Manderin Chinese Buffet Wow what a difference, not in a good way
- Thread starter yababy1
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MSG raises BP and stresses the heart, the majority of restaurants have stopped using it.
Mandarin is the official language of China, spoken in both the mainland and Taiwan. There is also Mandarin cuisine but I haven't found much on it on YT. The best restaurants don't bother with buffets, my local eatery built it's reputation on freshness and BBQ pork as good as anything in Markham. I had a new taste experience that unfortunately I haven't repeated...congee. Now I understand how Manchurians can brave the bitter cold of their region.
As for Mandarin, I rate it the same as Subway.
Mandarin is the official language of China, spoken in both the mainland and Taiwan. There is also Mandarin cuisine but I haven't found much on it on YT. The best restaurants don't bother with buffets, my local eatery built it's reputation on freshness and BBQ pork as good as anything in Markham. I had a new taste experience that unfortunately I haven't repeated...congee. Now I understand how Manchurians can brave the bitter cold of their region.
As for Mandarin, I rate it the same as Subway.
Mandarin is still highly popular though. Unless you have a reservation, good luck getting a table between the hours of 5 and 8, at least at the locations I checked out. Though I suspect it's mostly seniors keeping it so busy. Seniors love their buffets.
It has definitely gone downhill IMO. Not only has the price increased 40% in the last 4 years, but the food selection has declined. I typically would go for the AYCE crab legs, plus they had a cheesy crab casserole dish I loved. Well, the casserole is gone, and the rare times they have crab legs they're usually on ice instead of kept on a hot plate. Just not the same.
COVID killed my favorite Chinese buffet: The Crystal Palace in Collingwood. Damn, I miss that place!
It has definitely gone downhill IMO. Not only has the price increased 40% in the last 4 years, but the food selection has declined. I typically would go for the AYCE crab legs, plus they had a cheesy crab casserole dish I loved. Well, the casserole is gone, and the rare times they have crab legs they're usually on ice instead of kept on a hot plate. Just not the same.
COVID killed my favorite Chinese buffet: The Crystal Palace in Collingwood. Damn, I miss that place!
I posted the exact same thing, but a few people posted there are still some places out there that do AYCE crab legs.
Anyone know of any please drop the names.
The Mandarin here in London is still pretty good but the prices have gone up, I go for the luncheon buffet which is the same as the dinner but at a cheaper price, I just eat one meal a day when I go...I just can't eat that much food in one sitting anymore.
Mandarin is also how many ways you can cook chicken...
Mandarin is also how many ways you can cook chicken...
, but last week I ended up going to Dragon Pearl for an event and it is definitely an upgraded Mandarin 
Mandarin is still pretty good in my opinion. I go for lunch from time to time and will continue to do so.
A couple of tips:
1. A lot depends on location. They aren't all the same or as good.
2. Go when it's busy, prime time. The food will be fresh and hot. So that means noon for lunch and 6 pm for dinner.
3. Stating the obvious here, but food prices have gone through the roof due to inflation and carbon taxes. It's not the restaurant's fault. I doubt that they are making any more money than they were before. Less perhaps due to COVID.
A couple of tips:
1. A lot depends on location. They aren't all the same or as good.
2. Go when it's busy, prime time. The food will be fresh and hot. So that means noon for lunch and 6 pm for dinner.
3. Stating the obvious here, but food prices have gone through the roof due to inflation and carbon taxes. It's not the restaurant's fault. I doubt that they are making any more money than they were before. Less perhaps due to COVID.
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last time I was at mandarin (for lunch mind you, so no fancy crab legs etc) it was pretty shite, tho I was hungover and in the mood for some simple salty greasy americochinese cuisine, so it delivered for me. I can’t imagine tho if it’s that much worse. 
. At least in the GTA there are literally thousands of options for amazing Chinese food, way cheaper than mandarin, so can’t imagine how it can survive.
. At least in the GTA there are literally thousands of options for amazing Chinese food, way cheaper than mandarin, so can’t imagine how it can survive.Just heard the radio commercial for the Mandarin in the car and we commented on how it’s been years since we ate there, no hurry to go back. Especially after this thread.
I do recall last visit pre Covid being sub par. People were gross . Watched people Eating right off the buffet table and using hands to take food. Saw someone go back with their dirty plate. Someone took food on their plate and then decided they didn’t want it and dumped it back .
Table beside me tried to steal the cloth napkins ,the waitress saw the mom put them in her purse and made the family give them back. No shame
I do recall last visit pre Covid being sub par. People were gross . Watched people Eating right off the buffet table and using hands to take food. Saw someone go back with their dirty plate. Someone took food on their plate and then decided they didn’t want it and dumped it back .
Table beside me tried to steal the cloth napkins ,the waitress saw the mom put them in her purse and made the family give them back. No shame
I must say I have never seen bad behavior like that, but I have gotten paranoid since covid. I have not been in a restaurant since the beginning of 2020 and only have drive through twice. Are we living in Cackler shitty now?
I've noticed that in some areas in life that people's behavior has moved towards a positive direction. Which I do appreciate.
Globally, people have been treating each other and everything like there is cooties for a very long period of time, with obvious reasons. People also seem more respectful towards each other's personal space too now. This is big...stupid things like this can lead to altercations.
He did say precovid... So, I would hope in these areas people's behaviors has improved. Although, I could be wrong lol. Maybe, I am more selective of where I go and who I hang out with now.
What is sad now...is that I see commonly people are depressed or exhausted with financial responsibilities. Which im pretty sure we all saw coming during all the restrictions. It seems like that a lot if people have forgotten how to enjoy life which is why I am very selective of who I spend time with...which has nothing to do with status.
Anyways...more importantly...I hope I find a good Canadian style Chinese food spot that I like lol.
Globally, people have been treating each other and everything like there is cooties for a very long period of time, with obvious reasons. People also seem more respectful towards each other's personal space too now. This is big...stupid things like this can lead to altercations.
He did say precovid... So, I would hope in these areas people's behaviors has improved. Although, I could be wrong lol. Maybe, I am more selective of where I go and who I hang out with now.
What is sad now...is that I see commonly people are depressed or exhausted with financial responsibilities. Which im pretty sure we all saw coming during all the restrictions. It seems like that a lot if people have forgotten how to enjoy life which is why I am very selective of who I spend time with...which has nothing to do with status.
Anyways...more importantly...I hope I find a good Canadian style Chinese food spot that I like lol.
It was the Midtown location. Perhaps the vast abundance of food and choices make people that may not usually go out to restaurants behave in such a way. Went to a Buffet in Vegas that had a sign up with rules about not eating in line and getting a clean plate each time ect.
