This relatively new chinese restaurant adds another style of dining to the town of Harlow.
Situated slap bang in the middle of the relatively newish area of the "Water Gardens", this restaurant is in a prime area for profit.
It's downfall is that because it is in the town centre, paying for parking is inevitable. This can be expensive depending on when you dine and for how long. There are various parking lots around so it depends how far you want to walk.
Going into the restaurant, it is immediately apparent that there is air conditioning and this is at a pleasant temperature. The area is very large and spacious, though where the seat is I find it a little too crammed and compare it much to a school canteen. I have been a few times now and after my first visit, I have since asked for a table at the edge or at the front, this is for ease of access. On my first visit, I was situated in the middle of dozens of other tables and found it hard to get out to get my food. People end up nudging each other, and it would be a lot better if you had a bit more room.
Once seated a waitress or waiter, of whom I have had experience have all been well spoken in the English language and friendly, will take your drinks order. The service here is usually prompt and once given your drink you are issued with a drinks card. This you must keep very safe as to quote "lost drinks cards may inccur a charge of up to £25.00 per person" can you believe! Now I have not have the unfortunate loss of losing this card on my visits to the restaurant but my gosh £25.00 per person how extortionate! I suppose though there may be some that could drink the bar dry.
Anyhow, once you have your drink, you are free to go up to the food area as many times as you wish. There are many sections, starters, mains, desserts, and a section with meats and vegetables where you can ask the chef to cook your favourite dish should it not be out on display.
All foods are clearly labelled as for me this is a must. I have enjoyed chinese cuisine for years, but there are still many dishes I am unfamiliar with and so the lables help. If I like a dish at least then I know what it is called, and likewise, if I dislike it, I know what not to get next time. This too is also especially important for those with allergies and who are vegetarian.
The food is all piping hot and not dry, alos does not look like it has been sitting there all day. There is a wide variety, for meat eaters (to put it plainly), vegetarians and seafood lovers. The food is plentiful and you never have to wait for a dish to be topped up having been all eaten.
All food I have had there has been cooked through, as it should be and to my enjoyment. The food is always flavoursome, thought I did get quite full quite quickly, but as I understand with all chinese food, this is what chinese food does to you where ever you eat. I had heard it is to do with a chemical called MSG that is put in your food but I am unsure. I also noticed, again that with all chinese foods, I got rather hungry rather quickly afterwards.
The price was very reasonable, for all you can eat I only paid £15.00 total for my meal and that included one pint of coca cola.
I would go again and again and again as it is great value for money. The staff also never moaned when my friend and I on my last occassion there stayed talking for about an hour after we had finished talking.
The only thing I did not note was the toilets, having not used them there yet.
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Sometimes I have to stay in Harlow overnight, a decent restaurant would make the process a lot less uncomfortable. I may give this one a go next time I'm there.
mum2boys82 23.04.2008 18:01
Good review but some mention of typical dishes available would be great, also are there any desserts? Rebecca Xx
very helpful by (82%):
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