I ate here at 10.10pm on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009. I am writing a partially negative review as the issue I have irritated me greatly. The venue itself was pleasantly laid out, the food was good and served promptly. However we were made to feel uncomfortable and hurried by our waitress.
The last sit down was at 10.30pm, and we arrived at 10.10pm. Throughout the meal we were watched in close proximity by our waitress and she asked us two or three times if we were finished eating before we were done. Also, once we were done eating, my companion went to use the ladies' room and the waitress after maybe 5 minutes, went up to the ladies and knocked on the door to hurry her along. To add insult to injury, the waitress had the audacity to ask me when paying the bill by visa, if I wanted to add a gratuity.
I feel that if I eat out and pay forty pounds for the experience, that I should not be herded in and out of the restaurant like cattle. Basically we were the only customers in the restaurant and we were plainly an annoyance to this waitress to be dealt with, as opposed to us being new and potentially regular customers. This has incensed me so much that I will not be eating at The China Orchid again.
