Kwan Thai

Just back from a meal at Kwan Thai. Great location for a restaurant but very disappointing service. Un-engaging, unsmiling, sullen staff - an average meal and a poor dining experience. Problems in the Kitchen? With Management? or Recruitment...? What a disappointment. Would not recommend to anyone..
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Michael
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Thursday, April 24, 2008

The food at Kwan Thai is really very good, however the staff often come across fairly rude and do not seem to have the time of day for the customers.

Despite this, if it is a warm summers evening, the experience of eating good food outside on the river front with views of HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge and the city cannot be ruined even by the surly staff!
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 5
Monday, January 14, 2008

I shall start by saying the food was excellent but the service was god aweful. Me and my lady friend came up to the lady standing outside as we wanted seats by the river. She didnt look at us even if we were standing right in front of her, until i actually said, EXCUSE ME! I don't think customers should have to ask for a table but should rather be offered one.

When I ask for a table for two, she keeps looking around, there was a nice table by the water with nice chairs close to us but she brought to another one, still by the water so it was ok and it had chairs with arm rests (nice) we followed her to that table and she proceeded in removing the chairs and providing us with 'arm less' chairs without explaining why.

We were a tad put off at that point but hey it was lunch time, finally got an hour away from the office so we weren't going to let anything spoil our mood...or so we thought.

The lady came back with the menus without saying a word and with a screwy face (cant think of a nicer word). We ordered a drink and a main course each, we also asked the waitress how long it would be, she said she doesn't know and proceeded to ask us how long we have?!!!! n what time do we have to leave?!!!! I meant WTF?! I said don't worry, we'll wait.

And to top it all off, we had barely put our forks down (n i mean barely) the waiter comes over with the bill without us even asking for it! yes, he just popped out of nowhere.

Then me and my friend hadn't even had time to look at the amount (we were still savouring our drinks), barely ten seconds after placing the bill on the table, the waiter came back to check if we had paid! I mean, the cheek! un frickin believable!

We paid and left and proceeded to tell our colleagues (who always lunch around that area) not to go there...ever.

The only good thing was the food but I can never enjoy food if its being served to me with disdain..tsk tsk. Im writting to the manager after posting this.
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Zaeem Hosany
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Friday, August 10, 2007

I ate here Saturday 28th July about 7.30 pm, without a reservation. The waitress certainly we not friendly and welcoming - it was all very matter of fact, and found us a table quick enough but no smile and no 'thai hospitality' that you often find in other restaurants. We had a tiny table for two, and had the mixed starter for two special platter. It was nice enough but not exceptional. Disappointing was the meagre size of the satay pieces, just one each and half the size of that you might normally expect. The main course (we ordered just standard basic rice or noodle dishes) was disappointing. It was served in cheap metal dishes and stone-cold very small white plates (almost like side plates). Within a few moments the food was already cooling fast, so you had to eat quickly. Colour wise, I always think I can spot good Thai food by the vibrancy and colourness & shine of the food appearance. This food had a dullness to the mirrored the taste - quite bland in the case of my dish with indistinct flavours and slightly tough chicken. My table-mate, the chille was just savagely hot, not great taste and same tough chicken. Basically its just fast food fooder served without care and collect the money. RUBBISH. Inside, you don't benefit from anyview, so its not worth the bother. I left and made the point of a ZERO tip.
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Bungle - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Monday, July 30, 2007

Last weekend was the second time I'd stopped to eat here since it has a great location overlooking the Thames. Last time, the food was average and expensive (reflecting, I imagine, the sky-high rents in such a location). This time, the food was plain rubbish: two dishes comprising a handful of randomly sliced bits of chicken mixed up in spookily similar and tasteless sauces. Eat somewhere else and stop here for a drink.
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Tim
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Friday, June 23, 2006

We ate here in June 2006 and the service was still dismal. It spoilt what had been a good evening. The food is actually quite nice and there is a good choice for vegetarians. The service with a snarl and couldn't care less attitude will mean that I won't be eating here again.
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Jane
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 5
Monday, June 19, 2006

This restaurant overlooks Tower bridge which is a great bonus. the food is delicious and you are made to feel special by the staff.
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Lisa
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Thursday, April 06, 2006

I am a vegetarian and have been to Kwan Thai a few times now, I think it is one of the best with a great menu. Bit on the expensive side when you are a carnivore, but comments from friends say it's worth it, finger licking good and the veg menu is reasonable and simply yummy. Was there yesterday for lunch with clients and everyone could just not get enough. Wouldnt mind being there again today!
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Jeannine
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, December 16, 2005

This is a place of contrasts. The location is great, right on the Thames and its interior is very spacious. The decor itself seems stuck in a 80s timewarp. The staff look exhausted, have they been working non-stop since lunch time?

Food is not bad but definitely overpriced. Thai curry with prawns for £14 is pushing the limits.
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Dutch_Food - View all reviews by this user
Monday, November 21, 2005

am sorry, but this is has got to be one of the worst thai ever, not only the food is not that thai, except maybe for the dessert...but what made the evening such a miserable one was the attitude of the waiters especially a waitress who was really struggling with boredom. just avoid if you are in the area, there are nice spanish and japanese restaurants around!!!
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Jack
Saturday, November 05, 2005