Four Seasons

supertank

Would people shut up about the service 20th April 2009

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I'm Chinese and I know my food. I'm so sick of the ignorant trash talk about the service and whatnot. The point of a restaurant is to serve excellent food, and the Four Season more than delivers.
It's roast duck.. is undoubtedly the good if not the best. It's savory, tasty and close to perfection every single time I've eaten here.
Service is near to non-existent, expect it and don't take it too heart. Don't be such pansies.
All foodies should go here, only fake/newbie epicureans and ignorant and inexperienced eaters diss this place.

akroj

We just love this place! 13th March 2009

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It is small, crowded, but definitely worth it! Most of the time is packed up to the roof by Chinese guests so without a reservation you may be caught in a long line at the door. The service is average (sometimes quick, sometimes slow), but the feel of the place and the food is just perfect. It's not a quiet place for a date dinner, but the perfect venue for the dinner before going out in the evening.

stantoncarlisle

Duck and Cover 16th January 2009

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I came here on a duck hunt with my friends. One of them has a mighty hunger for the bird, the other is a Taiwanese devotee of this place. He knows the service is bad - but he comes back. Overall the grub was good. The earth didn't move but it was good. The duck was tender and less fatty. spooned over with a syrupy gravy. The duck at Tai Ka Lok is better but they've changed the chef recently. The Pei Pa Beancurd was scrumptious and the seasonal greens excellent. As for the service it started surly, became diffident then halfway through - a pinch of pleasantness. And that was during an empty afternoon - god knows what its like when its bulging in the evenings. The waiters look pale, over-worked and disillusioned. Are they that way partly because they really need the extra tips on top of the 12 per cent mark-up? Or what? If you want a world-class tip you have to give out a warm & welcoming service - something on par with an Olympic performance. With a change of attitude this could be a really top-class place, pulling in a lot of business and having a lot of happy customers.

bellaphon

Service, service, where art thou? 7th October 2008

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No matter how much this place is dissed and damned, come rain or shine, credit crunch or not, there’ll always be a queue outside this restaurant with eager diners awaiting their portions of the supposedly legendary roast duck.

This is what we had this evening:

Crab and Fish Maw (stomach) Soup- Pricey and blandish.

Beef brisket in Hot Pot- Melt in the mouth and delicious

Dover sole (Quick deep-fried and then steamed)- Absolutely scrumptious, the fish was actually large and properly fresh.

Stir Fried Morning Glory (water convolvulus)- Bland and under seasoned.

Roast Duck- What’s all the fuss about? It tasted pretty much generic and made worst with the over sweet dark gravy. The only saving grace with the duck served here was its perceived lack of fattiness. If you’re looking for the real thing I suggest either New Fook Lam Moon or Tai Ka Lok in Chinatown.

So that’s 2 out of 5 for the food, and now for the service; like the dinosaurs, service is sadly extinct at the Four Seasons. I’m not even going to suggest that the service was rude, I can’t, as it just simply wasn’t there! You know what, I might even pop down to the Natural History Museum this weekend to trawl for some evidence that service did indeed exist at some point in time at the Four Seasons.

The main irony with dining here lies in the rather uneasy paradox of dormant service is thus rewarded with that great 21st century phenomenon known as the forced 12.5% gratuity that’s been added to your bill.

piggyeater

DO NOT TIP!!!!! 14th September 2008

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This place adds all it up and adds a service charge but don't tell you. You can only find this out if you add up all the itemised bills yourself. And on top of that, they then ask you "No tips????" when you just pay the total bill which already included service tax.

And this is "paying" for service which is absolutely non existent. The staff seems to think that they are doing you a favour by serving you and not vice versa. Their philosophy is to treat you as badly as possible so that you eat and rush out so that they can fit the next customer in.

They are supposed to be famous for roast duck but with this treatment, whatever the quality of food, it still taste pretty bland as psychologically you are already absolutely put off!!!!

ilovelucy

Amazing duck and great food! 9th May 2008

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My Chinese friend invited me to dinner and asked me where was good to eat good chinese food. Not really wanting to head into Chinatown to have your bog standard dishes, I chose the Four Seasons after reading quite a few good reviews about it.

We arrived just in time to bag ourselves a table without having to queue at 6.45pm. Others had to wait - it looked like a popular restuarant and there hardly were any westerners - a very good sign!

The food came very quickly and in very big portions. Of course we ordered the special cantonese duck - the house speciality which was very tasty and had just a sliver of fat - the skin was just divine. We also ordered the ma po tofu and the sizzling spicy aubergine and pork - both the best i've ever tasted, fresh and of good quality.

Service was abrupt but efficient. I loved watching the waiters come out with trays stacked up with piles of roast duck. Bill came up to £36 for the two of us- quite a bit more than Chinatown with the tea at £1.50 per person and service charge included, but well worth it. My Chinese friend thought so too.

vanessakowara

DO NOT TIP!!!! 25th April 2008

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THEY SCAM YOU FOR THE SERVICE CHARGE!!!!
They always list all the food you've ordered in the receipt to make it look legitimate. But the total price is always shown in a separate receipt. One day me and a bunch of friends realized that the total price does not amount to the food we've ordered. My friend calculated it using his handphone and turned out the restaurant added 12.5% service charge cheekily without telling us. When confronted, they replied that this is obligatory. So we let it slide for that time.
I've had about 5 meals after I found out about the service charge scam, and every single time they always add the extra 12.5% without telling me. And the worst part is, after they bring the bill (only if you pay with debit card), they would ask you whether you would like to add service charge into it. My friend was annoyed by this and actually said that it is already added. The waitress was embarassed and she went away. Another waiter replaced her to give us our receipt.
So yes, the food is great, but the scam is not.

011ryan

Avoid this restaurant 21st July 2007

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Just had terrible experience eating at this restaurant for the first time today. Waiters very rude and kept us waiting for one hour between starter and main course even when we asked them to hurry up. They insisted we finished starter. Then brought main course and slapped down bill straight away - could not wait to get rid of us.
I have heard from other friends that the service here is "brusque" but was not prepared for this. Cannot even say that the food was worth it - very ordinary.
Do not go to this restaurant, even Macdonalds is better.

psychovamp

10th June 2007

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'it is like eating in asia'
i think anyway,absoleutley delicious.

tony_yum

2nd February 2007

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Cheep food. Good food.