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| - Admittedly, my first experience here was very disappointing (I won't elaborate on why because I don't think the experience is truly representative of Golden Harbor). But everyone else loved it, so I figured I should try again. I'm glad I did! I really don't like most Chinese food (e.g. the Americanized version), but this place is refreshing. Dishes are always prepared fast, there's literally hundreds of dishes to choose from, and everything has its own distinct taste -- unlike at most generic Chinese food places. I love going to restaurants to try new dishes, my husband likes going to eat tried-and-true dishes, and my kids like pretty much anything that's not spicy -- this restaurant accommodates all of our needs!
I actually like the ordering process. I like how you can take your time, read through the menus, and write down what you want. There's no pressure in line, no waiting for your server to come back -- just order when you're ready and you write it down, which I think reduces misunderstandings. If you're a mind-changer like me, this gives you plenty of time to change your mind multiple times before you ultimately decide to just get what you had last time.
The restaurant seems very clean, and the true test - the bathrooms - are clean, too. It's bright, walkways are clear.
What I really, really don't like is the dine-in upcharge, and that's the sole reason why I can't give 5 stars here. As far as I understand, you are charged either $2 a person or $2 a plate extra for eating in the restaurant. I wouldn't think of this restaurant as a place where people are expected to tip - an employee brings out the food to your table, but that's common at other higher-end restaurants, too. You get your own drink, napkins, to-go boxes and bags, etc. So saying there's a service charge in lieu of a tip is misleading. The menu is already pricier than most other Chinese restaurants, and the extra charge seems a bit insulting when you're not expecting it. Calling it a service charge doesn't seem right
We'll certainly go back -- but with 2 little kids, our bill seems to run up very fast (lunch for our family costs about $45-50 here), so we save Golden Harbor for special occasions.
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