Expensive meal + OK food + Crappy Service = Unsatisfied customer
So I visited China Grill on Valentine's Day with my girlfriend and ordered the Valentine's Day Special for $69 person. Â The meal started off ok with a 2 piece sushi appetizer and grilled shrimp with spicy watermelon salad. Â The waiter forgot my tea so I reminded him after he finally returned back to our table. Â I will say the restaurant was extremely busy this night.
The next appetizer was the Spicy Beef & Scallion Dumplings which were also delicious. Â Here is where things started to go wrong. At this point we probably waited a good hour for our next course which turned out to be our entrees instead of the Tri-star salad or the intermezzo (champagne Cobbler). Â When we asked about these we were told by the waiter "Oh, do you still want the salad?" Â We replied yes but its hard to enjoy the salad when you are competing with your entree at the same time and the limited space on the table. Â When we asked about the intermezzo the waiter advised, "Oh, since its kind of sweet I like to serve it for dessert." Â My girlfriend totally believed he was making an excuse since its supposed to serve as a palate cleanser. Â Additionally if this was the case the waiter should have suggested this at the beginning of the meal and not have made an executive decision. Â We wanted to enjoy the meal as the chef intended, not as our waiter preferred.
The entrees which were Grilled Szechuan Beef and Grilled Shrimp were fair. Â The Shrimp was much better. Â At least half of the Beef was full of fat which I had to spit out into my plate. Â Because the service was so bad and we complained so many times I hesitated to complain any further. Â Nearly everyone in our section was complaining about something. Â We were there for nearly 3 1/2-4 hours for our meal service. By the time we left it seemed most of the restaurant was empty except for the section serviced by our waiter.
For the $180 bill I received I truly expected better service. Â Nearly every time the waiter came to our table, which was few and far between we had a complaint for him. Â I honestly do not know how he got a job at this fine restaurant. I doubt he could survive working at Olive Garden.
Actually would give it 0! Had actually one of the three worst dining experiences in my life here a few days ago. Â When we arrived at 7:30 pm we were impressed with the size of the restaurant and look. It was more Miami than Lauderdale and we got excited. After being seated Danny the server came over to share his "tude". We were fortunate as whew would only see him 3 more times during the next 2 hours and 40 minutes even though we only planned on being there for a normal meal.
Danny the "waiter with tude" proceeded to take our drink order and then went over a few things. When we told him that we were contemplating sushi he told us not to do it as it would likely come after our main course!
In any event it took 1:40 hours to get our dinner. All appetizers and each of our main courses consisting of their Steak and Chicken were either served cold or lukewarm a nice feature of the restaurant. Between the mediocre at best food and a server clearly avoiding us then placing an 18% service charge on the bill led to a great evening. It's kind of funny but an hour into the meal when I caught him and asked how much longer for our meal he said he was monitoring it and should be out shortly. Forty minutes later is not shortly. Should have paid at that point and left.
By the way if the kitchen was having problems that evening you would never know it as managers Max and Martine were nowhere to be found. However kudos to another server in the area who was taking the effort and running around providing service to his tables. Bottom line is if Danny worked for me he'd be fired by the end of the evening. Second to go would be management.
A big-0. Â $ 243.04 later.
Avoid this place like the plague.
Funny but when I told my wife that I made reservations here for us and she told her friends they said they had their worst meal here but she did not want to tell me for fear that I would not listen.
My fiancé and I went for Valentine's Day 2/14/13, our first visit.  We were only able to get a 6:30 reservation due to short notice.  We had a very friendly waitress, waiters, and bus staff.  Since it was our first visit, we decided to try the special menu which had a sampling of all of the favorites in each category.... 2 appetizers, sushi appetizer, 3 samples of salads, 2 main courses, 2 sides, plus champagne and dessert. It was a little pricy but well worth it. We left full and satisfied!  Service was a little slow to get our waitress' attention but she was so friendly it made up for it. I had tried the blueberry cocktail, which came highly recommended to me.  It was too tart for my liking. The waitress kindly replaced it with a glass of wine instead and did not charge us for the blueberry cocktail.  This is a 2 hour dinner so don't come of you are in a rush. Beautiful decor and ambiance. They even had valentine decorations and balloons it was so nice!
Review Source:STAY AWAY! HORRIBLE VALENTINES DAY EXPERIENCE. Went to China Grill last night for Valentines Day and it RUINED our night. Let me start by saying I have worked in the restaurant business so I understand all that goes into being a server/bartender/hostess. The hostess was very unprofessional as they didn't greet us and didn't lead us to the table just walk away. Then, the server took 20 minutes to greet us, he poured our waters and spilled ice all over the table with no clean up, no apology.. the drinks took another 10 minutes to get (it wasn't busy either - it was 9pm). Finally, we ordered China Grill's r "valentines day pre fixe menu" and the server didn't give us the options he was supposed to then we waited an hour and 30 minutes for our food to finally come out, cold! At the end of our meal, which took a few hours.. we realized that he didnt even give us all of the food we were supposed to have that was one the pre fixe menu, he skipped the first sushi roll and we did not receive the intermezzo champagne before our entrees. IT WAS A NIGHTMARE. I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO CHINA GRILL FT. LAUDERALE EVER AGAIN. Save your money, I wish someone would have told me before my fiance paid a $200 bill for China Grill's horrible, service, food, and unprofessional wait staff.
Review Source:I lived in NYC for several years back in 2001/02/03 and ate at China Grill in Manhattan often. Â All of my friends loved it and it was literally a staple for us. Â I've been back there a few times since I move to Orlando, and honestly while the food is still good, the "vibe is gone"... Â I've also been to the one in Vegas a few times, and that was good but again, no vibe and kind of sterile. Â Had never been to the one in FLL until last weekend. Â And guess what - we LOVED IT! Â First, we had a drink outside on the deck overlooking the fantastic yachts which was very nice, basking under the full moon and feeling the nice South FL breezes... Â Then our server moved us into a great table overlooking the inter-coastal and we proceeded thru our favorites. Â Mandarin Duck Salad (a classic), braised short ribs served with wasabi mashed potatoes (OMG YUM), and duck fried rice. Â For two, that's more than you need and it's all delish (I just finished off my leftover duck fried rice, as a matter of fact). Â Also had a reasonably fairly priced bottle of Malbec recommended from our great server. Â What isn't as tangible was the vibe seemed to be somewhat back here. Â Like people were excited to eat here, it was vibrant, the kitchen was rocking (it's an open kitchen) and the staff were on the their game and super friendly and attentive. Â I'm glad to have a China Grill that I WANT to eat at again, albeit a 3 hour drive away from Orlando. Â I will be back for sure next time in Fort Lauderdale!
Review Source:While I have eaten at China Grille in SoBe both at events and individually, we were disappointed with the meals. Â We were a party of 7 and we had appetizers that were cold as well a entrees served cold. The cream sauce on the noodle entree was too heavily applied. Â Also, we had persons with dietary concerns which were not 100% answered accurately and added to a disappointing experience. Â The waiter was very solicitous but we had finished dishes left on the table until next course was being served. Water was available without any problem but we were not impressed. Â We were inside and the inside was not busy. Â We don't know how crowded the outside portion might have been. Â Several in the party are dessert eaters and we went to Lester's Diner for dessert and coffee.
Review Source:OK so here it goes...I re-visited China Grill this past Friday after management went out of their way to contact me, apologize, and invite me back in after my last review. (This in itself was so impressive that I felt it fair to give them another shot.)
Visited for happy hour after hearing and reading good things about it and we were not dissapointed! I don't know why this happy hour isn't advertised more or not mentioned on their menu because it really rocks!!!
2 for 1 drinks, 1/2 off sushi and 1/2 off appetizers? Ummmm...yea! I decided to go with the Blueberry Kafir. Delicious. Not overly sweet and you could distinctly taste every note described on the menu. One of my sister's ordered the Pear Tamarind Martini which she described as 'sinfully delicious'. For apps we went with the crab cakes (my personal fave), truffle fries, crunchy salmon roll, tuna oshi napoleon and lamb spareribs. All winners. All freshly made and run out of the kitchen as soon as prepared and all presented beautifully.
Service was a little slow but in all fairness, there wasn't an empty seat at the bar nor at any of the high-tops surrounding...happy hour seems like the happening time to go. And anyway, our server (s) was so sweet that it really didn't make a difference.
As we were wrapping it up, I noticed the manager and stopped to thank him and tell him that this experience made up for the last and I really appreciated the gracious invite back...he in turn thanked me and said that it isn't often that people go out of their way to give positive feedback and that he really appreciated it. A few minutes later he showed up with $25 dollar coupons for EACH of us for our next visit. He was so nice and professorial that I am going to overlook the awful hostess who was rolling our her eyes as we were taking 3 group photos in front of the beautiful Christmas tree. Shame on her for almost leaving a bad taste in our mouths after such a lovely experience which very different from the first!
At any rate, I'll definitely be returning for happy hour with my co-workers in the near future!
DON'T leave this restaurant without having the Cracklin' Calamari salad and the Tuna Oshi Napoleon. Â Yep, it's a bit pricey but well worth it. Â The service is top notch and the ambiance is sexy and relaxing with great views of the yachts. The Drunken chicken is very tasty but sometimes on the dry side. Â The skirt steak is awesome and the wasabi potatoes have an interesting kick. Â The long beans are great but they are always "out of them." Â All in all, I would travel a great distance (as I do) to have the crackling calamari salad...it's worth the trip. Â Bring the credit card with the healthy avaiable balance....this dinner is gonna cost ya.
Review Source:I have been a fan of China Grill for many years frequenting their South Beach location, but unfortunately the Sobe location recently closed. The great thing is that although that location is no longer (for the time being), I still have the option of going to the Fort Lauderdale location instead.
The Fort Lauderdale location is a bit hidden and hard to find, but once you find it, you will appreciate its amazing location. You would think that it is located inside the Hilton, but it is actually located behind it, directly on the Ft. Lauderdale Marina which offers the restaurant beautiful views of the Intercoastal. The interior of the restaurant is also very beautiful. Reds and dark wood along with illuminating lighting create a warm environment.
The Lobster Pancakes, stir fried with wild mushrooms, red chili, scallions & coconut milk, was good but not as amazing as I was expecting it to be. In my head, I hyped it up, expecting to eat this scrumptious dish but although good it fell way below my expectations.
The Sake marinated "drunken" chicken accompanied by ponzu sauce, sweet crispy onions & Asian slaw was by far my favorite dish of the night. The chicken was so tender and had a delectable flavor. It melted in my mouth and finished with a nice savory flavor.
The Barbecued wild salmon was perfectly cooked and was good but not exceptional.
Our accompaniment was Duck fried rice. It was really, really, really delicious! Ah-maze-ing rice!
To top off the meal was a bottle of Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Claret, a smooth, full bodied cabernet sauvignon.
The location is a standout and the food is good too, but the staff here is also really exceptional; everyone is well trained, enthusiastic and engaging. Good service is often hard to come by so this is definitely one of the major pluses of dining here.
There are some improvement to be had but I do enjoy dining at China Grill!
Did not know what to expect. We were very pleasantly surprised.
Great decor and ambiance. Our wait staff were very good.
The food was excellent, Satay Chicken and beef Dumplings, the main consisted of Duck Fried Rice, Pork Ribs, Seared Tuna, Asian Vegetables. All cooked to perfection, and well presented.
I am looking forward to taking a group to this restaurant later in the week.
Awesome atmosphere! Great service! Pretty good food. Entree menu could really use more options! The scallion beef dumpling appetizer was very tasty. I had blackened cod & it was a good meal, not amazing but solid. They have my favorite beer here (Innis & Gunn), so extra half star for that!! Great beer, wine, saki list! Sushi was ok.
Review Source:If I had a yacht, I would be inclined to dock it here and have some tuna tataki. Delicious sushi, indoor/outdoor seating and views of boats cruising by on the intercoastal. Very pricey for what it is, but you're paying for the trendy atmosphere and the waterfront views. The sushi happy hour from 5-7p.m. seems like a good deal, 1/2 price sushi and 2 for 1 drinks. It's inside the Hilton but you don't feel like you're in a hotel.
Review Source:[Visit of Wednesday, May 2, 2012 - Happy Hour] The 2-for-1 drink special is a solid deal. We didn't see the note that the Happy Hour food prices reflect the discount until we had already pigged out on  various sushi rolls and crispy pork belly.  Turned out to be a dinner and drinks for three for $92. If the regular food prices are double then they'd be well above the average range.
The food quality was well above average and our bartender, Jenna, was excellent. We sampled several drinks on the cocktail menu and she prepared each perfectly; even bringing to life one recipe I gave her. That's service.
The only negatives were the $5 self-parking fee on an empty lot. China Grill is in an area where there are often events and people will take your parking if you're not careful. But I suggest they take the parking fee back out of the check for their patrons. The other point is that the dining room was very empty. If the prices are too high, and the experience doesn't make up for it (a la Barton G-Miami Beach), then that would explain the smaller market share.
I would definitely recommend it - and will go back - for Happy Hour.
I've been spoiled lately when it comes to eating out at nice restaurants on someone else's dime, but would I go here on my own dime and choice, signs point to not likely. i have a more refined palate bc im a food snob, upscale asian/chinese just doesnt do it for me... had a nice pear cocktail and the tuna toro tartar which is crazy at $36 to start off at....then had a bottle of vino and the chef tasting menu---lobster pancakes, dumplings, calamari salad, fried rice, random entrees, sorbert, champagne and roll my ass outta there...
Review Source:A name like China Grill, you would expect Chinese, not Japanese. Â It is the typical Amercanized Asian fusion restaurant. Â Very expensive American sushi that is brought down to normal price over the happy hour. Â I did leave very satisfied after three courses for under $20 though. Â
2 for 1 drinks during happy hour, which lured me in the first place. Â Not bad. Â It brings it down again to normal FL prices. Â Still cheap.
Pork belly. Â I love pork belly anywhere. Â You get two whopping sized portions. Â Extremely fatty even for pork belly, but once you get past the fat. Â It is goodness.
Sushi. Â Was meh. Â Salmon smelled funny. Â Tuna hand roll was not bad.
Shrimp cocktail. Â Was disappointing.
Service- Was 4 stars and friendly. Â
The design of the space was very open and never crowded except around the bar. Â I cannot believe they can fill this place at anytime. Â It was huge.
Avoid the happy hour here. Â The drinks are still overpriced at $11 for a Bicardi and Diet. Â They tack on an 36% gratuity on the check which if you are like me, you won't notice when you throw down a credit card. Â They didn't provide an itemized bill until I asked for it. Â It is all in hopes that you will double tip.... just like I did. Â .
Review Source:My husband and I ate here. I've wanted to try this place for awhile, but I've also heard very mixed reviews. The decor is interesting. Kind of a contemporary Asian, dark wood, open areas, and a view of the intracoastal between the docked boats.
The noise level was high, probably due to the design of the ceiling and the open areas.
We made reservations here, because one of the employees on the phone told me they had a gluten-free menu. This is not true. There is no gluten-free menu as all of the menu items have gluten ingredients. Please bring your own gluten-free soy sauce and dressing. Please also know that the CA roll is made from fake crab (not gluten-free); however, the waiter was nice enough to have them replace it with Alaska King crab, of course with a serious price up-charge.
From the start, we felt that the waiter was trying to up-sell us on everything: the wine, most expensive entrees, add-ons, etc. When the food arrived, it was less than expected and the sushi was just ...uh. The rainbow roll tasted like it had old fish in it. My husband is not gluten-free. He had a dish with Szechaun steak in it. While it was fine, it was nothing to write home about. There was no spice or heat to it. And when the bill came, we realized we got hozed. There are so many places in Fort Lauderdale that have much better sushi and Asian fusion food than this place for half the price.
I've always found China Grill to be, at best, an "iffy" place to go dinning. The décor and general ambiance are second to none, but you can never be sure of your view there about, in that you may be looking at nothing but the side of some mega yacht, and I have generally found the service to either be mediocre or top quality, professional. The inconsistency about the service bothers me, however, the food I have had is consistently good. It should be, because when you dine at China Grill you're going to be tossing a lot of money at that food as well as the service that goes with it. So, on those counts the best I can do for China Grill is an A-ok. For the price you pay, it's just too risky for me to be in any rush to go back, even though I have been their several times. It just doesn't consistently offer that extra special something that is worth the extra money you are going to pay for.
Review Source:I tend to prefer non-descript, "hole in the wall" types of places when it comes to Asian cuisine, but China Grill, which is the complete opposite of that, was a great alternative for dinner tonight.
The mango iced tea (which I took unsweetened) was refreshing and delicious. Â I only tried two (non-sushi) dishes, so I can't speak for much of the menu, but what I did try was good. Â
As someone who tends to avoid noodle dishes just out of preference, I surprised myself by agreeing to share the vegetable lo mein, which was the "noodle of the day." Â It was light, spicy, and packed with fresh-tasting veggies. Â Too often, lo mein can be greasy with a heavy taste. Â Not here.
I also ordered the lemongrass breaded tofu cubes, which was unlike anything I've had elsewhere - and I tend to order tofu dishes a lot in Japanese restaurants. Â What a unique taste...I'd like to know how they worked lemongrass into the breading.
Let me start by saying I don't typically reach for Asian fusion cuisine or sushi, so this place is outside my comfort zone. Â I went with my family and we had an unforgettable evening. Â Great food and lots of fun.
The atmosphere is hip & trendy, dark, fun and exciting. Â Interesting use of color and lighting, with lots of space and seating. Â Beautiful location right on the water with huge yachts docked right outside. Â Despite all this, it's not pretentious and in fact is kid-friendly.
We started with huge amounts of made-to-order sushi. Â All very good and fresh. Â I had udon noodles with grilled vegetables for my entree, served in a spicy sauce. Â Pleasantly different! Â We finished with an enormous slice of some exotic chocolate torte. Â To die for. Â
Wonderful experience - recommend it for anyone but especially if you like Asian fusion.
This is what happens when you're on a business trip and are too tired to leave the hotel.
There was about a half an hour wait at 8p on a Monday night, so we opted to sit at some tables in the bar area. The waitress must've been way overwhelmed because it took her quite awhile to say hi to us and bring us our menus. Then, when she brought the menus, you only brought one for the two of us. Uh...okay?
We ended up ordering two half sized appetizers and a side dish to share. The appetizers were crispy pork belly with avocado salsa and watermelon, and a crab omelet. The side dish was duck fried rice.
The pork belly was actually pretty interesting seeing as I've never had it with watermelon before. The flavors blended together in a weird way, but it worked for me. The pork belly was crispy and fatty and the meat was tender.
The crab omelet was okay as well, but needed some kind of kick. There was a lot of mushrooms in it along with a really earthy sauce so the whole dish became kind of bland.
Our side dish of duck fried rice was undercooked. The rice was hard and there definitely wasn't enough duck in it. There were little bits of pieces hidden throughout but it was mostly undercooked rice and vegetables. As I attempted to eat it, I was wondering if I was going to end up with indigestion.
When we mentioned to the waitress that our rice was undercooked, she thoughtfully took it off the bill.
Food was completely overpriced but what do you expect from a hotel restaurant? The food was definitely not up to par considering the prices.
How would you enjoy a waiter who asks a question as he heads to the next table. Â My straight up martini was warm. So much for using a shaker full of ice! I sure would have liked a glass of wine with my meal, but decided it wasn't worth waiting for him to check in with me. Food was mediocre. Â Overpriced. I guess they realize the service is lousy because they automatically add 18%. This hotel restaurant is best forgotten. Â Better Asian at Coco on Cordova Road.
Review Source:Awesome place. I was surprised when I read some of the negative reviews, but that doesn't stop me from at least trying a restaurant. My family and I went here two days in a row because we were doing a " stay-cation" at the Hilton Ft.Lauderdale Marina Hotel celebrating our wedding anniversary.
Cool decor and very hip. The open kitchen and friendly staff really set the tone for our dinner.
We started out at the sushi bar eating 1/2 off apps and sushi along with buy one get one free drinks until 8p. We had the spider roll, California roll, and a Napoleon Tuna won-ton concoction complements of the chef. The sushi presentation was fantastic and my wife just fell in love with Napoleon Tuna gig. Tuna mixed with wasabi, guacamole, kimchi sauce and something sweet in it that cooled the heat. Not sure what it was, but the combination was excellent.
After tearing the apps up we sat down at our table that faced the intercoastal waterway. A big yacht was parked at the dock so we couldn't see the water, but that was ok. Our servers were Wilson and Gus, both gentleman were class acts. The manager Mike who just transferred from the China Grill in Vegas also stopped by a few times to check on us. Very professional.
We had the Lobster Pancakes, Baby Back Ribs, Garlic Shrimps, Chicken Satay and by special request and with a blessing from the Chef some french fries:) One word, WOW. Great flavors with all the food. I was extremely please with a side that came with the ribs, Asian Slaw (see pic). Ladies and gentlemen, I love coleslaw and this $hit was the best I have ever had. Not sure what's in it but here is my breakdown, Baby Napa Cabbage, spicy mayo, cashews, bacon, carrots, red bell peppers, radish and some thin crunchy won-tons. Good stuff folks.
What a great meal and we really felt like VIPs while dining. This place ain't cheap, but it's well worth it. Remember to tell Gus, Wilson, and Manager Mike that Dan sent you and Stay Hungry!
Stopped by this trendy location last night. The menu selection was excellent. I enjoyed a delicious steak and tomato salad - DELICIOUS. Service was a little sketchy up front - took me a little bit of time to find and be noticed by a hostess. I'll forgive it though because once seated the waiter was very attentive. I'd definitely go back again.
PS - GREAT place for a romantic date. Just saying.
Please note that I was here for an event and we ate family style, meaning I didn't get to order anything myself. This matters because my friends tell me I have knack for picking the best things on the menu. Â I'm not sure how Chinese China Grill is, but I won't review based on the name. The Lauderdale location is clean with good decor. The food I found, I don't know, trying to be more than it was. I can't say anything that I ate was bad, but nothing stood out much either. And for the price that's not acceptable.
Review Source:Really like this location because of the vibrant waterfront oasis. You dine right on the Intracoastal Waterway, watching the yachts going by and enjoying the beautiful serene view. The restaurant is very large inside with soft colors of gold, reds, oranges and blues. An open kitchen to view the fabulous chef's cooking your food.
Hubby wanted to celebrate his B-Day dinner here. This is where you go and order family style and everyone shares. I never saw or ate so much food in my life.
Everything we ordered:
Gigantic sushi tray (see pictures)- salmon, tuna, caviar,salted edamame, you name it. This was the very best sushi ever. Fresh and the rolls are not prepared with seaweed. They use Soy paper. I can not eat seaweed, so this was pure heaven for me. Not only was the tower displayed beautifully, the sushi was just simply amazing.
Crackling Calamari Salad- always order this, it's just one of those gotta have things. Sooo good.
New appetizer, waiter said must try was pok belly- hubby loved it, fried to a brown crisp and full of juicy flavors.
Curried Chicken Satay, was terrific, moist and flavorful.
Sake Marinated Drunken Chicken-ponzu sauce, sweet crispy onions, and asian slaw. An entire chicken sliced into thin pieces, excellent flavor, and the sauce gives it true perfection.
BBQ Salmon- chinese mustard sauce, and stir fried greens. Fresh, fresh, fresh and delightful.
Sweet Soy Marinated Skirt Steak- wok sauteed, lo mein noodles, tempura shitake mushrooms. Oh wow, the steak melted right in your mouth, full of great flavor and so tender!
Lobster Mashed Potatoes- Hallalujah! Many reasons I dine here :)
Green Beans- crunchy, yum yum
Dessert:
Bananas in a Box- carmelized bananas, caramel and ice cream. We always order this because it is scrumptious!
I could write a book about our evening. But I will spare you.
The server- excellent, impeccable service, very friendly, knowledgable, and so much fun, never had to ask for anything.
Managers- Delightful, professional, and excellent Customer Service. Three different managers stopped by to make sure we were enjoying our evening.
Wine Menu- excellent, ordered a bottle of Acacia Pinot Noir (2007) $50
Lychee Sakatini- to die for, drank three, so good with the sushi, perfect accompaniment.
Chef Keyvan is remarkable with his food! He came over to make sure we were enjoying our food. A true artist, creative, the kind of chef you want to bring home and cook for you daily. Excellent!!
Food- Superior, excellent, it is consistent and always delish!
Prices- Reasonable for quality and portion sizes. So worth it.
Great evening, the food is remarkable! All I can say is my experience was the very BEST! Like it has been many times in the past.
This review is going to be pretty short considering I barely touched the food. Â Not because it was awful but because the drinks were flowing and there wasn't much time to eat with a group of 100+ to hang out with. Â This is not my first time at a China Grill so I have a good idea of what they are like. Â Overall, the feel is like any other; dark ambiance, black clothed staff, lots of deep reds and oranges for that Asian feel, etc. Â If you have seen it once, you have seen them all.
The food is as you would expect; small portions (which is good because America needs to chill out with the extra large plates) with lots of interesting sauces. Â The one plus is the fried spinach chips that I really do enjoy at China Grill.
The drinks are decent but for the $10+ price, you would expect a drink that was given the attention it deserves, which is not the case at this China Grill. Â I have been to other China Grills and there is some care that is put into drink making. Â I guess it doesn't apply to the one in Fort Lauderdale or the people there just don't care.
In conclusion, if you have been to a China Grill before, skip this. Â If you haven't, you should skip it and spend your money somewhere better. Â If you were planning on going to get drinks, buy a bottle of Hendrick's and call it a night.
I keep going to China Grill for corporate events and praying that it gets better. Â It doesn't. Â Neither the Miami nor Fort Lauderdale locations are worth going to, which is too bad, since the concept is OK and the decor is not shabby. Â
**In Fort Lauderdale location, you're right on the water and the place is newer than Miami. Â There's a nice outdoor seating area and a good view of the water. Â If you're at one of the local hotels in Fort Lauderdale and want to not travel far, this might be an option for you. **
However, the prices are totally high and the quality is very low, which is a killer kiss of death for a restaurant. Â I found the wait staff to be unprepared, unresponsive and in some cases unprofessional.
The only saving grace is the gold dragon roll, made with crab and lobster and topped with gold flakes. Â I've always found that to be tasty, but not good enough to lure me in on my own budget.
In short, totally over-rated, over-priced and a sad experience. Â Think a more expensive PF Chang's.
Hands down the WORST dining experience I have had in years. Â
This place is run very poorly. Â I live in San Francisco, a Mecca for dining so I have seen what you can expect from an inexpensive restaurant and a more pricey establishment. Â For a restaurant with such high prices, the service and food should have been exceptional. Â MANAGMENT WAS UNRESPONSIVE.
My experience follows:
-I had a reservation for 8:15pm and had to ask 2 times to be sat at 9pm
-We told them we had plans that evening and because we were sat so late, needed the food expidited.
-Food was not served until 10pm, almost 2 hours after our reservation
-My entree was horrible, the manager even tasted it and apologized and sent it back to remake
-I asked for a side vegetable in the meantime since I was starving and that came out at 10:20pm, I still did not have my entree
-By 10:30pm I told them to forget it and not to bring my entree since my partner was already finished eating and we arrived at 8:15pm
-We ordered desert to go since we just wanted to get out of there and were tired from a long evening without food
So what did the manager do to remedy the disaster? Â He took the entree that I never got off the bill, still charged me for the $11 string beans that I got 20 minutes after returning my entree and comped one dessert.
Including tip, I still spent $100 on a dinner for two that took 2 hours to arrive and only one person got to eat. Â I was absolutely shocked that after completely destroying our evening, they only compted us a dessert. Â Comping my entree that never arrived the 2nd time did not repair the damage. Â You would have thought they would have made sure to rush our food out after the first mistake!!!!!
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