Eating out

We went for a meal at the Rivergarden Chinese Restaurant this lunchtime. We looked around and thought that maybe there is enough seating to cater for 150 people at a time and that between 12.00 and 2.15pm the restaurant is filled to capacity. We estimated that people spend on average 45 minutes over their meal which means that 450 people eat during that time. Add another 150 who fall just outside those times and that means on a weekend lunchtime they cater for 600 people. With adults paying £5.99 for their meal (let's say there are 500 adults) and children of 10 and under charged slightly less, this means they are taking over £3000, probably closer to £3,500.

The taste of the food was quite frankly disappointing. The flavours have all been "dumbed down" to suit bland English palettes and the experience was less about the experience of taste and more about the art of cramming as much in to get your money's worth. This dining experience is becoming the new MacDonalds replacement: it's convenient, you know what to expect and there's something there that the kids will enjoy. It's just that little bit more upmarket than sitting down and chomping on a Big Mac, but only just. With the cattle market feel and the pile it high tasteless food, I think Maccy D's is a suitable comparison.

The one part of the all-I-can-eat Chinese I enjoyed was the Teppanyaki. Although probably more about giving a different slant to a well known cuisine, gathering raw ingredients and having it cooked in front of you in minutes is more about the food and gives the best buzz out of everything on offer.

I'm hoping that next time, we might try the Jun Shon (floating Chinese restaurant) where we might end up spending more, but feel like we're eating food that a Chinese person might actually eat.