What a sad day. I have been coming to Chinez for years. It was definitely one of my favorite restaurants and ate there once a month. I spread the word to friends and co-workers about how great they were and now they all eat there. They’ve told their friends and so on. I’ve been out of the country on business for awhile now, but before I left.. I stopped in and ordered take out. Why, then, is it a sad day?

My first day back and what do I do? I leave work early, drive over to the restaurant .. excited to order my Pepper Steak, Hot Braised Shrimp and cream-cheese wontons. I walk in, grab a menu, see the host – always a friendly face (I thought) – and say “I have been looking forward to”...

“You owe us money”, she says .. stopping me mid-sentence. She then goes behind the counter, looks for some old receipt and tells me that I didn’t pay last time – that her husband said I owed them. I was stunned.

I’m still stunned. If I did owe them, which I doubt.. I don’t remember it. I have never owed anyone and would never THINK to walk out of some place without paying – let alone my favorite restaurant. I gave them my card, of course and.. just .. stood there .. speechless. I’m not going to go back and check to see if Chinez shows on my statement or not. If I wasn’t charged last time, it was their mistake and I’m sorry for them. I do know, though, that I did not “cheat” them out by not paying. Wow.

Talk about poor customer service. I was livid. I told her I would not be coming back, but.. I doubt they care. The funny thing is.. I was going to spend double tonight what I “owed” them; I was really missing Chinez.

I paid and walked out. I just.. I can’t believe that. “You owe us”. Wow.

Glad to see you, too. Thanks for the kind welcome home.

Are they good? Yes, of course – one of the best. It’s really a shame, then, that they put a $36 mistake on their part above loyalty. If they had been a tad more polite, maybe even acknowledged that it might not be true or that the husband goofed, I would have stayed after the old “bill” was paid for and I would have placed a $60+ order – and my girlfriend and I would have been back Saturday to order, again.

Enjoy their food, but watch your bill. I guess we’re just a transaction.