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| - A week ago, I would have given this place 5 stars. I've been here dozens and dozens of times since 2006 and have seen them evolve from a sit-on-the-floor traditional Chinese restaurant to the present classier feel the restaurant has with lemon water, green tea, and a calm, pleasant atmosphere. The veggie eel is to die for, and their buffet is amazing. Two years ago I would say that their service depended on who was working and was occasionally spotty. Today the service is great every single time I go.
Everything on the menu is vegan save for a couple of items that contain dairy. I went a couple of days ago and ordered the veggie eel as part of the table d'hote, which I've ordered numerous times. On the menu, it says that they give you a dessert at the end of the table d'hote meals. Usually this is a modest plate of fruit. This time it was ice cream. I am vegan, and I'd asked servers here many times if an item was vegan through the years, just to make sure (and was always met with a reaction of polite laughter and affirmation that nearly every item was vegan). I naively decided not to ask whether the ice cream was vegan. Why would a vegan restaurant serve me dairy as part of my vegan meal? I took a bite and it tasted odd - not unlike vegan ice cream, but I could taste a hint of dairy. I asked the server if it was vegan and she said it was not. I do not understand why she would offer me a non-vegan dessert when 99% of items are vegan and I have been there countless times. She did not apologize and I left feeling disappointed with the staff.
I don't want to be petty, but a place will always lose points for me if they give me a non-vegan item when the item is just marked as "dessert" on the menu. Especially when it's at a vegan restaurant.
Note: I went there again after this experience and explained the situation to the manager. He apologized profusely, and there is now a vegan item - a rice cake - as an option for the dessert.
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