China Cottage

For the last 2 years, on our family birthdays we order multiple dishes from China Cottage restaurants - Centerville or Springboro locations, pickup and celebrate at our Mother's assited living. So far everyone enjoyed their meals, except for yesterday (3/3/08) when we ordered from the Centerville location. We ordered 10 dishes, plus spring rolls and steam rice. Not sure if the chef was having a bad cooking day, BUT 5 (3 spicy dishes - Chicken Lo-Mein, Combination Lo-Mein, and Mala Green Beans with Pork ... tons of red pepper, to the extent all we tasted was pepper and not the flavor of the dishes; Moo Goo Gai Pan - mushy vegetables; and Sesame chicken ... overdone!) out of 10 dishes were not cooked to normal/edible standards. Spent $103.00! Later when we got home, we called to talk to the restaurant manager. She said (1) Moo Goo Gai Pan mushy veggies were because we did not eat the dish within 20 minutes of being cooked, but 30 mins later, and since dishes are cooked at high heat, ... more

For the last 2 years, on our family birthdays we order multiple dishes from China Cottage restaurants - Centerville or Springboro locations, pickup and celebrate at our Mother's assited living. So far everyone enjoyed their meals, except for yesterday (3/3/08) when we ordered from the Centerville location. We ordered 10 dishes, plus spring rolls and steam rice. Not sure if the chef was having a bad cooking day, BUT 5 (3 spicy dishes - Chicken Lo-Mein, Combination Lo-Mein, and Mala Green Beans with Pork ... tons of red pepper, to the extent all we tasted was pepper and not the flavor of the dishes; Moo Goo Gai Pan - mushy vegetables; and Sesame chicken ... overdone!) out of 10 dishes were not cooked to normal/edible standards. Spent $103.00! Later when we got home, we called to talk to the restaurant manager. She said (1) Moo Goo Gai Pan mushy veggies were because we did not eat the dish within 20 minutes of being cooked, but 30 mins later, and since dishes are cooked at high heat, ingredients will continue to cook, hence mushy veggies! (2) Spicy dishes were prepared 4* cos we requested SPICY, and dishes were made per our request. (3) Sesame chicken, she didn't give any reason. This was after my phone call was put on hold once, and subsequently told she/manager would call back (1/2 hr later), which she did only to repeat same reasons, taking no reqponsibility for low quality of dishes! She was non-apologetic and was reluctantly going to credit us for Moo Goo Gai Pan and Sesame Chicken, but not for spicy dishes. She said "I already gave you 2, and you want more credit!". Highly doubt we will order from China cottage centerville location again!!! less