Royal China (Putney)

We have been going to this restaurant for 10 years or so. Food has been the biggest draw despite other misgivings. But over the last 2-3 times our experience has been getting worse.

We went for sunday dimsum - party of 8. What a all round horrible experience it was.

Service now incredibly poor. Orders being wrong, slow service, rude staff and the constant over charging when the bill arrives.

Its become a habit now to check the bill and last time we were overcharged for 5 extra items we never ordered! Not Including the items we sent back to the kitchen as we felt they were raw and didn't want to risk it. We were told by the manager, there was nothing wrong with it and the 'meat gets pinker the more it is cooked'!!

I wouldn't recommend Royal china and it would seem the local community feel the same as this place used to be full with queues out the door, now just a hand full of tables are occupied and we went at one of the busiest times.

Shame. It once was a good restaurant, now run by staff who seem not to care in the least about its diners.

Don't waste your money.
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2 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

We thought third time lucky. How very wrong!! Once again we are told we can only pay by cash, so we don't get off to the best start. We ordered two starters both came seperately with 15 minutes between them. We felt that the food was not cooked fresh, it was tasteless and left an oily coating in your mouth. Menu is way too large and the little stickers correcting prices sums a lot up. Decor/menu/chef need changing. Plus if I must pay cash the 12.5% service charge should be my choice.
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3 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, October 25, 2011

I've been going to Royal China in Queensway for over twenty years and consider myself well-placed to judge the comparative merits of the Putney branch. I went there on a Wednesday lunchtime with two friends who go there regularly. There was only one other occupied table but at weekends the queue goes down the street, I'm told. I can see why - like Royal China Queensway, this restaurant provides excellent dim sum in a comfortable atmosphere with friendly service. Our waitress couldn't have been more attentive or charming. We particularly enjoyed the beancurd rolls, sesame wrapped prawns and vegetarian cheung fun and, for dessert, the delicious black sesame and peanut balls. I will be coming here again.
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, June 29, 2011

I can only agree with the other reviewers. I had very good memories of the Royal China from meals I had their 15 years ago. But I already grew suspicious when I walked into the Restaurant and the decoration was exactly the same as 15 years ago, only much more dated. When the waitress then let me know that they only take cash without offering an apology, I started to be miffed. The food was, frankly average. Later on the waitress came to our table and asked clarification of whether we had asked for the bill or the dessert menu. I answered truthfully that I had told her already I was perfectly fine and I had asked for neither - very irritating. I paid a wooping £25 for a quarter duck, rice, 6 small dumblings and tea - top end prices without the service and quality to match it.
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Stephan Decher
2 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Sunday, May 22, 2011

Enjoyable food, but attrocious service with an emphasis on encouraging customers to have as many extras as possible (£3.60 for prawn crackers !!! ). Rarely have I come across such poor service though, with plates clunked down agressively, and not a single smile the whole night. We had to ask for glasses of water 3 times before finally wandering up to the bar and demanding some.

12.5% service charge is added onto the bill with cunningly no chance of docking it, since on presentation of the credit card, its whisked away and processed out of sight.

Even with the good food, I just couldn't recommend going there - its highly overpriced given the terrible service, and "extras" chasing that goes on.
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jamesL - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Saturday, February 26, 2011

food was OK and waitresses were alright

sharkfin on the menu so not impressed at all - not going back till it's off
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Neil
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Thursday, February 03, 2011

Although the food was above average, the house starter which is a selection of appetizers for 2 minimum (£20) was very small. When ordering some crispy duck we asked for a couple of extra pancakes to finish the duck and were told that you had to buy 6 which we thought was very mean.

The worst part was the waitress attitude : a mix of hostility and a rudeness .. This didnt make it a pleasant dining experience and we shall not go back.
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Marie Townsend
2 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Monday, January 24, 2011

We went to the Royal China for Sunday lunch today.

We had Dim Sum. All the dishes were good but not exceptional like some of the other Royal China restaurants as this one is no longer part of the chain.

However good the food is here, it is spoilt by the service - or rather lack of. Like some others who have written an article here - we felt more like an inconvenience than customers. Slow service. Despite being polite (that was us) we couldn't manage to conjure up the smallest of smiles from the the waitresses. Not only that but they took our food away - clearly before we had finished and without asking us, as well as removing the table cloths from the table and pretty much shoving us out of the way in the process - before we even had a chance to pay the bill.

Sad really - as if the service were decent it would be a great local Chinese restaurant.
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5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Sunday, October 31, 2010

We loved the meal - the food was all very tasty. Our frustration was when we arrived and they asked if we wanted prawn crackers we said yes - assuming like most chinese restaurants that this is complementary. We find on the bill that they have charged us £3.60 for a small basket of prawn crackers.
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7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Saturday, October 30, 2010

My partner and I did Dim Sum recently at the Royal China and were shocked at the price of the meal.

The Dim Sum was OK - nothing exceptional and nothing like Sydney or Hong Kong. For example, the Cheung Fan was wildly over priced as was just about every dish. As an after thought we accepted a suggestion of a plate of Chinese broccoli in Oyster Sauce only to find it priced at £8.50 on the bill. Outrageous!!

Service was perfunctory yet a 12.5% "optional" charge was included in the bill. (who the hell ever asks for that to be reduced??). The total bill came to £45 for 2. For Dim Sum?? That's about £15 more than we were expecting.

Recommend avoiding unless absolutely desperate to have your wallet lightened.
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Mike
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Monday, August 02, 2010