DIM SUM disaster!

I feel kind of obliged to write this review.

Following the recommendation of a group of friends, I went to Dragon Court to try their DIM SUM, which means "heart's delight" and includes a variety of snacks such as steamed dumplings, shrimp balls, pastries, and spring rolls.

The place was packed and it was evident that the end of the service of DIM SUM was approaching. Even the Prime Minister was there! Sometimes the amount of people is a good thermometer to see if a place is good or not.

Well, let me say that this was not the case.

DIM SUM was good: spring rolls, buns of all sorts and steamed and fried dumplings. However, the service was really BAD and SLOW. We were served the first order and drinks arrived when we had already finished eating.

We decided to order some more food, but it was so disorganized that they brought us the same items we ordered first.

The food was good, but we were desirous of trying different items from their menu. Well no… they had already decided for us.

This was my first time there and I do not know if I want to come back. I don’t know if this chaos was caused by the presence of the PM or if it is their regular atmosphere.

Dragon Court should be more respectful of their clientele and pay more attention to the service they offer. It cannot be just a matter of numbers and pieces of papers where their slow servers take the orders; they should have a system and more efficient servers.

We, as clients, we want to enjoy our food and the experience that comes with it. CONFUSING is not the key to this experience!

So, my dear blog readers, DIM SUM at Dragon Court is not at all the synonym of a calm and peaceful SUNDAY.

Keep on eating!

KWR 2008! Here we go again!

It’s this time of the year again!

Under the theme: 'Eat. Drink. Savour the City', Kingston Restaurant Week 2008 will run from November 8-15. Customers can begin to make reservations NOW.

This annual restaurant “rendez-vous” includes the participation of 35 restaurants that will be offering “prix fixe” dinner menus at 30 per cent off their usual cost.

This dinner includes a choice of appetizer, main course and dessert. Bear in mind that beverages, GCT and gratuity are additional.

The classification of the participating restaurants falls into different categories:

Epicurean: $3,500
Mac's Chop House
Regency Room - Terra Nova

Delectable: $3,000
Café Aubergine
Columbus Restaurant - Jamaica Pegasus
East Japanese Restaurant
Palm Court - Hilton
Jewel of India
Norma's on the Terrace
Red Bones Blues Café
Strawberry Hill
Susie's Bakery & Coffee Bar

Savory: $1,600
Acropolis Gaming & Entertainment Centre
Carlos Café
China Express
Cuddy'z
Dragon City Restaurant
Gimbilyn Restaurant - Alhambra Inn
Grog Shoppe
Guilt Trip
Habibi Latino
Hotel Four Seasons
Kabana Restaurant & Garden Bar
Melting Pot - Knutsford Court Hotel Morgan's Harbour Hotel & Marina
Prendy's on the Beach
Restaurant Cocoro
Rib Kage Bar & Grill
TGI Friday's
Waterfalls
Whitebones Seafood Restaurant

Tasty: $1,350
Bamboo Village
Gloria's - Port Royal
Shang Hai Restaurant
Starapples
The Bird's Nest Restaurant and Bar

High rollers: $1,600
Acropolis Gaming & Entertainment Centre


Although some of these places have not gotten good reviews on my page, they really prepare for this annual event and we could be surprised.

Gather up and visit these places during KWR. See you around!

I would love to hear your comments about the best service in town.


Keep on eating!

JG

Poll Winner: Dragon Court

As promised, I headed this past Sunday to Dragon Court on South Avenue for a little Chinese.

DC is definitely a good restaurant and is not expensive at all.

Although their food selection isn’t much different from what you find in other places that hoist this culinary flag, they make sure that their guests are well served and feel welcome.

This welcome starts from entrance door where a smiling host is waiting for you and invites you to be seated.

Moreover, servers and managers are very nice and they are always passing around the tables to check that everything is going well. No wonder why this place is often full of smiling clients and people wanting to celebrate.

I do not recall visiting DC without witnessing a celebration taking place.

This time wanted to try something that I had not tried before from their menu and I went for their SALT CHILI SHRIMPS. I was delighted to get that chili kick from the first shrimp that I ate. This is a dish that I recommend blindfolded.

Try also their Fish in Black Bean Sauce and their CHICKEN WITH BROCCOLI. These are exceptional and out of this world.

When visiting Chinese restaurants, I always advice friends to be adventurous. Often times, you will be pleasantly surprised. Trying something new will make you aware of the kaleidoscopic variety of flavors of Chinese cuisine.

You might end up with a different new favorite Chinese dish, which was the case for me this time.

So, dear blog readers, although I am still in the quest for the best Chinese in town, I can honestly say that the poll recommendation was accurate and DC was the best out of that list.

A piece of advice though, DC should pay a little more attention to their restroom facilities. Maintaining this place clean and presentable at all times adds up to the dining experience.

There is nothing worse than going to a nice place that has an awful restroom. That latter image could stay in your head and mar your dinner or lunch.

Dear blog readers visit Dragon Court and recommend this place to all your friends.

Keep on eating!

Ambrosia Restaurant at the Loshusan Shopping Centre

I have tried this place twice and I am not still convinced that it works.

There is something about that background noise of slot machines and roulettes that is really a deterrent.

When it first opened, I was glad to see a new place on that busy corner of the Loshusan Supermarket. But my first attempt was not very memorable.

Nonetheless, I decided to give it another chance and invited some friends to accompany me to the noisy restaurant. I do not want to sound repetitive, but those machines are exactly that... a constant REPETITION of blares and blooms and dins… strident NOISE!

We ate and let me tell you that their food was terrible. Apart from their appetizers, the rest of the food was really despicable.

I asked for a Jambalaya and it was like frozen paella that had been sitting on the kitchen counter for at least three days. I’d kill for a good Jambalaya, but their version of this dish from New Orleans was completely different from what I know.

I tried it though… BAD!

I saw my acolytes’ faces and it was not a pretty picture. Just imagine, they could not even finish their dishes.

Service was good, but our experience was completely marred by the BAD quality of the food.

They need to revisit the restaurant idea… serve just appetizers… call the TAPAS. Escape from the erroneous formula of CASINO and FINE DINING RESTAURANT that you are trying to pull off.

It’s not working.

So, my dear BLOG readers…. When in the mood for a nice dining experience at Ambrosia, you’d better try the CASINO!

Think it twice!

Keep on eating… and BETTING!

The Best Chinese. Part A

We all love Chinese food! I believe this is a world phenomenon.

We all have our favourite Chinese dish: spring rolls, fried wonton, chow mein, lo mein, saday beef, special fried rice, etc., etc., etc....

These strange words have even permeated our vocabulary and here in Jamaica their use is as current as patties and salt fish.

I recently went with a couple of friends to a fairly new restaurant at the Liguanea Post Office Mall. We really enjoy going there, because, out of the different Chinese places that I have visited in Kingston, this one really has a cozy and friendly atmosphere.

All the dishes that we have tried at Shan Hai are up to par. Well, I have to say that Chinese flavours are something that cannot be altered enormously.

Without any intention of being rude, I compare the local Chinese culinary experience with going to the local supermarkets. You may find some good prices at Loshusan, which are completely different from the good prices that you could find at the Sovereign or even at John R. Wong. No pun intended, if you know what I mean.

Coming back to Shan Hai...

Sitting there with my friends, I gave myself the task to find the BEST Chinese restaurant and when I say BEST, I mean one that has a large variety of GOOD dishes, which will certainly avoid the jumping from one Chinese restaurant to another to get a decent dining experience.

并且, this experience ought to be a complete one: a good selection of dishes + quality food + excellent service.

Shan Hai has the vast selection, like all Chinese restaurants, and up until last time, the quality of their food had always been fair. But there was something in my last meal there that will keep me from going back.

I tasted everyone's dish and it was the same flavour ALL OVER. The shrimp and the beef were the SAME. If I had to make a blind tasting, I would have failed at recognizing the flavours.

Shame on them... I was so happy with their performance until then.

On top of that, the cozy became noisy and the poor pianist suddenly drowned in the uncontrolled screaming of a big party of 10 sitting at a distant table... the irony of this is that they were Chinese... and among them, the OWNERS!

BAD experience... and BAD food. What a lethal combination!

I might consider to give Shan Hai another chance, because I remember the good times and food. But I will leave it for last.

拜拜

Keep on eating.... WELL!