Cheryl J.
Yelp
Disappointing Experience with Reservations During Lunar New Year Celebration
I am thoroughly disappointed with my recent experience trying to book a large group at Asian Court for the Lion Dance celebration during the Lunar New Year. Two weeks in advance, I reached out to make a reservation for a party of 16, assuming that planning ahead would secure us a spot on such a busy occasion. Unfortunately, I was informed that Asian Court does not accept reservations and operates strictly on a 'first come, first serve' basis.
With this information, I diligently called the day before the event to confirm this policy, only to be told something entirely different. The person on the phone casually mentioned that all four of their large round tables had been reserved already. This was perplexing, to say the least, considering the information I had previously been given. When I questioned this inconsistency, stating that I had been told there were no reservations, the response was simply that those reservations were made for people who personally knew the owner.
This insider favoritism is not only unfair but also unprofessional, especially when it isn't communicated clearly to other customers who might also want to plan for special occasions. It's quite clear that the 'first come, first serve' policy is not applied equally. Needless to say, my group was left stranded without a table on a major holiday celebration, which led to great inconvenience and disappointment.
I'm afraid I cannot recommend Asian Court if you're looking to host a large group for an event or celebration, as their policies might change on a whim, depending on who you are or whom you know. This kind of unpredictable service and preferential treatment is unacceptable and tarnishes what could have otherwise been a joyous cultural experience. I guess you need to be Chinese in order to make a reservation.