Mandarin
| Address: | 296 Salem St, Reading, MA 01867, USA |
| Phone: | +1 781-942-8200 |
| Site: | mandarinreading.com |
| Rating: | 4.1 |
| Working: | 11:30AM–9:45PM 11:30AM–9:45PM 11:30AM–9:45PM 11:30AM–9:45PM 11:30AM–10:45PM 11:30AM–10:45PM 11:30AM–9:45PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 9
A
A Private User
Yes, the food was great, but we wanted to order off the menu because the buffet price was $13 per child and $18 per adult. We didnt want to spend $13 for our 3 children and $18 for ourselves ($75 for the buffet with no leftovers and the kids ages are 5, 7 and 9, and after you order 3 sodas for the kids at $2 a piece, I was a bit disgusted, but it doesnt stop there). So they will charge you $13 for a five year old child. Thats down right wrong. So when I asked for a menu, they refused me twice trying to demand me to order the buffet. After I started getting louder, they finally gave me the menu. We should have gotten up and left right then! So because we did not order the buffet, they belittled us. The waiter had to physically point us out to the manager that we were the table that was not getting the buffet. I felt 1 inch tall. My wife and I agreed that it was the worst dining-out experience we have ever had. We felt like we were the cheapest people on earth and we could feel the tension that was coming from our waiter because they have to explain why we refused the buffet to the manager. It felt like we were eating in a dictatorship restaurant. We have never, ever felt this vibe before. I know the waiters are forced to make people order the buffet. We were nickeled and dimed over everything including paying for a tiny cup of tea for our daughter after that. To summarize, the food tasted great, but after feeling like a cheap customer, while the staff stairs you down telling you the extra price of every little thing. We will NEVER go there again after that demeaning display. There are so many other great Chinese restaurants that I would much rather give my business to, than them. Try the Royal Dynasty in Wilmington (Rte 129, off of Rte 93). The atmosphere may not be as fancy, but thats because they put their effort into serving delicious, large portions of food at a great price instead of trying to force everyone that goes there to order the most expensive menu item to increase their bottom line.
KI
kim ba
Some ot the dishes are good, others are not so good for the money. I live very close by and have frequented this restaurant often over the past few years. Inconsistent ......the wait staff are so greedy about receiving their tips, they hover over you at the end of your meal, but can not be found at the beginning. I thought I found a good restaurant and was very excited at first, but more bad experiences here than good. The ambiance of the reconstruction is the best part. The rest is just so so. I will stay with ordering from the neighborhood hole in wall take out place......they are always friendly and polite and appreciate the business we give them. They are also a lot less expensive which is a bonus. Mandarin needs to improve their customer service big time!!!!!
A
A Private User
I used to go every Friday evening when my husband was traveling. I would always sit at the sushi bar and order the "chefs special" for sushi. Im not picky about sushi, so I was able to try so many new items I would have never known to order. The first time I took my husband he was so impressed he decided when would have Sushi Sundays. Well that lasted until football season started :). We we take guests we will give the chef a $ amount each person wants to spend so the bill doesnt surprise anyone. We have also had dinners from the kitchen that were plentiful and very good, but we tend to just go out for sushi. We love Mandarin Reading and we hope you will too! Staff is very friendly and always knows what I am going to have to drink. (Maybe we go too often!) Autumn H.
A
A Private User
I like the Mandarin Restaurants buffet better than any other I have tried. There are many choices from the traditional buffet as well as a good selection of sushi. Their prices may be a bit higher than other Chinese buffets but the quality is better. I have been there when it has been very busy and the kitchen always seems to manage to keep up with the crowd. When selections get low they replenish them very quickly. The wait staff has always been efficient and pleasant also. They have recently remodeled and updated their space and it is very nice. The only drawback that I would mention is that their parking lot is very small and often full. A lot across the street has signs warning patrons not to use their space, but Ive never known of any problems.
A
A Private User
I ate here last night and had a very good dinner. I tried their special Companion Shrimp, Chow Foon Noodles, and Crab Rangoon. The tomato-based sauce on the Companion Shrimp was very delicious. I really like wide rice noodles, the kind common in many Thai dishes, and the Chow Foon hit the spot. The Crab Rangoon appetizer had a unique sweet sauce that paired with the light and tasty cheese pastries very well. I also had a glass of Pinot Grigio for $7.50, that was good. I think Mandarin Reading is a great restaurant for when you are hankerin' for some classic American Chinese food. Nothing blew me away, but everything I ate was good or very good so I recommend it.
A
A Private User
I used to visit Mandarin almost every time I would shop in REI across the street and learned to anticipate the treat. Unfortunately, about a year ago I happened to have an experience absolutely contrary to the usual expectations. Starting with dirty utensil, salad that looked and tasted stale, the main course (fish) was not cooked through, even the hot tea was not hot. Well, they did not get me sick, and the prior experience was all but stellar, so I am giving it three stars. But I was so shocked I have not set foot in that place since. I do hope your experience will be different, and more on par with what I used to see from this restaurant.
A
A Private User
THE STAFF AT THIS RESTAURANT WERE RUDE AND DISCRIMINATORY, THE WAITER WHEN ASKED FOR SOME WATER SPILLED THE WATER FROM PITCHER ONTO THE TABLE AND MY HUSBANDS LAP, NEVER ONCE APOLOGIZING LET ALONE OFFERING TO WIPE IT UP, I HAD TO DO IT!! WHEN WE WERE GETTING UP TO LEAVE THE WAITER RUSHED SHOVING AND PUSHING US TO THE TABLE OPENED UP THE BILL PAD AND PROCEEDED TO COUNT THE MONEY DISTRUSTING THAT THE FULL $149.00 WAS PAID, DID THIS HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COLOR OR OUR SKIN, YES!!! WOULDNT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE OF COLOR!! ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO SPEND YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY.. by Mary B.
SE
Sean Je Luo
Having eaten at Mandarin Reading since I was a child it has been a while since I paid the restaurant a visit. However it appears as of recently that the restaurant has focused more on decor than the quality of their food. It certainly is much cleaner than several years ago, but the food has remained average. The standard buffet fare is okay, though the sushi is on the stale side and falls apart easily. I suppose they save the better stuff for the dinner fare. The waitstaff was generally amiable and it helps if you know Cantonese and/or Mandarin. Worth a try.
JA
Javier Noguchi
Very customer focused staff, from the manager, to the waiters, and the bartenders. Their specialty is meats (beef dishes). We had the steamed mussels with wine and garlic, and the angus steak tips entrée. Both were delicious and elegantly served. Their coffee martinis were awesome. They had live entertainment on Friday. Ill definitely go back.
