Royal China (Canary Wharf)

The whole experience was just simply terrible, especially the service. The restaurant was pretty empty (only one table full) when we arrived but the staff just blanked us out at the entrance. It took them a while before they greeted us and showed us to a table.

When our char siu baan noodles still hasn't arrived after we finished the dim sum, we chased the staff a few times and they all told us it was coming. But when we asked the manager, she said there was no baan noodles left and asked to have udon instead. This was over one hour of waiting! I can't believe the staff didn't know they didn't have any noodles in the kitchen and also lied to us and said it was coming!! And the recommendation of mixing char siu and udon together is just wrong.

And worst of all they charged us 13% service charge!
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Joyce
1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, June 15, 2011

We went to this branch of Royal China on the premise of the 25% offer for their newly refurbished restaurant. Overall our experience was poor - the food was mediocre, service appaling and dismal value for money. The staff desperately try to upsell their food and couldn't even properly describe some the menu items as the specials menu had limited description. I would avoid - lots of other places around which offer better food, service and value for money.
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Emmy - View all reviews by this user
3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

We arrived at the newly refurbished Royal China at or booked time of 8pm and were shown to our table, 4 menus were left in a pile on the table. Within a few minutes we had ordered wine and this arrived promptly. And then we waited, and waited and waited for someone to take our food order. We finally managed to order at 9pm. Over 20 minutes later one starter dish arrived.......a further 10 minutes passed before the remaining starters came. Slow service continued throughout the evening. Staff did not seem to have allocated tables to look after, not a good model. Sadly, although the food was very good, we won't be back.
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5 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Sunday, May 22, 2011

We went to this restaurant on Mother's Day for Dim sum, the bill came to less than £40 for 4of us.

The dim sum was good, and the service was quick and efficient. But in common with lots of ethnic restaurants due to trying too hard to keep the price low, service and the rest suffers.

I see previous reviews that there are people who complain paying £38/head for 4 course lobster dinner! This won't cover one piece of steak in normal restaurants.
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SKC
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 10
Monday, April 04, 2011

Let's be honest the whole rating thing is a bit hit and miss, Royal China has branches that I have been to in West and East London and overall the quality is very good. The service can vary and be a bit unpersonalised but mostly quick and efficient.

If you want a good meal that won't leave you gasping for water because it contains too much salt this is a place, and it won't cost the earth if you order wisely.
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Roman
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Lots of negative reviews but i couldnt disagree more.

I went for dinner with my GF mid week and we ordered the Seafood set menu. I was apprehensive because £38 a head is steep.

We got 4 great courses. A good number of starters to beginner. The lobster 2nd course was excellent, especially in the shell. Then the mains which included some amazing scallops. Fresh fruit for dessert.

Service was polite, no waiting times and very attentive.
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James
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, October 20, 2010

I have been a loyal customer to Royal China in the past in Canary Wharft and Queensroad, but I'm afraid I will for the first time give a negative review - just to warn other customers how deeply dissapointing the restaurant has become. I agree, it used to be good, but now the service is abyssmal. We arrived on Saturday the 4th September with 3 adults and two children. We were made to wait for over 10 minuted despite free places, and once seated did not get a menu for a further 10 minutes. When we asked, one of the ladies threw one! menu on the table - she did not speak to us, did not make eye contact or smile, in fact, she treated us as if to make it quite obvious that it is below her to do such tedious work as to take our orders. We also asked for a child seat for our younger son and were given a little wooden bench which was fixed to the adult seat via two strings. This proved so unstable and dangerous (he could easily fall forward or backwards off the chair) that I decided to keep him on my lap. After a further wait of some 15 minutes without anyone taking orders, we decided to leave. I am not sure if we were treated like some disease because we had children with us, but we did ask if children were welcome and were reassured this was the case.

Very dissapointed - they will seriously have to improve the way they treat their customers before I will consider going again.
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Christine
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, September 05, 2010

We had dinner there on Sunday night. Whilst it was not busy it took over ten minutes to refill the boiled rice. One would have thought the rice is ready awaiting in the steamer. We also ordered Taro Birds nest Seafood, to find out that the birds nest was infact spring roll pastry - dissappointing.

Service was extremely poor and lacked enthusiasm, as waiters chatted amongst themselves.

The pricing is on the high side and the size of the servings is well below average. Not only that, rice per person was £2.50 and chinese tea per person was £1.20 -this is extortionate.

I would not go back there again.
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4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Sunday, August 08, 2010

I found the restaurant to be terrible. Absolutely no sense of service and bad quality of food. We ordered for a vegetarian spring rolls and dumplings. After quite some time the waitress comes to inform us that it is "finished" (imagine). After another long wait the rolls come: they were refried, rubbery, dripping with oil and stale. Their chinese tea tasted like detergent. The second order was still not there. On enquiring, the waitress was rude. I simply asked to be given the bill so that I can go, and I was charged 10 pounds as that is their minimum charge. Paid and left, but I have never had a more worse experience in any restaurant. So guys, save your money, mind and health, simply avoid this terrible place.
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Saveen Kumar
2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Sunday, August 08, 2010

I agree that the food is extremely overpriced and the service is truly awful (which should not be the case given the pricing and mandatory tip that they add to the bill). They are only surviving due to the lack of competition nearby.....
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Not too happy customer
2 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Thursday, July 22, 2010