My Zhiweiguan (Hangzhou) RANT: Service is a Dumpster Fire!
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I'm here to remind my friends who are planning a trip to Hangzhou!
- I saw someone recommend Hangzhou's breakfast on Xiaohongshu (a social media app in China where users share information about life, similar to Instagram plus Yelp) and chose the "Zhi Wei Guan" restaurant nearby my hotel near the famous West Lake scenic spot.
- The result... oh, the attitude of the service staff is truly hard to describe. They look like they are upset with you as if you owe them money. We come to pay for our meal, not to endure their poor attitudes, which just leaves us quite speechless.
Travel Warning & Tips: (if you still want to visit this place or encounter similar situations)
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Challenges in ordering:
- At that time, when I was still looking at the menu and hesitating over what to eat, the order-takers appeared impatient.
- What to do: If the restaurant has a QR code for ordering (which is very common in China - you can scan the code to see the menu and place an order), it is strongly recommended to use it! This will reduce communication with the staff. If you must order manually, make sure you already know exactly what you're going to order, or use a translation app to point out the items.
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Getting additional items (such as an extra bowl or hot water):
- All I asked for was an extra bowl and some hot water (providing free hot water is common practice in Chinese restaurants). However, the nearby server looked equally grumpy when answering me.
- What to do: Actually, I didn't intend to ask the staff to help me with this. Just inquire about the location and then take care of it myself. If you also need something, just directly ask, "Excuse me, where could I find the extra bowl/hot water? I'll get it myself." It may yield better results.
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Be prepared for bad service quality:
- I understand that many fast-food restaurants have self-service options (which suits my style, so I was ok with it). But the lack of patience is really disappointing even to basic inquiries.
- Some reviews compare this restaurant's service with KFC or McDonald's. In fact, I agree with them. At KFC or McDonald's, even if you want a glove or straw, staff usually greet it with enthusiasm.
In summary, I hope my friends visiting Hangzhou will avoid this restaurant (or at least this particular branch) so those unpleasant experiences won't dampen their cheerful travel mood!
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These bite-sized pastries are 10 RMB each.
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What a rip-off!
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My living allowance hasn't increased a bit, and I haven't exactly been trying harder, so no point reflecting on it.
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As a Hangzhou local, let me tell you, Zhiweiguan basically has no service. Ever since I was a kid, you'd order, pick up your food yourself, eat, and leave. Zhiweiguan is indeed pricey. Hangzhou locals used to eat there because many had cards – I think it was company subsidies or something, can't recall, it was so long ago. For breakfast, I'd still recommend Xinfeng.
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If she goes to Xinfeng, she'll probably find the service even worse. When I was a kid, Xinfeng's 'specialty' service was an auntie sweeping the floor and wiping tables right next to you while you were eating your xiaolongbao.
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What service are you expecting at Zhiweiguan? Would you demand table service at McDonald's? It's a fast-food type place where you carry your own tray, you know.
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? It's just plain bad attitude, can't you understand? I bought a big bag of 20 tiaotou gao. Then I asked for dingsheng gao, and she said they didn't have any. I then asked about fang gao, and she just gave me a sidelong glance without saying a word (implying they didn't have those either). The bag she gave me didn't even have proper handles to grip. She rolled her eyes, snapped 'That's it,' and kept a stony face. The young lady behind me was a tourist. Whatever she asked, the staff member just stared at her fiercely with a stony, impatient face, saying nothing. I even tried to smooth things over with the tourist for the staff member's sake, just so Hangzhou wouldn't get a bad reputation. Seriously, did I come here to spend money just to put up with her sour face?!?
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I prefer Xinfeng, mainly for their big baozi (steamed buns).
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Shrimp wontons. Shrimp xiaolongbao.
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Did you perhaps go to a branch? Many Zhiweiguan branches are franchises. Their snacks are often frozen, semi-finished products, not freshly made, and the service quality varies wildly. A directly-operated store would be a bit better. It's best to go to the main store.
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This should be the main store.
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What service at Zhiweiguan? The staff are basically just there to clear away the rubbish; you have to get everything else yourself.
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Zhiweiguan has really gone downhill. Not only is the service terrible, but the food isn't as good as it used to be. Many of us locals stopped going there a long time ago...
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They make customers pack their own leftovers?!?
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Both Zhiweiguan and Xinfeng have bad attitudes. I've been eating at Xinfeng since I was a kid, and I've argued with them several times. Maybe I'm just too fierce, hahaha. So if their attitude is bad, mine is too.