Great NY Noodletown — Restaurant in New York

Title: Disappointing Changes and Unacceptable Behavior Under New Management

As a customer who has been loyal to this establishment since the 1980s, I have witnessed many changes in ownership and management. Unfortunately, the recent changes have left me deeply disappointed. The previous owner, who was notably tall and always wore a ponytail, is no longer around, and the new night-time manager's conduct has significantly deteriorated the experience.

My most recent visit this past weekend was particularly troubling. I had placed an order by phone and, living just across the street, arrived early to pick it up. Despite my punctuality, I was dismayed to see five other customers, who had placed their orders after me, receive their food before I did. This was not only frustrating but also indicative of poor management and organization.

As I waited, I couldn't help but notice the new manager’s interactions with other customers. His behavior was appalling. He was not just loud but outright rude, especially towards several Asian patrons. The tone and manner in which he addressed them were completely unprofessional and disrespectful. As someone who speaks Cantonese, I engaged in a conversation with a few other customers who were also waiting, and they too had noticed his unpleasant behavior. However, they chose to overlook it, possibly out of a desire to avoid confrontation.

This wasn't an isolated incident. On a separate occasion last week, I placed an order in Chinese, speaking clearly in Cantonese. Despite my correct pronunciation, the manager made me repeat myself three times. This level of disrespect is unacceptable, especially towards a long-standing customer who has supported this business through multiple ownership changes.

The overall decline in customer service is disheartening. The atmosphere that once felt welcoming and warm has now become tense and uncomfortable. It’s clear to me that the new manager lacks the basic skills required for his role, particularly in dealing with customers with respect and courtesy.

Given my long history with this establishment, I strongly believe that this manager is not suitable for his position as the night-time manager. His behavior not only undermines the quality of service but also tarnishes the reputation that previous owners worked hard to build. In contrast, the woman who works as a waiter has consistently demonstrated a pleasant and professional demeanor. I believe she would be far better suited to handle the cashier responsibilities, where her positive attitude and customer service skills would greatly benefit the business.

While I have cherished my years of patronage here, the recent changes under the new management are deeply concerning. I hope the owners take this feedback seriously and make the necessary adjustments to restore the quality of service that once defined this...

Chinatown has a wide variety of Asian restaurants to feast upon, ranging from Chinese to Korean to just about everything in between. However, discovering the few restaurants that truly define the neighborhood in terms of authentic tastes and flavors that hail from the Far East is not as easy as you may think. Well rest assured, if you’re on the hunt for otherworldly Chinese food, look no further than the Great NY Noodletown, tucked away off Bowery about stone’s throw away from the Manhattan Bridge. From the outside-in, the Great NY Noodletown looks like a retro rundown Chinese restaurant that you normally wouldn’t think twice about as you walk past without a second thought. Trust me, don’t judge the book by its cover, give it a go. As you enter the cramped walkway you’ll find that one wall is clad with Michelin Recommended awards while the other hosts racks of roasted ducks, waiting to be carved up. Good start. The restaurant has about 20 tables, half of which are designed for communal dining. Be prepared to potentially enjoying your meal with a fellow stranger, but it only adds to the experience. Alas, let’s talk about the food. You’ll find a host of traditional Chinese dishes ranging from noodles, soups, and a variety of meats that are staring back at you from the dense menu. The Great NY Noodletown has built a reputation based on their incredible Wonton Soup and roasted meats. It should go without saying, the Wonton soup is a must. The Wonton dumplings are extremely flavorful, they are stuffed with both shrimp and pork meat which adds a luscious flavor to each hearty bite. The broth is light yet well flavored, it compliments the wontons wonderfully and the green onions bring the perfect zip to each delicious slurp. The soup is served in a large enough bowl that it could serve as an entree but this is a place you come to indulge so buckle up, we’re not done. Next, their pork and beef options totally delicious in their own right and should definitely be ordered but the roast duck steals the show, absolutely sensational. The duck is served on a large platter, you’re immediately drawn to the beautiful crispy brown skin that emits a beautiful fatty scent as a prelude to your bite. The duck meat is so darn tender and flavorful that it really makes you question why you don’t eat duck more frequently than your current cadence (let alone duck roasted to perfection like you’re currently enjoying). Overall, you have a sprawling menu filled with well made, authentic Chinese dishes that has the taste and feel as if you’re in a family owned restaurant in Beijing preparing for supper. This is definitely a comfort meal so come here with no intention of calorie counting. I recommend stopping by next time you’re in Chinatown and grabbing a table with a fellow stranger as you slurp and chow away at delicious...

For context: My siblings Cousin and I went with a friend here on February 4. We were visiting our home state for the day. We were eating out all day and we wanted to finish the day off with a real dinner. I wanted to try duck for the first time ,which I was really excited about. when we get there a regular talked about how good it was. He seemed really nice. The place was busy at the hour so there were high hopes. Originally, we were going to order takeout, but we kept going back-and-forth. So we asked if we can order to go but eat it in the establishment. A worker moved a couple from their table to make room for us, which was kind of messed up. If it was gonna be a problem like that, regular takeout would’ve been fine. We all decided to share one plate of food just for the experience. There were workers walking around back-and-forth delivering orders. I had to wave to someone to take our order. It was a duck and chicken plate with rice. while we waited, the atmosphere seemed a little off. My family is African-American. We were the only four in the whole establishment. The rest were white folks. Our order comes out probably three or four minutes after being placed. The presentation looked nice and we all took a portion on our plate. We all take a bite to a very cold piece of food. The food was cold, plate included. I took one bite and stopped eating. Shortly after we called the waiter and explained the situation. she took the plate back, but before doing so she asked us to put the pieces that we had bitten back on the plate. She returns with that same plate and multiple pieces are gone while the plate is slightly warmer. We state the obvious: she put it in the microwave. At that point me and my family was livid. But I was with a friend I haven’t seen in a while. We didn’t want to make a scene in front of her as she was already very uncomfortable. we go to the front, and asked to pay. The guy yelled in whatever he said. The guy tried to charge us an extra $11 because I sipped on their nasty green tea to “heal the soul”. My cousin went off and paid for what we had, tea not included, and asked for change. I’m not one to play the race card but it was clearly there. as I looked at our cold food, I see steaming, hot food being rolled out to every other person and I mean steaming fresh. it was my goal to try duck for the first time, and that was my experience. Those people are lucky we didn’t act like a fool in there and ruin everyone’s time. Cause it’s New York. Tread carefully if you are African-American. Learn some Mandarin. You’ll probably have a better experience that way....