| If you read my first review of Choke Dee Dim Sum, you know the place left something to be desired. As luck would have it, I was with a group of people who wanted to eat at the Pahayothin branch. Grudgingly, I tagged along. After all, maybe one branch is better than another. I was in a group of ten people, all hungry and tired. When we sat down and began ordering, |  Choke Dee Dim Sum (Nawamin Branch) |
someone came up with the brilliant idea to separate all the bills. First mistake. One of the golden rules in Thailand; when ordering food, order as the masses order. Asking for "two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickle, onion," minus the pickle is asking for trouble. "Can not separate," said the waitress. This is not the sort of thing you say to a group of tired, hungry patrons and we saw no reason why she couldn't simply put each person's order on a separate bill.
It made no difference to me how we paid as long as everyone could agree on what to pay. The waitress called over the manager, who promptly said, "can not separate." Several people pressed her to put the orders on separate bills and she finally relented. We all placed our orders and in short time, we had our food and were happily chowing down various forms of Dim Sum. Once again, the food was average. But when you're hungry and tired average is good enough.
Several people, including myself, ordered Coke, however, Choke Dee Dim Sum only sells Est, the new Thai cola released by the former license holders of Pepsi. Both Pepsi and Coke are not on the menu. Strike 2, but okay, I'll bite. I ordered the Est. How bad could it be? Pretty bad. It's cola, sort of, but it's a poor tasting alternative to Pepsi or Coke. Perhaps Est is an acronym for Extra Shite Tasting because I set it aside and couldn't drink it. My kids and many of my friends, Thai and foreigner alike, also do not care for the taste of Est. What I really do not like though is having an alternative drink rammed down my throat. Some may think they have to drink what is available. I try to refrain from drinking sodas anyway so from now on I'll pass on the Est and opt for water.
It made no difference to me how we paid as long as everyone could agree on what to pay. The waitress called over the manager, who promptly said, "can not separate." Several people pressed her to put the orders on separate bills and she finally relented. We all placed our orders and in short time, we had our food and were happily chowing down various forms of Dim Sum. Once again, the food was average. But when you're hungry and tired average is good enough.
Several people, including myself, ordered Coke, however, Choke Dee Dim Sum only sells Est, the new Thai cola released by the former license holders of Pepsi. Both Pepsi and Coke are not on the menu. Strike 2, but okay, I'll bite. I ordered the Est. How bad could it be? Pretty bad. It's cola, sort of, but it's a poor tasting alternative to Pepsi or Coke. Perhaps Est is an acronym for Extra Shite Tasting because I set it aside and couldn't drink it. My kids and many of my friends, Thai and foreigner alike, also do not care for the taste of Est. What I really do not like though is having an alternative drink rammed down my throat. Some may think they have to drink what is available. I try to refrain from drinking sodas anyway so from now on I'll pass on the Est and opt for water.
We finished our meals, all of us feeling slightly better now that we were satiated. One by one we began asking for our bills. Lo and behold, we get one bill. I had a good idea how much I spent and offered to throw in a couple hundred baht. For whatever reason, paying one bill was unacceptable. Again the manager came over. Lovely girl but when asked, "where are our bills?" she looked at us like she was about to short-circuit.
With all ten of us standing in front of the register, she proceeded to separate the one bill into ten. It would have been far more simple to throw in a couple hundred baht each but for whatever reason, some members of the group stuck to their guns and would only pay their bill. A waste of time for sure. I waited patiently, wondering why eating a cheap meal needed to be so complicated, until I was finally presented with my bill. The manager apologized profusely, laughing and smiling in an effort to diffuse the situation. I paid my 240 baht bill, laughing as well.
The food at Choke Dee Dim Sum Pahayothin branch was no better and no worse than at the Nawamin branch. Neither was the service but at least the staff attempted to be pleasant.
So there'll be no change in the rating and if I were in the mood to dine at a Dim Sum restaurant, Choke Dee Dim Sum would still be last on my list of restaurants to consider. I would much rather travel to Shangri-la restaurant on Yaowarat Road or find a new, untried restaurant. The service at Shangri-la is better, the food is better, and the prices are every bit as reasonable as Choke Dee Dim Sum's.
Once again, I am unimpressed and uninspired by Choke Dee Dim Sum.
Choke Dee Dim Sum (Pahayothin Branch)
Located in front of BTS Ari
Tel.: 02.619.5224-5
With all ten of us standing in front of the register, she proceeded to separate the one bill into ten. It would have been far more simple to throw in a couple hundred baht each but for whatever reason, some members of the group stuck to their guns and would only pay their bill. A waste of time for sure. I waited patiently, wondering why eating a cheap meal needed to be so complicated, until I was finally presented with my bill. The manager apologized profusely, laughing and smiling in an effort to diffuse the situation. I paid my 240 baht bill, laughing as well.
The food at Choke Dee Dim Sum Pahayothin branch was no better and no worse than at the Nawamin branch. Neither was the service but at least the staff attempted to be pleasant.
So there'll be no change in the rating and if I were in the mood to dine at a Dim Sum restaurant, Choke Dee Dim Sum would still be last on my list of restaurants to consider. I would much rather travel to Shangri-la restaurant on Yaowarat Road or find a new, untried restaurant. The service at Shangri-la is better, the food is better, and the prices are every bit as reasonable as Choke Dee Dim Sum's.
Once again, I am unimpressed and uninspired by Choke Dee Dim Sum.
Choke Dee Dim Sum (Pahayothin Branch)
Located in front of BTS Ari
Tel.: 02.619.5224-5
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