Reviews

• 

  Best Lobster in Town, Floppy Service

  Pips | Mar 1 2011

  This was a birthday dinner I've planned a week ahead. The accommodating hostess kindly read the dessert menu (with descriptions no less) so I could choose an item for them to prepare special "birthday touches" (i.e. candle, etc.) on it in advance. Everything seemed to be perfect, what with the live easy listening music, exquisite lobster bisque, and scrumptious Boston lobster a la thermidor that was fit to bring back fond East Coast memories. However, that was when everything went downhill. We ordered the Sable fish dish, which never came. Instead, our bread basket was taken away without a word and a dessert menu was thrust into our hands. We curiously inquired about our second main dish, to be met with panicky reception and a menu in our faces asking what exactly we thought we had ordered. We pointed to and verbally repeated the order about 3 times to the waitress' satisfaction. We were keen on maintaining our good mood, therefore we instigated that we were happy to wait for the Sable fish. We waited, and waited. Finally, a big plate with a pinch of salad was put in front of us, followed by a tin of fries, and ultimately a small basket of fried fish. That didn't look like the pan seared Sable fish with olives and almonds...? We pondered and asked the hostess if we had in fact gotten someone else's order by mistake. She went to get the menu and came back asking us to point to our order (again), and disappeared to find who presumably was a manager. Meanwhile, the original waitress, who has been serving us all along (and who missed our first order then subsequently messed up our re-order), was nowhere to be found. A manager (presumed) came out and launched into a huge Cantonese rant (we had been speaking English throughout the entire evening to everyone serving us) about how we should just eat the damn thing in front of us now because the order was messed up (again) and it would take another 20-30 minutes to change the order. Deflated, we gave in and ate the fish & chips. The fish tasted unfitting for frying, and had big bones embedded in the fillet. Now, we have had quite a few fish & chips thus far, and this dish ranked really low (if not lowest). Dejected, we mustered up whatever enthusiasm we had left ("at least the lobster was delicious, right?") and looked forward to desserts. I was excited about the birthday pre-arrangements and was delighted to see that the live band was singing "happy birthday" renditions to two other tables during the course of our meal. All excitement faded as we were presented (again) with the dessert menu by our original waitress, who did not acknowledge her repeated mistakes and pretended as if nothing had happened. At that point, I had lost all hope that the restaurant remembers our birthday pre-arrangements. Sure enough, the birthday dessert did not come. We are never tough customers, but we'd never expect all this mess from Shangri-La. I especially chose this place over other hotels thinking that you could do no wrong with the kind of service Shangri-La offers, but alas, I learned my lesson. Hopefully, the hotel will brush up on their staff training and eliminate the bad flight attendant-esque service.

  • How much did you spend?
    1,500
  • Overall Rating
    OK
  • Food 6
  • Service 2
  • Ambiance 9
  • Price 1

• 

  Best Lobster in Town, Floppy Service

  Pips | Mar 1 2011

  This was a birthday dinner I've planned a week ahead. The accommodating hostess kindly read the dessert menu (with descriptions no less) so I could choose an item for them to prepare special "birthday touches" (i.e. candle, etc.) on it in advance. Everything seemed to be perfect, what with the live easy listening music, exquisite lobster bisque, and scrumptious Boston lobster a la thermidor that was fit to bring back fond East Coast memories. However, that was when everything went downhill. We ordered the Sable fish dish, which never came. Instead, our bread basket was taken away without a word and a dessert menu was thrust into our hands. We curiously inquired about our second main dish, to be met with panicky reception and a menu in our faces asking what exactly we thought we had ordered. We pointed to and verbally repeated the order about 3 times to the waitress' satisfaction. We were keen on maintaining our good mood, therefore we instigated that we were happy to wait for the Sable fish. We waited, and waited. Finally, a big plate with a pinch of salad was put in front of us, followed by a tin of fries, and ultimately a small basket of fried fish. That didn't look like the pan seared Sable fish with olives and almonds...? We pondered and asked the hostess if we had in fact gotten someone else's order by mistake. She went to get the menu and came back asking us to point to our order (again), and disappeared to find who presumably was a manager. Meanwhile, the original waitress, who has been serving us all along (and who missed our first order then subsequently messed up our re-order), was nowhere to be found. A manager (presumed) came out and launched into a huge Cantonese rant (we had been speaking English throughout the entire evening to everyone serving us) about how we should just eat the damn thing in front of us now because the order was messed up (again) and it would take another 20-30 minutes to change the order. Deflated, we gave in and ate the fish & chips. The fish tasted unfitting for frying, and had big bones embedded in the fillet. Now, we have had quite a few fish & chips thus far, and this dish ranked really low (if not lowest). Dejected, we mustered up whatever enthusiasm we had left ("at least the lobster was delicious, right?") and looked forward to desserts. I was excited about the birthday pre-arrangements and was delighted to see that the live band was singing "happy birthday" renditions to two other tables during the course of our meal. All excitement faded as we were presented (again) with the dessert menu by our original waitress, who did not acknowledge her repeated mistakes and pretended as if nothing had happened. At that point, I had lost all hope that the restaurant remembers our birthday pre-arrangements. Sure enough, the birthday dessert did not come. We are never tough customers, but we'd never expect all this mess from Shangri-La. I especially chose this place over other hotels thinking that you could do no wrong with the kind of service Shangri-La offers, but alas, I learned my lesson. Hopefully, the hotel will brush up on their staff training and eliminate the bad flight attendant-esque service styles.

  • How much did you spend?
    >1,500
  • Overall Rating
    OK
  • Food 8
  • Service 3
  • Ambiance 9
  • Price 1

• 

  Lobster at Lobster Bar

  KK Sims | Oct 13 2010

  Fantastic lobster bisque with chunks of lobster swimming in a thick, creamy soup. Tasty lobster ravioli and really good grilled lobster. Naturally, it is expensive but the waiters are nice and accommodating, making this a pleasant meal.

  • How much did you spend?
    1000
  • Overall Rating
    Good
  • Food 8
  • Service 9
  • Ambiance 8
  • Price 5

• 

  Fantastic mojitos

  Heatblast | Aug 14 2010

  No, I did not come here for the lobsters.
  
  After the end of a week, during which I felt very much trampled upon at work, I longed for some quite solace in a world that I would not normally be in. So I headed to the Lobster Bar, which is a stone's throw from my office in Central. I found the perfect end to my otherwise disastrous week.
  
  Simply having some quiet time to read a book, and nurse a few delicious and perfectly concocted mojitos was precious. As I munched on some very flavoursome crisps, this place made me relax and drift far away from the bustles of the week, and prepared me for the weekend.
  
  The service was typical Shangri-La, discrete, soft-spoken and dignified.
  
  Wonderful, I will be back.

  • How much did you spend?
    200
  • Overall Rating
    Good
  • Food 9
  • Service 9
  • Ambiance 10
  • Price 3

• 

  Lobsters,lobsters,lobsters

  Seb | Oct 6 2009

  This is the place to get a "lobster overdose", with a great lobster bisque, and fantastic poached lobsters.

  • How much did you spend?
    800
  • Food 9
  • Service 9
  • Ambiance 9
  • Price 5

• 

  delicious seafood

  Tim | Sep 3 2009

  Lobster Bar serves some very impressive seafood. The decor is comfy, and I love the live music at night. Great for a night cap at the bar as well!

  • How much did you spend?
    900
  • Food 9
  • Service 8
  • Ambiance 10
  • Price 5

• 

  lobster galore!

  Andrew L | Aug 12 2009

  Great food, but very expensive.
  Like the band and the bar area too.
  • Food 8
  • Service 8
  • Ambiance 8
  • Price 5