Mandarin Garden — Restaurant in Rolla

Normally we treat ourselves twice a year to this place, we as a family (me my husband and toddler) ... usually it's decent food and good service but this last time really ruined my experience and I won't be coming back nor recommend it. When we went to be seated we I asked how many people and I said three, so then she starts to lead us to a small table but all of them are taken because the restaurant is busy. So she seats us at a double table which fits about seven people. We went to get our food and We got about 3 plates each and ate over half of what we got, and a plate for my kid and another one to hold just her fries and ketchup. Ten minutes, if that into eating our dinner they asked if more people informed us that if we wasted any that we would be expected to pay for any wasted food. This ruined our appetites for one, and felt very disrespectful towards us as well. So we finished what we could, and I sent my husband and child outside while I went to pay, intent on only paying for us and my child and our drinks, and that's the bill I was given when I got up, for 41.11. As soon as I got up, the host stops what she's doing with another paying customer just to look at our table and check out how much we ate and then goes back to checking him out in front of me, while the waitress handed us our fortune cookies and the bill for $41.11. when it becomes my turn to pay the lady looks at me and goes see this is what I mean you'll need to pay for the extra wasted food. Whilst gesturing towards our table. I am already upset at this point and told her I will not be returning and i will not paying for more than what is given on the bill , she comes back at with with "well you are not welcome" and i also stated that there is not a sign saying we should only have one plate at a time, she then tries to say something again but I interrupted her and I told her I will not be paying for more and I would like to pay for my bill and leave, I had to say this twice before she would take my receipt. Normally I would tip the waiter / waitress but in this instance I was so upset that I did not and after I went to go outside the door and she was helping the next customer she started to bad mouth me, I kept calm and left.

Mind y'all, Ive worked customer service for about 15 years now and I still think this was...

-Update- Yesterday I wrote this review and wanted to share my experience. Today I am suffering from Food Poisoning. I assume this is due to improper food holding. Food must be held above 140F to keep food out of the Temperature danger zone and reduce the risk of food borne illnesses. I have just spent the whole day near a bathroom and sleeping to combat my poor choice. Sadly I will not be returning to give them another shot. A mediocre meal, hours in the bathroom and bed was not worth the $20 I paid. I fear more for the carry out because of the risk of time Temperature abuse as well. Below is my original review. Nice quiet little buffet. Emphasis on the little part. The food was lackluster and didn't have alot of flavor which was disappointing. I came in around 3pm which was between the lunch and dinner rush. Food was not hot and had sat on the line. But the Pans were full. Only the food which was fully coated in liquid or sauce maintained the heat.

Service was OK. The manager was on the phone in his earbuds when he greated me and brought me to the table. There was one server working the whole floor which led to my party of 1 to go a little unnoticed till halfway through the meal. This was fine because I know the stress that comes with it.

I did enjoy watching the kitchen come to the buffet line to get food for takeout orders. I personally won't ever order takeout knowing that it might come from the buffet line that is currently in service.

All in all my experience was ok. I wish that this review could be more stars. Compared to the many other Chinese restaurants I have been too.. Sadly this one falls a little sub par I'm my honest opinion. I will be back a couple more times hoping that it wasn't...

One of my favorite quick lunch places in Rolla, at good price, I just stopped in again on January 20, 2017 and had the buffet, though you can get take out. My favorites are the baked faux-crab salad baskets, which is exactly how it sounds--a medium sized, crispy wonton basket that has been lightly baked with a tasty faux-crab salad mix inside. Then there were the California Rolls, Egg Fu Yung, string beans, and Egg Drop Soup that day, just some other favorites of mine. They also had Chinese ribs, sweet & sour chicken, lots of crab rangoon, spring rolls, and fried dumplings, and many others too numerous to mention.

The staff are eager to help you and make sure to drop by and check your beverages often. They serve the usual soft drinks, but I prefer their unsweetened tea or a bottled beer. They have several kinds of beer available, from imports, to domestic, to some oriental styles.

I'm a resident of Rolla, but if you are just driving by on I-44, it's a straight shot down Highway 63 South, just a couple of miles through the center of the town of Rolla, near Walmart and Staples if you're a traveller who needs...