Old Peking Restaurant — Restaurant in Oakton

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Gloomy early evening yesterday brightened by great customer service from new owner of Old Peking Restaurant. I have not been here in several years and in prior years I have been an on-again-off-again customer.

I was pleasantly surprised being greeted by the outgoing personality of the recently new owner, Diane. There were no dine-in customers besides myself when I walked in at 5:45 PM under overcast sky and tornado warnings on the radio entering the parking lot. Diane was cheerful seating me despite the weather and difficult business conditions, especially for restaurants, in this COVID - 19 circumstance we are all in. Despite it all she was refreshingly optimistic and philosophical about it. She is enthusiastic about doing business and in my opinion fiercely customer service focussed.

In my pan asian dining rounds I generally prefer Thai and Vietnamese fare (Sweet Ginger Restaurant in Vienna, Kob Kun a stone throw from Old Peking, Busara in Tysons (in its early days), nostalgically the long gone great Queen Bee in Arlington, crushed by real estate development in the 90’s, and delighted in the last year prior to COVID - 19 discovering sensational Lao & Thai Cuisine restaurant Padaek in Seven Corners. But yesterday in the early evening passing through 22124 I made the spontaneous decision to revisit Old Peking.

Hot and sour soup was not at all spicy and served warm. Orange chicken (I know, Orange Chicken is an American invention, call me a hypocrite - I accept the title) was attractively plated, meat was fresh and perfectly trimmed but also was served warm. It is critical that dishes hit the table piping hot. Orange sauce had the color but not the flavor. I ordered the dish to be spicy and it was not. There was no crushed red pepper on it at all. Portion was generous so I boxed most of it and will heat piping hot at home and add crushed red pepper. Dinner saved.

Tsingtao is always great but not when poured into chilled glasses and poured flat. Cold kills flavor and chilled glasses are perfect for serving terrible low end beer. Room temperature glass for pouring premium beers at 40° F - 45° F please. That is if you care about beer.

Here’s the thing, Diane listened to my accounting of criticisms and was not put off at all. She welcomed honest feedback and I believe she will respond with action. I promised to come back in a couple weeks. I am optimistic that improvements will be made.

I was happy to see while there that there was a steady stream of carryout customers picking up food and a couple was seated for dining-in as I was leaving. Diane sincerely and genuinely engaged with each customer. My sense is that OP has a strongly loyal neighborhood customer base that Diane...

Terrible customer service and dis-honest

We purchased takeout and upon returning home with the food, noticed that the pork dish we had ordered was smelling as if the meat was bad / rotten. We called the restaurant and spoke with the Manager (Diane), to inform them about the bad food and to request a refund. The Manager (Diane) stated that she had received calls from four other customers that same evening complaining about the pork and acknowledged that the pork they had received from their supplier was bad.

After much discussion, Diane agreed to refund the cost of the dish and requested that I come back in person to obtain the refund the following day. I asked Diane "How do I know you will honor this refund tomorrow", to which Diane responded "We have been here for over 33 years, are we not honest?" I trusted that they would hold to their word. I had also mentioned to Diane that the food was bad and would not be eaten, and then threw the food, like any person having bad food would.

Following my arrival at the restaurant the next day, to process my refund, Diane asked whether I had brought back the rotten dish. I told her that I had not, as it was rotten and was thrown. She then stated that because I did not bring the rotten food back, she would not process the refund. After mentioning that she had told me others had also complained about bad pork, Diane lied and said "I did not say that". This is unacceptable to me as a customer. After some discussion, Diane refused to refund the amount and stated that there was nothing wrong with the food. She then proceeded to shout and state that she did not agree to a refund, even if the food was bad. Another instance where she went back on her word.

This is not the customer service, nor reputation a decent restaurant would have and I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone due to their...

I would rate Old Peking Restaurant a solid 4 stars overall. My experience here has been consistently positive, with standout dishes including their seafood soup, lo-mein, and beef with green onions and several seafood selections. Not only are the prices reasonable, but I also believe it's one of the best Chinese restaurants in the area.

One aspect that truly sets Old Peking apart is their exceptional dining experience. The atmosphere is perfect for group gatherings, with a cozy and toned-down theme in the dining area. Unlike many other Chinese restaurants, the ambiance here strikes a balance between welcoming and refined, making it an ideal spot for both casual meals and a possibly special occasion.

Additionally, I appreciate the quiet atmosphere, which allows for comfortable conversation without feeling too casual. It's a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of some other establishments.

Overall, I've thoroughly enjoyed my visits to Old Peking Restaurant and would highly recommend it to anyone craving delicious Chinese cuisine in a relaxed yet refined setting. Whether you're dining solo, with a group, or celebrating a special occasion, Old Peking is...