Fusion East — Restaurant in New York

I visited this establishment this afternoon and for the first time ever I decided to post a review on my experience at a restaurant. I'll start with stating the food was great (the only reason I gave them 3 stars)... that is once it arrived. However the lack luster costumer service leaves a lot to be desired. Great tasting food is a must in the restaurant industry but if you have poor customer service, your business will not be successful. My friend, her son and I were trying to decide on a place to have lunch. After throwing out a couple of suggestions, I remembered this new restaurant behind Gateway Mall and suggested we go there. The first time I visited this establishment was on comedy night, which started at 8pm, with Damon Rozier (whom we love dearly) approximately 2 weeks ago. It was a quiet night, probably a total of 20 ppl in attendance, yet the time btwn placing our order and actually being served was easily 30-40 minutes. Our visit this afternoon was no different. This time there was a total of approximately 10 ppl in the restaurant, in addition, a bartender (Dominique) who also served as our waitor and due to the lengthy time of waiting, I think there was 1 cook in the kitchen. Now I'm all for cooking food to order however once the food was prepared, the entire table should be served. I received my food (curry chicken roti) and my friends' son received his (chicken & coconut waffles) then Dominique advised my friends' food is being prepared. She was served her jerk chicken dinner 10 minutes later. It was at that moment I remembered my first visit where we waited 40 minutes to be served, 3 out of the 4 dishes ordered were served initially, the 4th dish, belonging to me, which came 10 minutes later only to be dropped by the waitress as she approached our table. Even more annoying was the fact that the manager was sitting directly at the table across from us (which we realized once we requested the manager after the waitress informed me it would be at least another 15-20 for my meal to be prepared all over) but he didn't take any initiative to rectify or apologize for the inconvenience. In customer service, we know waiting is unavoidable but it's not "why" you wait rather "how" you wait. A simple acknowledgement from management for that inconvenience would've potentially changed my entire outlook on my experience that night. That same manager came in the restaurant this afternoon and the same dismissive attitude was witnessed. As I mentioned in the beginning there was only about 10 patrons in the restaurant, yet the manager entered with no greeting and even after he got comfortable he still didn't acknowledge those in his establishment. I frequent restaurants, whether upscale or our local IHOP and one thing that's consistent is a courtesy grin, a head nod or just a simple "Good Morning, Afternoon, or Night" greeting. And that's even when I'm in a crowded restaurant. It's almost common for management to walk around and make sure things are going well esp considering there was 1 waitor who was also the bartender and clearly handling more than he should have been handling. This was extra disappointing to me because I believe in supporting "our" businesses. I believe we should own more and do more therefore when I frequent our establishments I expect more. To end our experience, when we asked our waitor for more water (which after he finally served our dishes he'd never returned to see how things were going or if anything else was needed) he took our glasses back to the bar area to refill the water. I guess they don't have pitchers to bring to the tables 😔. After he returned he informed us "I'll be clicking out soon so I'm going to prepare your bill so I can close it out" #nerve..... Long story short, FusionsEast will not benefit from my hard earned money anymore. Hopefully you'll improve your customer service real soon then I'll be happy to...

I started going here for lunch since they have $5 containers, of which I don't need to eat a lot since I'm busy at work and don't want to get too sleepy. I originally was going to come on here and give a great review BUT my last experience DEFINITELY changed that. I went to get a to-go order and the cashier was great. She made a revision to my order (due to her quick fingers, which wasn't an issue). The issue came in when after she told one of the cooks about the revision. After he handed her the container and I asked if he placed steamed cabbage in my container, she told him that I didn't want it. He rolled his eyes, took the container back and proceeded to remove the cabbage, of which I then said to him, "I'm sorry Sir but I cannot eat that. I have to have a new plate made". He decided to look at me, continue taking out the cabbage, almost handed it back to her and sucked his teeth. I immediately asked for a refund and while doing so, he started to make comments about me in his native accent (Jamaican), not realizing that I am one too. So let's say that the conversation and choice words I had for him neither he nor the rest of the staff was expecting. And I definitely will say that my mouth was spicier than any food product they had in the entire establishment. The manager was trying to diffuse the situation, but by then I was completely disgusted. She asked the cashier if he was going to make another plate and the cashier said yes. At this point, it wouldn't have mattered. No very much older man should be rolling his eyes and sucking his teeth at anyone, especially a customer. I was taught that you don't have anyone serve you after you get into a disagreement with them. And judging by the disgusting attitude of the cook, I'm very sure he would have spit, blew his nose, sneeze or put something in my food. I no longer trusted him. I am very well capable of cooking my native food at home. I just like to have convenience when and where possible.

I am a HUGE supporter of small business, especially those from the Caribbean. I have a natural allergy and stomach upset to the cabbage. All he had to do was say sorry and make another plate. I did not come in to the restaurant begging for any free food. I was and am always a PAYING customer.

All is not bad there, as I would like to add that the regular gentleman that I would conversed with (brown skinned gentleman with the glasses, who is very well spoken and a wonderful spirit to interact with), makes the ordering process a lovely event.

The food isn't the greatest but it is eatable and can get you through the day. So if you are going to go here, MAKE SURE YOU NOR YOUR SERVER OR YOUR CASHIER makes any errors or you return your plate back because there is a mistake....because you DEFINITELY can get food poisoned since simply removing an item from your plate is enough to make your order correct. As for me, I will eat from the other options that are available or bring my food from home. Fusion East almost had a loyal customer, but it is always one rotten apple that spoils the...

I do my best to be as positive (but as honest) as possible with these reviews, but I truly cannot find one positive thing about this restaurant. I truly wish there was an option for zero stars, because that’s what this place deserves.

I arrived to the restaurant with my mother, sister, and son. After standing by the entrance for five minutes, we were told that there would be a 30 minute wait. Reluctantly, we decided to wait (first mistake). Thirty minutes came and went, without even so much as a check in from the “hostess” who was also sweeping the floors, cleaning tables, getting drinks, etc, etc.

After foolishly waiting for an hour (my ten-year old son had a timer on), one of the waiters came over to the entrance where several groups of people were now waiting to yell “any parties with three or four people?” Another group that had just arrived, raised their hands and the waiter was ready to seat that group. We told him we had been waiting for over an hour and he apologized for the “confusion,” but still did not seat us. After another fifteen minutes, we were finally seated. (So the wait to be seated was actually closer to 90 minutes—although we were initially told 30 minutes).

So we finally sit down in the cramped dining area, expecting to have our orders taken right away. Nope! Add another ten minutes. The waiter finally came over to take our orders. I order the Fusion Sampler as an appetizer, and everything seemed to be ok. Then my mother ordered the codfish fritters—at that point the waiter said “we don’t have any codfish fritters.” Why such a simple item was not available at 5 pm is beside me—but I then realized that the Fusion Sampler I ordered includes codfish fritters (See picture of menu). I asked the waiter why he didn’t mention that the fritters were not available when I just ordered the sampler, he said “we would just substitute it for something else!” I take it they would make the decision on what they’d substitute—without asking the customer.

Apparently, we are gluttons for punishment—because we continued ordering our drinks. My mother ordered Sorrel. After ten minutes, her sorrel is brought to the table WITH A BUG in it!!!!! Of course she is disgusted and I immediately informed the employees that there was a bug in my mother’s drink. They stood awe-stricken...with no apology, NOTHING. It was as if they expected us to carry on with the insect in the drink (See picture below).

Needless to say, we got up and left. My son said it best “Mommy that place was disgusting! We wasted two hours that we will never get back!!!”

Do not waste your time. There’s nothing desirable about this place. There is no parking, service is horrible, the ambience is mediocre at best, and being served drinks with bugs in it—well, that...