Gpanda

Beth and I and Bob and Karen had dinner at the China House on November 30, 2006. We had read many rave reviews and were excited about eating there and sampling the Peking Duck. Unfortunately, it was only so-so. The restaurant had undergone a renovation. The outside was interesting, but thye inside was broken up into small rooms, like a rabbit warren. We were seated in a room designed to resemble an Opium parlor. It was very cramped. Our table was in the middle of the room. There were booths lining one side. They were so close that Karen's chair was 7 inches from another table. Nooone was seated their, but it was very confining. They served Beth, Karen and I from one side and then had to go out of the room, walk around and enter from another doorway to serve Bob. Very peculiar.

The strange set-up would have been acceptable, if the food had been outstanding. It was not. It was solid, but nothing to write home about (of course, this does not prevent writing on Fodors about it.) We had the Duck, skin first in pancake and then the duck in a separate sauce. there were 5 choices of sauce. The skin pancakes were good, but not extraordinary. The duck meat was fine, but not super.

Several other dishes were again fine. A strange thing was that they did not serve any of the dishes with rice. They also did not inquire whether we would like rice with our food.

The bill was abou 5000 Baht. We were disappointed. We had a much better meal at Harmonique for 1/6 the price. It was definitely not memorable.

Kathie

Sorry your duck was only so-so, Gpanda.

I agree that the renovation is very strange and not at all practical. I forgot to mention in my review that the aisles are so narrow that the trolley they used for carving the duck won't fir through the aisles. Thus, they used a make-shift table and after they carved our duck, someone had to come out and mop up the floor!

mjs

We too ate there last week. I did not mind the decor or music although it kind of reminded me of a 1930's take on a chinese restaurant. The food including the peking duck was alright but I have had better in other restaurants. Expensive for quality in Bangkok. Service was also quite spotty as we seemed to wait for ages after our meal for the check. On the other hand they did escort us to their boat for a return to the ROS.

terryr

All of your feedback is really disappointing about the "new" China House! This was not our experience at all last December, 2005, when we were there during Christmas week. The food, including their Peking duck, was outstanding, which I wrote about in my report on BKK, as well as their exceptional service and wonderful ambience. That evening was one of the dining highlights of our trip in SEA, and I have been looking forward to returning there someday.

Has it been taken over by new ownership? Another comment: the architectural design of the small spaces and rooms is a wonderment to me...why?? The restaurant had smaller dining spaces before, but it sounds like their design efforts have not been an improvement for both guests and staff alike. If anything, the new spacing has caused a negative distraction to the overall experience. How unfortunate.

Terry

Craig

Well, I'm certainly having my doubts - please someone convince me otherwise. Our Peking duck meal in February of this year was most memorable.

dperry

Thanks to you, Gpanda and Kathie for your recent posts on China House. This was on my 'list' for my BKK visit next month, but now it's off.
It certainly sounds like things were better there before the renovations!
Oh well.

Kathie

We were at China House just two days after it re-opened. Our Peking Duck was still excellent, the service was good (remember, you have to ask for your check in SE Asia, as it considered rude to present the check before you ask for it). The remodel is weird. If there are just two of you, you'll likely be seated in the booths which are fine (if a little odd beacuse of all the mirors).

China House is still part of the Oriental Hotel, but with this remdoel, I think the have lost their way.
Nonetheless, if you love Peking Duck, I'd encourage you to go. I think (hope) some of the kinks will be worked out in a few months. I'll be interested to see what people have to say as time goes on. I expect the Oriental is getting lots of feedback about the "new" China House!

mjs

I do not mean to imply that the food was bad. I would probably rate it a 7 to 8 out of 10. Service was definitely quite uneven. There were few people in the restaurant when we ate and I do not think we saw a waitress for 15 to 20 minutes after we finished eating and after we did find someone it still took another 10 minutes to get our bill.

lovesadventure

We didn't make it to China House, and now I am less disappointed. The exterior of the building is intriguing though, it's unfortunate the minimalist approach wasn't carried out inside also.

We ended up having Peking Duck at the Chinese Restaurant (actually called Chinese Restaurant) at the Grand Hyatt Erawan. They did not leave enough fat on the skin for me, but the it was crisp to perfection. The quality of the restaurant's food and service were excellent. Among the other specialties were suckling pig, abalone and shark fin soup.

Perhaps worth a try to those looking for Peking Duck in Bangkok.

Gpanda

I agree with mjs that the food was 7-8 on a 10 scale. The disappointment came about because we were expecting a 9 1/2-10. There are so many very good restaurants in BKK that there is no reason to spend so much for a 7-8 meal. The food at both Harmonique and the Gallery Cafe was significantly better. I would not be surprised if they remodeled again next year. It's hard to imagine the Oriental Hotel would put up with an ordinary restaurant.

Peteralan

So glad we went a week or so before it closed for renovations. I must admit I thought at the time " Why do they need to renovate?" Perhaps a new chef came with the renovations?

Kathie

Peter, yes, they did import a new chef and an executive chef (one from SIngapore, one from Hong Kong). I hope the Oriental is reading this...

Gpanda

Kathie-unless I am once again mistaken, the clientele of the Oriental will not keep their feelings about China House a secret from the management. They're probably not shy. It will be interesting to read Gloria's opinion about CH.

Kathie

Andy, I very much agree with you.

Bring back the old China House!!

Gpanda

Have others had the same strange experience with the lack of rice? Or did they just decide to wierd out on Bob and me? Every time I reflect on the meal (nice life I have where I repeatedly reflect on past mediocre meals, eh?), it seems more and more peculiar.

BillT

When we were in BKK we looked at the China House but it seemed too expensive and some of the previous posts validates our decision.

laurieco

This news about the China House is most disappointing. I have been there on five different trips to Bangkok over the last 12 years and the food has always been outstanding. It was also fairly inexpensive with the strong dollar but this past June, the dollar wasn't very strong and the restaurant did raise their prices. The food however was still outstanding.

Another thing I loved about the China House was it's very elegant atmosphere. It sounds like it's turned into a tawdry den. I hope I'm wrong but I'm not feeling good about this.

Andy, rice does not come with anything. If you want rice, you need to ask for it. The staff usually will not ask you, assuming if you want it, you'll let them know.

Kathie

Laurie, when are you next in Bangkok? I'd like to hear your reaction to the changed China House.

Guenmai

Now I'm curious about China House. Maybe I'll make the across-town trek to try it out. Happy Travels!

Gpanda

Guenmai-if I had written the usual glowing review, would your curiousity have arisen? I would really like to know what you think of the CH. Your insights always help clarify.