I really had high expectations of this place considering how much i enjoyed their previous incarnation. But I was left sorely wanting!
We went there as a group of 7 this past monday to enjoy the patio and a few drinks. We got there about 11:40 and the place was fairly quiet with 3 tables if even. We were promptly seated and orders taken.. no problem up to now... then the waiting game started!
The cocktails trickled in one by one and 6 of us had drinks after 15 to 20mn... as we were celebrating, we kept waiting til everyone had a drink to be able to toast, bad mistake! The final drink, a good old Mojito, took an extra 20mn to be delivered... All 7 of us had cocktails by 12:30
I wouldn't mind if the place was busy but they had more staff than customers at that point.
The waitress, when asked, threw in a half hearted "bu hao yisi" and walked away. She came back 2 mn later calling last call... we barely got all the drinks. No thanks, we replied. This prompted a "can you pay now" at this point we were getting a bit frustrated... for 70rmb per cocktail, i expect them to be served promptly, with good service and not to be watered down. I also do not want my bill slapped on the table.
when we asked for the manager, the reply was, and i quote: " Manager went home, can you pay now" We were in too good of a mood to start arguing, finished off the glasses and skipped over to first floor where service, drinks, prices were all better.
That kind of experience is unexcusable as well as unacceptable in a place that positions themselves at the high spectrum of drinks in Sanlitun:
- It doesn't take 20mn to make a mojito, especially when there's 3 people behind the bar and a wait staff of 10 or so on the floor. - Even if the manager has gone home, there should be someone in charge
- 1 out of the 7 drinks came out alright. Complaints about all the other drinks from a usually relaxed crowd do mean something. For that price, i expect better!
- The drinks tasted watered down with the Mai Tais tasting like light fruit juice. A simple Hendrick's Tonic turned out to be a complicated affair when we asked the staff for a slice of cucumber that traditionally goes with it.....
Not likely to ever set foot over there again which is a shame because the terrace was cool.
shame..
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