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| - Came today for weekday lunch with husband.
He ordered Chicken A La King and I ordered lunch set of 2 choice of meat, pasta or rice, soup and meal drink. I chose pork chop and minute steak with spaghetti, black pepper sauce, cream soup and hot milk tea.
Judging from presentation, the meals looked fine. But look is deceiving. The food tastes bland. Hubby's chicken really got a frozen taste to it. My pork chop was tough and dry and minute steak was chewy with a corner that's actually raw. After learning about the potential effects of e-coli from mechanically tenderized meat on CBC Marketplace, I didn't want to take my chance with this cheap piece of raw beef although I normally like steak medium done. Black pepper sauce could be more tasty. Veggies on the side were the cheap mix you buy in a $0.99 bag at the supermarket, which I have no problem with at home, but does expect slightly better when I'm dining out. The soup was the usual watery tasteless white soup and they sprinkled some corn kernels in it. Hot milk tea, nothing special, had better down the street at Lai Doh in Spendid China.
Also, 3 corners of my rectangular plate was badly chipped and should really be thrown out.
I know when eating at a HK diner, you are usually eating a western style meal made with cheap meats and ingredients like hot dogs and luncheon meats. But it doesn't mean it can't taste good. I didn't enjoy my meals today because it tasted bland and like it was cooked by someone with no restaurant kitchen cooking experience, which I expect when I eat out.
I'm not usually a tough reviewer but one thing that does really affect my opinion of an eatery is service. Of course, at places like a HK diner, I'm not looking for over the top friendliness or attentiveness. If food comes quick, hot and the server wasn't rude, I'm happy. My food today did come quick and hot. However, the tone of the woman serving us sounds a bit hasty for no reason. Sounded like she was ready to snap at you if you dare ask for something or make a request (we just gave our order). I later heard a man ordering take out and when questioning what his options for meal drinks was, the server replied 'milk tea or coffee' but the tone sounded more like 'it's coffee or tea like always, what else were you expecting'.
I must knock off 1 star for quality of food and 1 star for the hasty sounding service. I could only give credit to this place for the somewhat cozy décor. There are quite a bit of TVs on the wall, 8 I believe. Though their name is Hollywood, their wall décor was a bit strange with a mixture of old Hollywood stars, HK movie posters, stuff from a pub like Toronto sport teams flags, game fish decorations like in fishermen' homes and instruments like tuba and flutes.
Parking wasn't good even on a weekend afternoon, hate to imagine what it's like on the weekend. Come here if you happen to be shopping here, otherwise it's quite inconvenient.
They seem to promote beer and beer foods a lot on the wall so I guess it's a good place to hang and watch a game (assuming they tune in to that) or late night hang out. A good bunch of magazines available on a rack and wifi (not sure how fast) and tea time specials daily.
I really want to like this place better, judging from other reviewers' good words and pictures and the cozy environment. From today's experience, I'm really reluctant about coming back. But maybe I would come back once more to try snacks like chili chicken wings or something. But today, it's 2 star. For a HK diner, better quality food can be had elsewhere.
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