Go ahead, stare at my chest
Obama's China itinerary revealed
Monitors remind classmates that love is publically unacceptable
Heart Attack: Starring Jake Newby
One is the loneliest number: 11/11 is Singles' Day
Shanghaiist wants to like City Diner. We really do! The food, when it comes, is excellent—miles ahead of Moon River, and just like we would eat at home. The coffee, if it ever arrives, is perfect—just like we would get at our neighborhood café, and it even arrives with warm milk! But ... In the months since City Diner has opened, again and again, the service has been so slow, the managers so rude, and the staff so inept, that we will not go again without hours to spare and patience to give. Two examples:
1) Shanghaiist and a friend went to City Diner for breakfast, about 10 am on a Saturday. We had been there a couple times before and loved it—the food was good, the wi-fi was fast, and the beer was cold. Sure, it was a bit expensive, but no more than the other slightly fancy places in town. That being said, this is a diner--is it supposed to be priced to a slightly fancy bracket?
We ordered coffee and breakfast. The place was about 80 percent full. Twenty minutes pass. We ask again for our coffee, and it arrives. Ten minutes pass, and we ask for our food. It’s coming, we’re told. Five minutes later, we get a (cold) free entrée, with the explanation that, 35 minutes after we order, our meals haven’t been submitted to the chef. Ten additional minutes pass (now 45 minutes after our initial entrance) and the manager stops by to say (in Chinese): “Look, we’ve lost your order. Tell us what you want and we’ll give it to the chef.” It was then that we left and walked to Element Fresh, which was fresh, fast, and tasty, as it always is.
2) This past Saturday night, about 3 am, we got home from our usual clubbing routine (Club Deep = hot that night!) and, looking at the 24 hour delivery menu, (the top of all City Diner menus say “24 HOUR DELIVERY”) we were all ready to order a tuna melt and fries—a perfect hangover cure. Until we called. Could I have a delivery order? The hostess said “No, we don’t deliver.” Me: “Umm, your menu says you deliver 24 hours a day. What time do you start delivering again?” Hostess: “I don’t know--CLICK!”.
Now, we know that it takes time for a restaurant to work properly after it opens. It happens! A restaurant is a frickin hard place to run! But it’s been months since City Diner opened, and the terrible service just hasn’t changed. Neither have the lame “we just opened” excuses. We’ve been there a couple times for lunch, and have had a good experience. We’ve been there after work once with no major issues—though it did take us 25 minutes to get our burger.
The food is great. The wi-fi is fast. But right now, City Diner has turned into just another average Shanghai shack—high on the image, high on the prices, but low on the service. What a shame. Here’s hoping they shape up their act.
Image of City Diner from monkeyking on Flickr.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
post to facebook
As someone who has been to City Diner on more than a few occasions, I agree that service has never been their strong point. SH recently said the "general sense of confusion amongst the staff ... borders on comical." I think we've all had experiences where that statement rings true. BUT, we went for brunch there on busy Sunday last week and it really looked like the place had stepped up its game (maybe it's the new sharp uniforms?). Although the place was packed, service was just fine ... even good. They had enough staff on hand to take care of the crowd, which wasn't always the case before. And there were some new servers there -- ours was fresh-faced and cheery and her service was spot on. (They also started putting the Diet Coke in pitchers, which makes it much easier for those free refills to keep on coming.) So anyway, based on my recent experience, service definitely seemed to be on an uptick.
I also disagree somewhat on your complaints about price. For what you get there, I find City Diner to be quite reasonable, especially when compared to places that offer similar fare. And it's not just a diner. The food is soooo much better than any diner I've been, too. The servings are huge. And if you ever go for dinner, it could even be considered a bargain, again compared to other places with comparable menus. Anyway, it's the food that keeps us coming back -- it really is great.
And about delivery -- I thought I noticed last time I went that they had taken "delivery" off the menu. Can anyone confirm this?
I went there once to discover what all the fuss was about. The service is very woeful (but that's the case in every restaurant in this city), but I don't know about the food quality. It seems very bland and the sizes are not very healthy. Still, I appreciate that there is a market for people who want to get/stay fat so I hope for their sakes the place improves.
Did I not point this out about 2 months ago. Finally vindication but what about some credit, for bringing the appaling service of this place to your attention a lot earlier than your article.
the Diner is real hit-and-miss. The first 2 times, we had excellent chocolate malted shakes. The 3rd time we were told they didn't have "malt" and never did and would not in the future (we asked several staff). The 4th time, we got our malted shake -- but it was not the thick creamy one we had before, it was liquidy, like milk without the shake.
Hit or miss is the perfect description. Been there when its busy and had great service, the next time we were the only people there and it took 30 minutes to get anything at all, and then half of it was wrong. Same with the food, great one day and not so great the next. oh well...
Service was appalling last time we were there. A group of four, my food arrived over 30 minutes after everyone else, and when it did, it was stone-cold.
How long must we pay western-prices for sub-standard prices? How do these places get away with charging so much? Costs here are much lower than back home.
i couldnt agree more with simon and ryan ..
i have given city diner numerous chances to improve on there service and a prime example of this disappointment is early sunday morning @ 5 am me and 5 friends decide to go . there are a total of 11 patrons including ourselves . we proceed to order , i order for me and a buddy meatloaf sammich , gravy fries , french onion soup , and fried calamari. my other firends order there breakfast . so about in 30 minutes our food starts coming out with the breakfast we asked for scrambled they came out sunny side up , being drunk and hungry my friend says wateva and chows down . rest of the table starts eating. 15 minutes later none of what i ordered is on the table i ask the waiter if my orders are ready he proceeds to the kitchen and brings out chilli cheese fries , i say in chinese we ordered the gravy fries and point to the menu and explain it to him , he looks at me for a good minute puzzled and finally boggles down and says ok . 15 minutes later come and he brings out the gravy fries accompanied by hot wings , i go we never ordered hot wings , he goes yes u did , then all 4 people at my table go to him no we ordered fried calamari (in chinese and pointed at menu) so once again he goes to the puzzled stare , comes back and says we r out of calamari . ok fine . we lose out . so im eating my fries waiting on my soup and sammich another 20 minutes pass by and by this time im hungry and tired so i ask him wheres my sammich and soup (in chinese )then he goes to the puzzled look again and runs to the kitchen comes back with the chef and says we never got that order , do u wanna place a new one now?i forget about it and say check please , we look at the bill and they have charged me for the wings , which we never ordered , so after another puzzled look for a minute he goes and changes it . now this was @ 5 am with a most 12 patrons in the restaurant and 2 -3 waiters . i have been to city diner numerous times and a few times the food is spot on when the head chef is there (jenn i beleive her name is ) spot on great food .. but being 24 hours i always try to go there after clubbing and hanging out with friends and at those times things r just below average . the first couple of times mistakes were made i figured new staff maybe language , so lately i have always done my order in chinese and i would also point at the item . just to be sure. i know service in this city and country is at best average but there has to be room for improvement , now im not mad and i never yelled or lost my temper with the waiter and i didnt ask for management , but we are paying for a service albeit @ noon 7 pm or 5 am its a service , i would think being the only 24 hour diner in shanghai in puxi they would strive to please there customers and have some quality control , but it seems liek this is another venture that has a great idea , great menu but the output isnt consistent enough . if any1 from city diners management is reading this , this isnt a put down towards your venue but if you guys would just try and improve the quality and maybe take more time with your staff and menu , the overall product would be 200% better , and you would feed so many more satisfied patrons in turn your table turnover is higher . and isnt that the main objective in opening a rest/ diner in the first place ?? sorry for the long ass reply but i would really want to see this place excel cuz the other options in this city are just horrendous , bi feng tang anyone ??? hope u guys see my point , thanks for listening
I waited to say something so that City Diner would have time to correct its mistakes--it's hard to start up a restauant anywhere, but especially so in Shanghai. Even top flight restaurants like Jean-Georges needed time to find their feet. But it's been MONTHS--what's changed? Apprently, nothing.
I think the real story here is the incredible inconsistency--fine service one day, terrible service the next. I do like the food, but shouldn't paying 50-80 RMB a person (with drinks) give you more than the service that's the equivalent of Russian Roulette?
That said, I have higher expectations for CD than for any old place--it's owned by Eduardo Vargas, whose stable also includes 239, Azul, and iiit! Those are great places--what went wrong here?
"Shanghai shack—high on the image, high on the prices, but low on the service."
Thank you, Ryan Barret.
I'm hardly part of the dinner-ati here in Shanghai, but a diner lover nonetheless. I’ve learned to stick with a good, simple thing when you find it—like KAAB, Blue Frog, Element Fresh, Zentral and Burger King.
As for City Diner, I’ve enjoyed it the handful of times there, nearly always going with the grilled chicken and provolone sandwich. Yum. The one time I went for breakfast on a busy Sunday it was not fun, for all of the reasons detailed in the commentary—and the fact that my biscuits (as in biscuits and gravy) were more like croutons.
City Diner seems to be struggling what another slightly overpriced, fairly overrated restaurant charading as diner—let’s just call that placed ARCH—used to after getting off to a much lauded start: simple ineptitude. And to use a sports cliché, where there’s ineptitude, the coach is not doing their job.
As noted, F&B is a rough go. For those non-F&B people taking the great leap forward into what delusionally appears like a cash cow, the lessons are hard and quick. If you don’t identify and rectify your team’s shortcomings immediately, and provide solid leadership (note: being a ‘leader’ and being a ‘boss’ are not the same thing), you’ll be out of the game quickly, and on the way to Shanghai’s crowded F&B graveyard.
After swearing up and down I would never set foot in ARCH again—steak sandwich with literally no steak, countless RMB30 all-foam lattes, orders that never got put in, burgers going cold in the 15 minute wait for mustard and mayonnaise, and a nasty dose of food poisoning—I’ve been giving them another try, as I’ve just moved into the neighborhood, and a guy's gotta eat.
My verdict: so far, so reasonably okay—except the aging design magazines have gotten musty. Perhaps a bit symbolic of Shanghai's constant struggle to keep a really good third-rate thing going.
Lunch yesterday: service awful, bizarre. And the food? It shouldn't be difficult to make breakfast, but it was bland, the sauteed potatoes were ancient, and the poached eggs watery and lukewarm. The hollandaise sauce was a kind of disgusting cold egg enema.
In other words, a hugely overpriced exercise in dailight robbery.
Hey all-
Well I've never been to City Diner, but I have been craving some good old fashioned diner food...but the thing is, you can't forget what country we're in....The stuff you mentioned about their service is common to like 85% of the places I've been to here. Bad service is pretty much an integral part of the dining out experience.
Unlike many of you, I actually look Chinese and can speak it almost fluently!! And its still the same.
The only place that I've ever even heard of that has exceptional service is X-rated and they certainly don't serve food.
Anyway, I think for the most part, expecting good service IS asking for too much in most places here. Just don't take it personally...at least I try not to.
I have had 2 or 3 meals where it took over 45 min from the time we ordered until everyone at the table had their food.
Last Sunday, it was 55 min. The problem happened when 2 of us ordered biscuits and gravy, which I have attempted to order about 4-5 times and they are always out. This time was no exception and about 25 min after we had placed our order a waitress came and told us that they were out. The two of us ordered something else, and about 15 minutes later our new dishes arrived. Unfortunately, the other two people with us, who at this point had ordered 40 mins ago, were still foodless. After a minute or two, the manager came over and said "you guys did not order anything right?" She sorted out the problem, and eventually we got everything.
Since everyone loves unsolicited advice from randoms over the internet, here is my suggestion. Sorry if it seems kind of basic, but the last few times I have been there these things were not being done.
On my last visit, we had our order taken 3 different times by 3 different people. Most of the servers were running all over the floor in a panic, because everyone was trying to take care of every table. Most restaurants assign stations to their servers, with 5 tables per station being normal for an experienced server. I think with the level of servers that you had I would limit it to 4. In order for this system to work, you have to have a hostess that is paying attention to where people are being sat, so that no one server gets double or triple sat.
City Diner Brunch yesterday: the service was bizarrely awful - the waitresses seemed to be performing some kind of Dadaist cabaret at our table.
The food? Bland verging on disgusting. Superannuated sauteed potatoes, watery, lukewarm poached eggs, and a tasteless cold hollandaise sauce that looked like a chicken's enema.
In other words, another grotesquely overpriced disappointment from Shanghai's 'exciting international-standard restaurant scene'.
无为侠: Don't even get me started on Arch. The last time I went there the steak I ordered rare was well done, and when I asked for it to be changed, they just put it under the grill for five more minutes and stuck it on a different plate. Thanks!
"early sunday morning @ 5 am ... we proceed to order , i order for me and a buddy meatloaf sammich , gravy fries , french onion soup , and fried calamari."
Dear god.
slow service, bland food, whatever: this article is pretty whiny, that's all I know.
Yes, it would seem that is all you know.
"early sunday morning @ 5 am ... we proceed to order , i order for me and a buddy meatloaf sammich , gravy fries , french onion soup , and fried calamari."
That's totally disgusting! I hope people stop going there altogether so that it is closed and ridiculous and foolish consumption such as the above is bannished from Shanghai ... we do not need it here.
So Chinese bitch about how shitty their shitty food is in the States and vice versa! I love it.
I have been there many many times, and the service is always comical, but whenever it is, they always give me (good) free stuff. And the waitresses are cute. The food is always excellent, I have never been let down on that front. I would still very highly recommend this place to anyone who hasn't been there.
City Diner sucks and you bozos at Shanghaiist were trumpeting its praises when it opened. How about some real impartial journalism next time and not some preppie boy crap comments.
When are you going to admit you were wrong.
Easy there, Saint. So, you would say the above post by Ryan is not impartial? Please explain how you came to that conclusion.
And I don't remember ever trumpeting the praises of City Diner based on its service (other than in my comment at the top of this post, which appears to have been an isolated incident based on the comments that followed). Could you please direct me to the post you are referring to in which we talked about how much we liked City Diner for its service?
I will stand by my statement that the food at City Diner is usually excellent (although admittedly I generally only go for lunch and dinner ... not many 5 am trips for me). And the food is why I will continue to go back. Although next time I may bring my own maple syrup for the pancakes (5 kuai for an extra petri dish is a little much).
Thanks for reading.
Dan (aka Bozo No. 1)
Funny that we are accused of not being "impartial journalists"--since when are a news service? Are we accredited journalists?
People don't read blogs for impartiality, they read them because they often loaded with opinion. If we subscribe to the ethics of impartiality it's only when we feel it's some issue whose seriousness deserves it. Thus if there some big news event we would tell both sides of the story, or at least admit our shortcomings when we cannot.
No, you are not regarded as journalists by any stretch of the imagination. I don't think anyone in the real world takes bloggers seriously. Only other bloggers do.
That said, people that I know, visit Shanghaiist hoping to encounter a certain level of sophistication and impartiality on this site. Insight is more interesting than the opinions of relative nobodies (no offence, but you know what I mean). You have the right to your opinions, of course, but most of the correspondents don't really possess the cache for their opinions to be taken seriously. Otherwise we'd be paying to hear/read them.
Case in point, it might be your opinion that a video with pre-pubescent girls is worthy of sharing, but it diminishes you more than anything. That was a real low point, by the way, and I have been visiting since day one.
You yourselves have raised the bar quite high with stories that are typically of a high standard. And many people, like me, visit every day looking for new information about this city, that go beyond the experiences of [mostly] young, white, male, American expatriates. So your recent injection of diversity is to be applauded.
Just don't take yourselves too seriously, and don't get too defensive by the comments (where opinions are de rigeur). Peijin, you're particulatly prone to that and it's becoming redundant real fast!
Otherwise great work and a great service to English speakers in this town. Keep up the good work, guys (and fag hag) ;-)
I went to City Diner once at lunchtime. The only reason I venture into such establishments is to eat Eggs Benedict. A sad vice I know. I ordered Eggs Benedict with Salmon. After 50 minutes I received two stale, toasted buns with salmon on top. I asked the head waitress what it was. "Eggs Benedict," she said triumphantly pointing at the menu. "Shouldn't it have eggs and hollandaise sauce?" I asked. Her face fell for a moment and then she brightened. "Just eat it and we'll bring you a proper one later." I crunched my way through the dry, spartan, rather tasteless offering, didn't pay and never went back. Somehow Moon River Diner always manages to put eggs and hollandaise sauce on the plate. They rock.
Yes, Simon, you did... So did I. Pity they still haven't gotten it together. Have to say I had a nice coffee and desert a few weeks ago, but I'm still not confident they can serve me the correct lunch within my allotted hour. I also find it insulting to call yourself a diner and not spend even a couple kuai on some proper decor.
It's funny how many people mentioned that they have given CD multiple chances in the hope that their bad first experience was a fluke. I've gone three times and CD has swung and missed badly three times... the most comical was when I ordered a burger at lunchtime and they were OUT OF HAMBURGER BUNS. Instead I got a burger on 2 inch thick pieces of french bread. Trying to eat this thing was ridiculous. Same experience with eggs benny, etc etc. Training staff to run a restaurant is not easy, but it is not rocket science either. Copying a good diner menu from somewhere in the States and renting space does not make a diner. I refuse to return until the owners go bankrupt and sell out (which they hopefully will soon). It boggles the mind that some people invest in starting a business with no plan whatsoever in following through. I hope the place goes down soon.
Wow, I guess I must be going at all the wrong times! While i have seen that their service is slow in many cases, the food has never been an issue for me. Over the past dozen times i have gone, I have been there for breakfast on weekend and weekdays, lunch on weekend and weekdays, a few dinners, and a few late night visits as well. Never had a problem with their burgers nor meat loaf, nor breakfasts. But I must agree that CD managemnt should be addressing the service issues. The kitchen is a bit slow and some of the staff moves like molassass. I have found service the worst during the times where the chinese supervisors are on staff smoking at the first table (what a great first impression as i walk in) . SPeaking of smoking, that space is so small when just one person lights up, the rest of us gotta suffer thru it...sigh. Just my 2 fen.
But despite those complaints, the food has been good for me so far, everytime.
I went to check it out, and the article was, IMO, on target on one point out of two.
Yes, the service is atrocious. It actually made me laugh when it happened, just on cue. Lunch was late, mistakes were made, and I had to ask 3 times for my milk shake.
However, I have to strongly disagree that the food is better than Moon River. Excuse me?! It was fat, yes, but the hamburger was bland and the fries were way too salty. I'll definitely pass from now on (especially with Malone's just up the street.)
"Never had a problem with their burgers nor meat loaf, nor breakfasts .... SPeaking of smoking, that space is so small when just one person lights up, the rest of us gotta suffer thru it...sigh. "
How can someone who feasts on fatty junk food at City Diner complain about smokers!?!?! I don't get it. The visual of a fat person eating a burger is infinitely more unbearable than someone smoking.
We will have to agree to disagree. Eating fats is an individual problem, smoking in an enclosed space affects everyone else. Locals don't care b/c they are selfish and may be ignorant of the health effects of smoking, but most of us should know better.
This seems really typical. Customer service at restaurants in China is, in general, worse than we'd generally get in the States. Nevertheless, I typically find that the most egregious offenders are Western restaurants. Service at Chinese restaurants ranges from poor to great. Service at Western restaurants in Shanghai can be fantastic, but can also be offensively bad. All my "stunningly bad service" experiences in Shanghai have been at expat-friendly Western restaurants.
By far the worst service I've ever had in the city was at Kommune Cafe. By far the most consistently good service I get is at Shanghai Uncle.
The best service I get is from a barber shop on Xikang Lu!
Why are many of you paying so much to repeatedly eat at this dive that you don't like? No wonder Chinese think that laowai are stupid.
Having married into a Chinese family and spent a lot of time in Asia, and being the son of San Francisco parents, I take a bit of a different approach. If the coffee is late, I walk into the kitchen and get it. The staff got all upset when I started serving tables coffee, but screw them.
And I never PAY if I don't get what I want and I walk out if there is any trouble or things take too long. On the other hand, I tip very well...
Been meaning to post this for almost two weeks now. Went to City Diner again for brunch on a Sunday. And, again, the service was fine. Maybe we're just the lucky ones?
Also, their pancake syrup servings are now bigger and when we asked for more, we got it ... free of charge. That's a good move.
In reading Jarrett Wrisley in the latest SH, it looks as though City Diner will soon have some downtown competition. Moon River Diner has opened a new location at 88 Xianxia Lu, Sun Plaza in Changning District, where several foreign consulates are located. Also, they are reportedly opening up another outlet in Jing'an at The New Factories.
Competition is good.
I rest my case
what was your case again?
Wow, I have to say, I’m impressed by the sheer number and passion with which people are writing about CD. You love it, you hate it, you love, you hate it...you hate it...you hate it. It’s good to know everyone has such strong opinions. As a partner at CD, I’ve been wondering for weeks whether to respond or just to let sleeping dogs lie. But, urged by a friend, I’ve decided to give it a shot.
Personally, as a partner, I am sorry to hear about all of your bad service experiences. I know there have been a many. For that, I apologize, we really are sorry for every late lunch, missed entrée, forgotten coffee, slow retarded service issue, and general ineptitude. I know sorry isn’t enough, many of you were so pissed off that you won’t ever come back(I can understand, I probably wouldn’t either). I too, hate it when I ask for things(in Mandarin!!) and I get the deer in headlights look!! I get it, I understand, and I’m sorry.
Be that as it may, please know this, we are trying. We ARE trying. We’re not just sitting around thinking the money is going to come rolling in. We’re not resigned to be just another bad service restaurant in Shanghai. We ARE trying, and I do sincerely believe that we are getting better. So please, even if it’s not this week, this month, or this year, do come back. Give us a chance to prove that we do care about what our customers think and that we are trying to improve. And PLEASE stop comparing us to Element Fresh. Element Fresh has been open FIVE years, we’ve been open four months! After all, Rome, was not built in a day. :)
Interestingly, I've just been there tonight with my wife. It was the first time we visited and it wasn't bad at all. Fair enough, the place was practically empty at 7pm. Service was ok, except we had to repeat our orders twice each time (mandarin or english produced the same results). Price was a little high (250rmb) for a burrito and salmon with 3 (small bottles) Tsingtao beers.
One comment about Element Fresh: Overrated, overpriced and average quality food for laptop toting laowai.....they should move all their restaurants into Xintiandi :)
Just wondering, how much does the typical local waiter cost to employ for a day? Is English teaching so attractive and profit margins so tight that you can't hire one or two (or a few) fresh American college grads to work in foreign-owned-and-frequented businesses? Can somebody give a quick run-down of the economics?
I like City Diner, and yes, it is a true hit or a miss... I think all you guys should get to know Judy, one of the managers there, cause hse's a nice lady and she might hook you up if you get bad service and you let her know about it. people in there could try to write things down for a change rather than go off memory.
The food is good though and if you are there when it's not busy, you can totally own the spot. Location is convenient as well.
One last point, for a spot in China that is open 24 hours, it's pretty damn clean. props to City Diner, keep trying and keep working hard!
And for all the Shanghai peeps.. this place is a true test of patience, but if you wait long enough it is good... BLT, Shepard's Pie and the fries are awesome with the choices of sauces.
Get to know Judy!!
Went there for dinner on Sunday to introduce 'American' food to a non-American friend. Service was excellent with hot food arriving promptly. What was most impressive was that the order was taken for memory - no writing down on a little pad and a change to the sides was made with no fuss and no confusion. I don't usually like to give free press but I'm aware of the love/hate relationship and have had to work at ordering here in the past. After this weekend, I'm a convert.
Been back a couple of more times in the past weeks since my last post and I must say it has been consistantly better than before. Had dinner one night and breakfast another two times and each time the food came in a timely fashion and tasted good too. What a concept. The service staff has gotten better and the manager there is on the floor making sure people are happy. Quite a nice change. I recently saw Eduardo taking his staff out one night to try other places out so I know they are trying to do the right thing in exposing their managament and staff to other venues to learn from them.
The service seems to have gotten more consistant now but again my personal experience was clouded by one smoker who cause our party to leave before we had a chance to get dessert. Our loss but also CD's loss. Yes, my pet peave and why I go to the "other Diner" so much more often.
UPDATE FOR CITYDINER APRIL, 2007
Nothing much has changed.
Poor service, female manager is rude, and food is on and off.
On a good note, i do think theyre food is On, most of the time but the staff is pretty bad. Why dont they just train them properly and get a GOOD MANAGER! Can't be that hard can it?
Second point, everyone out there in SH that agree with me, don't goto Citydiner until they improve..not other way they'll get their asses going!
Thanks !
Jason
i totally agree. The service sucks but the city diner breakfast is awesome any time of day. I also like their fries with all the different sauces. For a change of pace I also like moonriver (moonriverdiner.com.cn) or city deli for their sandwiches and mexican food (citydeli.cn)
Went to City Diner today with my two oldest kids, for the second and LAST time. Service was horrendous. Took forever to place the order. Several mistakes on order, but worse was them just lying about what we ordered, when food was coming, and whether they understood. We watched a woman ask for silverware four times in a row, and finally we gave her ours as my kids had finger foods. After a while, they brought her salt, thinking this is what she requested (four times), though she had some on the table already. The woman who looked like she was the manager seemed to be "too good" to help out....just stood behind the bar and degraded the wait staff. Everyone seemed confused as to their role. It is clear to me this place has no training for staff, no customer service emphasis, and no future.
Also, the crayons my kids got were chewed, and were black and brown....what kid wants black and brown!?!? No credit cards is annoying, but I did know that in advance.
Overall, this place is a very bad experience. Food is okay, but I worry about the cleanliness of the kitchen if they cannot train staff on basic things. Better off going to Malone's across the street!
One additional point to my comment above (in response to some of the earlier posts).....I have been in China 3 years, and have been to many restaurants. Even to "Chinese Standards", I think City Diner is the worst place I have been to anywhere in the Mainland for service.
I went late tonight because I was craving diner style food. Not terribly busy at 1:30am on a Tuesday. (Wednesday really I guess)
The waiter messed up my order and brought the wrong dish, but I was hungry so I asked him if I could just pay the price for a cheaper dish -- in Chinese -- which he agreed to do.
Come time to pay though, not all that much later, he'd forgotten, was rude to me about it, his manager was equally rude and obnoxious, and THEY CALLED THE POLICE because they were afraid that I wouldn't pay the RMB 20. I was getting pretty annoyed, so I'm glad that a nice customer helped calm me down a bit.
Terrible. I'm never going back.