Royal China (Canary Wharf)

keeping it short: the food here is good. no complaints. however the service is remarkably poor. when planning a family dinner one night, i called ahead to check what time they closed. i then arrived well in advance of the last order time. having been previously told that they would be open, and having driven to get there, i was then informed they were closed (again, well in advance of the stated time). this in itself was not a problem, however when i mentioned to the manager that i had been told they would still be open, his reponse was equivalent to a curt "f - off". was not impressed, and it is a shame to see that a restaurant with very reputable food has such poor service.
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5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Sunday, January 22, 2012

I went for lunch with my friend on a weekday. We were offered a table promptly with menus and orders taken without having to wait at all. Drinks were served soon followed by starters and main course. The restaurant became crowded soon and we observed that all the tables were pretty much occupied. The food was good and the service overall was efficient.

Reading from all the negative reviews in this site, I think that they have made some improvements to their service.

Overall we were pretty satisfied with the food and service although the waiters could do with a bit more smile on their faces.
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Mayukh
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Thursday, August 18, 2011

I have actually gone back there after some friends recommended it. I have to say the service was good, the food was much better and the selections had improved.

Well done - I will definitely go back there.
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Joyce Pramanik
7 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Thursday, July 14, 2011

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