as a $208 charge, despite being handed over $150 in cash from the other 7 party members. Eventually I got the manager to intervene, who argued that it was my fault. But it didn't end there.

Instead of refunding me back the $208 onto my card, the cashier, who just happened to be mentally handicapped, charged an additional $45 (which was my share). Now, $253 in the hole, my card was overdrafted. The manager had the audacity to laugh and ask, "why so little money in your account?" I responded, "So if my card winds up in the hands of an incompetent, they don't liquidate my savings, too." She laughed and gave me a 10% off coupon. Gee, thanks, lady.

It's been over a week and I have not had the money transferred back, and despite my attempt to contact them, they have never acknowledged my requests.

I will never return to this restaurant, nor...