No Name and no more customers

Joined: Apr 03, 2006
Posts: 31
2

This place has been around for a while and used to be my favourite Yunnan restaurant in Beijing. Fabulous atmosphere, delicious food and service not bad as far as Chinese service goes. I hadn't been for years but decided to go with a visiting friend who wanted to try something other than standard Chinese food. It was a bit of a trek across town but I knew it would be worth it. Wrong!

First, the place was empty apart from about six scruffy looking guys dragging furniture around and staring at their phones. Not a good sign but it was quite early so I thought other customers would arrive a little later. Nobody else arrived and eventually we found out why. There must be a new owner, one who has no clue about food or customer service. Maybe it was one of the guys lounging around showing no interest in the only two customers.

The menu is much smaller than it used to be, prices have gone way up and worst of all they no longer serve that awesome fried Yunnan cheese I was so looking forward to. Service reminded me of Basil in Fawlty Towers. The guy had no clue. Food arrived in fancy baskets but it was lukewarm and portions were small small small considering the prices. Eventually I went over to the bar area to get our drinks and remind the waiter about the rest of our food.

The interior is still nice - lots of natural wood, plants and big windows, so if you just want a beer it's fine. But I won't ever go back to eat after that disappointment.