30 August 2007

avoid imperial at swinger

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We went for a meal at the imperial chinese restaurant at the swinger hill shops on a wed night. We were the only patrons – but what the heck! After being seated, an older lady come out from the kitchen and loudly complained in Cantonese that we were basically a nuisance as they now have to stay open longer.

My friend asked for a fork as he had arthritis in his hands which made eating with a chopstick fairly hard. The waitress then demanded why he couldn’t use the chopstick – we have never been interrogated in this way before!! At the end of the meal, the older lady flung the bill on our table saying they were closing – this was 9:30pm. We paid at the counter – she tried to short change me! After sorting out the bill, we checked the closing time – it was 10pm.

Conclusion: food wasn’t great – service was horrendous!! Recommendation – AVIOD IT LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!

By the way, if you want to mouth off at someone in Cantonese, you better make sure they don’t understand what you’re saying!!!

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everyone has different standards as to what constitutes a good meal I guess…

Has anybody tried any of the new joints on anketell street in Tuggeranong though?? They look as if they’re trying to class it up a bit down there.

I’d just like to mention that I’ve been to the Imperial Inn at Swinger Hill shops (which are, funnily enough, located in Mawson IIRC) numerous times over the years and *always* been pleased with the food and service

Not knowing Cantonese, I can’t tell you if I’ve had abuse hurled at me however 🙂

The Asian place at Gungahlin TC near the video shop and the pizza shops is crap IMO.

Yep.

Felix the Cat9:21 pm 30 Aug 07

ginger and spice is a good local for me
They are OK, their rice has slightly funny taste to it IMO. I prefer Rebecca’s Chinese Inn at Kippax.

The Asian place at Gungahlin TC near the video shop and the pizza shops is crap IMO. I tried a meal there and it was crap and thought it might of been a one off so tried them again and they were still crap. A workmate says the same thing. Still seems to be plenty of people going there but.

That sucks, I will probably never eat there now:)

The indian restaurant at swinger hill is top-notch and they give out a sweet discount if you order pick-up before a certain time. I highly reccomend it if you’re in the Swinger-Hill region or pass by it on the way home from work.

Don’t write off swinger hill completely due to this one bad experience!

Is this the RiotAct or the echo chamber?
The Imperial in Swinger Hill is, in my opinion, the best value for money Chinese restaurant in Canberra. It is possible I have been the subject of abuse in Cantonese, but I have been there on one occasion with a Cantonese speaker and I was not appraised of any abuse.
Wait staff are people too, subject to the same daily grind as the rest of us. Americans commonly treat a night out as an excuse to make the wait staff subjugate themselves in exchange for the tip. I’m not saying that happened in this case, but we don’t tip in this country and the quid pro quo for that is you need to look at the overall value offered by a restaurant.

Yeah Jimmy’s Place is great but I found New Asia a bit bland. Ginseng in Manuka is also excellent.

Jimmy’s Place or New Asia in Dickson is Canberra’s best chinese in my humble opinion, yum.

Well I’ve found the grub at the turkish in gungahlin to be good. I haven’t had anything tomato-based or with salami though.

The kiymali is tops, along with the kofte and zuccinni ball things.

captainwhorebags5:37 pm 30 Aug 07

bonfire: the owner of the Civic Noodle House (and the one at Tuggeranong) was a co-owner with the guy at Dickson.

Dickson Noodle Guy bought out his partner years ago, with a restriction of trade for a specified number of years.

That time has expired, so Civic Noodle Guy can run his two restaurants with the same menu and recipe without any legal problems.

Thanks for the tip Bonfire. I’ve always been tempted by that place but I guess I’ll give it a miss. La Musica e in Belconnen is great for Woodfired Pizza. The best Pizza place I have found on Northside so far. They even have two for one pizza nights. I think it is Wednesday and Thursday.

the turkish place at gungahlin shops is pretty bad. they must use the lowest cost possible tomato paste which is loaded with MSG. their salami is also shocking.

I used to love the asian noodle house in Dickson until they gave me the worst case of food poisoning I think anyone could have. It was duck, but still, no excuse.

For the people in Ngunnaway/Gungahlin, the Indian restaurant at the Platypus Centre in Ngunnawal is very good. The food is great and staff are very helpful and friendly.

ginger and spice is a good local for me

Yes it is good. Takeaway isn’t as flash as eating in, I’ve found.

but a ne competitor around the corner is Hot Chillies – they do a really really nice lemon and basil beef

Agree. Just that the beef has a yucky boiled look to it.

im told the civic asian noodle house, which apart from location is identical in every respect to the asian dickson noodle house, is in fact an unauthorised knockoff operation right down to the menu…

anyone know if this is true or if potential mrs bonfire was leg pulling.

The Tip Top, upstairs in Garema Pl, is one of my faves.

Don’t forget the Dickson Noodle House – their laska is consistently good.

ginger and spice is a good local for me – mmm 10 spice chicken – but a ne competitor around the corner is Hot Chillies – they do a really really nice lemon and basil beef

for good chinese-style food, tak kee at dickson was first roast duck place in cbr, and is still the best. china tea club at nth lyneham is also tasty. and sammy’s… what can you say, but yum!

Woody Mann-Caruso12:59 pm 30 Aug 07

swinger hill is a sht hole

WTF?

Thanks for the tip re Imperial – now everybody in my office has it as well 🙂

What i mean is that swinger hill is a sht hole, so I wouldnt expect too much of the restaurants. Can’t speak on the indian there though.

I didn’t say anything about Pearce however – Ramas is one of my favourites.

VYBerlinaV8 now_with_added grunt12:24 pm 30 Aug 07

Has anyone here tried My’s at Cooleman Court. I’ve been there twice, and I would say they have some of the best food I’ve ever tasted.

stung, what do you mean by the reference to s/h shops? the indian restaurant there is sensational, as is the one at pearce shops – so why should the location cause concern??

swinger hill shops: have you been to jahengir? (spelling?). Possible the best indian in canberra.

I had a very similar experience at that indian place in belco next to the old ground floor. When they want you to leave they turn the heating and lights off and open the door. again – well before closing time.

Ginger & Spice @ Gungahlin FTW! Best food ever!

word DMD, word.

Deadmandrinking11:54 am 30 Aug 07

To follow up Justbands, I’ve also found the Vietnamese restaurant at the old Macquarie shops to be one of the best restaurants ever. The owner is good-humored and friendly and the food…mmmm…fried icecream. I’m gonna get me some of that soon.

Did you respond in Cantonese when they were abusing you? That would be funny.

Somewhat related….not Chinese, however the Vietnamese place at Fisher Shops is the exact opposite of what you’ve just described. Food is great, service even better.

“swinger hill shops”

wtf did you expect??

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