GZ GZ
Google
I came to this restaurant with high expectations, especially for the elusive Laksa, which everyone claims is delicious.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with cheerful smiles, which initially made us feel welcome. We ordered the Laksa and "fried chicken." When the Laksa arrived, I tried it, and to my surprise — as someone who is native to Southeast Asia — it was completely bland, though the shrimp broth was noticeable. Naturally, I asked the waitress, who had greeted us so warmly, for extra salt and sugar. Her reaction? A look of complete bewilderment, almost as if I had asked her to solve a math problem on the spot. Keep in mind, I wasn’t complaining or angry, just simply asking for a seasoning adjustment.
Next, the “fried chicken” was essentially battered chicken wings, thickly coated with flour. My expectation was a drumstick, but I suppose my standards were too high.
While we were still eating, the same waitress came up to us and asked, “Are you ready to pay?” Perhaps she was having a rough day, having just dropped a bunch of glasses and plates, but this question — blunt and without any pretense of politeness — was uncalled for. What really struck me, though, was how she then approached the table next to us — a non-Asian group — and, with a warm smile, asked, “Would you like to have dessert?”
I kept my cool, paid my bill, and thought that would be the end of it.
But no, the waitress came back with the card reader and casually mentioned, “You can leave a tip: 10%, 15%, etc.” And instead of turning her face away or offering any semblance of warmth, she stood there, staring at me as if monitoring whether or not I’d leave a tip. Spoiler: I didn’t. Would you tip for flavorless food and service like this?
After I paid, she turned her back and snatched the machine without so much as a “thank you” or “goodbye.”
I wasn’t angry, just disappointed. Then I looked up reviews on Google and discovered I wasn’t alone. Other native Asians reported receiving the same treatment, feeling like they were being treated differently from locals. Quite ironic, considering this is an "Asian" restaurant, right? One last surprise: I found out through Instagram that this very waitress holds a position at the restaurant and has been there since its pop-up store days.
Hopefully, my experience was an isolated incident, and no one else will have to endure such indifferent service. But, if anything, this makes me wonder: if we want Asian cuisine to be appreciated by a wider audience, shouldn’t the hospitality reflect that too?
