Mandarin Bistro — Restaurant in Thousand Oaks

I had a regrettable experience at the Mandarin Bistro Newbury Park. On May 1, 2020 at 5:45 pm I placed a pickup order with the cashier, Alicia. I couldn’t help but notice Alicia’s attitude was brusque and downright rude. I figured she was having a rough day so I let it slide. My wife and I entered the restaurant. I noticed Alicia was packaging orders, answering the phone and interacting with pick up customers ahead of us without a protective mask or gloves.

When we approached the pick up desk, I stated my name. She threw a pen at me! I was astonished. I threw the pen back at her and asked if this is how loyal customers patronizing the restraunt during the COVID19 are treated. She started flailing about trying to package other orders and was spewing anger and hissing about her frustration. I told myself to calm down. I asked if she was having a bad day. She ignored me and my wife’s attempt to calm things down.

I told her that without mask and gloves she was not to package my order. I asked a coworker (the only other person in the restraunt who was gloved and masked, including the cook!), instead.

I have been a customer at this neighborhood restraunt for 20 years. I have also been a practicing surgeon in this area for 24 years. I never imagined I would encounter such a rude welcome from a local restraunt I singled out...

It is wonderful to have a Chinese restaurant, now under new management, this far away from where the Chinese population are concentrated (down town, San Gabriel Valley, Rowland Heights, etc.) serving authentic Chinese food (as opposed to "Chinese" food only found in America). Granted, for it's majority clientele MB still serves the so called American Chinese food. But if you are feeling more foodie on your next visit, definitely consider and ask for the Chinese menu. You might need to read Chinese so consider asking a friend who can and join you. The food will not look or taste like anything you have experienced locally and you will be glad you did. They make one of the best "Lion Head" dish (don't worry, it is a stretch to imagine that it even slightly resembles the head of a lion, no lions were harmed in making of this dish, I...

If I could give this restaurant negative stars, I would. We spent nearly two hours here on Christmas night and never got our food until we escalated the issue past our useless waitress to the manager. Our waitress and other members of the staff kept saying the issue wasn't their problem, it's not their job to control the kitchen, they had no idea why the food wasn't being prepared, etc. No one noticed we didn't have food until we pointed it out every half hour or so, and no one--not even the manager--bothered to find and explain the problem. In the end, we ended up having to bring our food back home after a wasted holiday evening. We should not have had to pay for anything after this horrible experience, but all they took off the bill was two drinks shared between the three of us. Extremely unhappy with...