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| - We went last night, first time in a number of years. This is an old place -- I am pretty sure it was around when I was in high school and I am not a youngster. I've eaten here any number of times over the past 30+ years. It is in new hands or some change in management. Quality has really dropped. Prices have literally doubled, vs other local Chinese places -- they now charge $13 (!!!) for a combination plate with egg foo yong -- literally the cheapest dish on any Chinese menu! I could get a shrimp entree for less than that at most other local Chinese eateries. And it doesn't even come with won ton soup (!!!) -- also a very inexpensive item or hot & sour soup -- those are extra! (50 cents for won ton, 75 cents for hot & sour ) -- I have never seen surcharges like this elsewhere, nor did this place used to charge this way.
They may have lunch specials, I don't know -- it was not in the menu nor on their website. Regular dinner prices for all items were roughly 30-40% MORE than most other local Chinese places -- for example, $3 for a cup of won ton soup which is $1.50-$1.75 elsewhere. I see no reason in location (old place in old strip mall on Mayfield) nor ambiance (clean but old fashioned) for these huge price increases.
It used to be that the Ho Wah at LaPlace in Beachwood had the highest prices I'd ever seen locally for ordinary Chinese food -- but there, you could argue the location and interior of the restaurant were "fancy" and upscale. You cannot say that at the Golden Dragon.
We had a Groupon and had to go back 3 times (!!!) because they would not honor it on Christmas Eve or December 27th (a Wednesday!) because of "holidays". Well, Xmas Eve is NOT a legal holiday nor is Dec 27th. They are nothing. This was not fair.
We had the family dinner for 2. I will be fair and say the soup was very good (big bowl of wonton for 2, plenty for 3 servings) and the appetizers (egg roll, shrimp puff and spareribs) were outstanding, among the best I've had. But the entrees were a huge disappointment. We had kung pao shrimp and chicken subgum chowmein -- two standard choices. The chicken in the subgum chowmein was gross -- it was tough, chewy and tasted "off". The kung pao was very stingy on shrimp. Both dishes were marred by being overwhelmed with huge amounts of chopped water chestnuts, clearly to "pad them out" to fill a big plate. BOTH dishes. The actual ingredients were skimpy! The chow mein was especially poor, and this is a pretty simple dish. It had almost no sauce, was flavorless and dry. I'd NEVER order it again. The kung pao was mediocre at best.
Dessert was supposed to be a choice of almond cookie or sherbet -- but all they had was vanilla ice cream. It was OK. We would have preferred cookies. (I think dessert is mostly unnecessary with a Chinese dinner.)
Like other posters, I want very much to support small family-run businesses. The area has several very good such places which we go to regularly. Also, I think Golden Dragon has suffered in recent years from competition at the TJ Buffet across the street -- which offers an all-you-can eat lunch for $5.50. The quality is not great, but it is sure cheap. However, I would pay for quality food -- just not 40% more than other family Chinese eateries. The price is wildly out of line with the quality here. Too bad.
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