Asian Bistro — Restaurant in West Windsor

I visited this place for the first time today because I wanted to check it out before inviting my colleagues who wants to eat with me in an authentic Chinese restaurant, and I am of Chinese decent. This place happens to be 5 minutes from where I work and it is called "Asian Bistro". I did not look at the review before I ordered. The two ladies at the counter did not smile nor really greeted me, at the most I would call it a forced smile. They did not try to talk nor say a thing, until I said it is my first time here, it seemed you didn't do table side service. They said then, "order here, order here", and threw me a very much beat up menu. Again, no explanation or any effort of communication (meaning to me - we have so much business, we don't care). I ordered a Vietnamese noodle soup with beef, tendon and brisket, which was $11.75 including tax. You will be given a buzzer (which automatically bumped this place to a food court status, think H-mart). There are so many other classy ways of bringing food to customers, I like how Corner Bakery does it. Then came the food in a tray which you have to carry to your own table. There were hot and cold water for free which you have to get yourself. In my soup, there were only a few pieces cooked beef meat, really cooked ones. None that represent an authentic Vietnamese place. No tendon nor brisket as mentioned on menu. The quantity of noodles was big. The condiments and supplementary "fresh" vegetable were mostly disappointing. The cilantro and basil both looked not fresh with some brown leaves, the bean sprouts looked old, and there was no fish source, but two kind of sauces - Korean bean paste and sriracha sauce - ??? - really? Well, since I did not want to make a scene, I just quickly finished my food and probably will not come again. It is probably like one of the reviews here on their Thai food, since this is a fusion place, they probably is not good in any category. Oh, may be Korean, because I then saw one of the counter ladies was greeting another customer and they spoke in Korean, and in a much friendlier way. I guess you will only be treated a bit more friendly if you can speak Korean. May be they should change their name to Korean Bistro? I really don't see much friendliness in this place, and I am perplexed why there are so many reviews here that said they are friendly? All in all, the place is kind of cold and distant for me. Will probably not...

I ended up here unintentionally (because i missed a turn), but decided to stay and give it a try. the exterior is simply that of an old house that was renovated and re-purposed. fresh paint and modestly decorated. nothing wrong with it, but it doesn't look like an Asian restaurant from the outside. the interior is simple and clean. i'm not sure why, but it did remind me of restaurants in asia (but cleaner!). i wanted more veggies than anything else, but somehow ended up ordering the Pad Thai. maybe that was the safe choice, because i was a little leary for some reason. maybe because it was new, and i wasn't really prepared or expecting to eat there. i think also because it is located at sort of a dead end, and the sign outside advertised Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai. how could any restaurant be good at all those cuisines? i almost didn't go in, but i'm glad i did. it's a somewhat unique self-serve dining area. you get a menu from the counter, sit down at a table if you like while you peruse the menu. then place your order and pay at the counter. the buzzer they give you will alert you when your order is ready to be picked up at the counter. some diners had trays that were somewhat reminiscent of bento boxes. my pad thai and included miso soup were good and a little pricey i thought (12$), until i considered that i did not have to tip a server. (i still left a buck for the busboy.) There are a very limited number of less expensive lunch specials. One nice unusual feature is a large lighted display above the counter that cycles through the menu offerings with brightly lit pictures of each item. i would have made use of it if i had seen it before grabbing a menu. the staff was helpful and spoke clear english and still helped a customer with a Korean translation. i wasn't blown away or anything, but i liked it enough to want to go back and try more. I also noticed that there was a good amount of customers, and they all appeared to be satisfied with their meals. Definitely...

I am vegetarian. The first time I ordered from this place my meal was supposed be tofu and vegetables but they added seafood. I called, they apologized, remade the order but I still had to drive the 20 minutes there and 20 minutes back home.

The second time I ordered, I specified that I wanted no meat, but they don't consider seafood meat, so once again I called, they apologized, they remade the order and assured me the manager was going to contact me to give me a refund. I had to drive the 20 minutes there and the 20 minutes back, and I am still waiting to hear from the manager.

The third, and last time, I ordered from this place I specified no meat, no fish, no seafood. They finally got it right on the first go, however this time my container was only filled with half the amount that I am supposed to get and they forgot to make side order. I called, they apologized and they told me the manager will get back to me. We'l see.

Food is good. Customer service is; well; polite but not at all efficient. You should NEVER order take-out from this place. Either eat in or order pick up somewhere else. Your call.

Also stay away from the Sweet and Sour Beef, my...