Relatively recent reviews of Nine Dragons?

[ead79]

For those of you who have eaten at Nine Dragons recently, how was it? Did you have lunch or dinner? This restaurant used to get horrible reviews (including reports of food poisoning somewhat frequently), but now it seems that more people are enjoying it. Any opinions are appreciated.

 

[ead79]

bumping up

 

[lovespugs]

I don't know what you consider recent...

DH and I ate there in December, and everything was good. We found ourselves in Epcot on a very rainy night with no PS, and decided to stop in. There was no wait - the place was almost empty (it was about 8:00). Our food was very enjoyable, but nothing special. The restaurant was beautiful inside, and the food was similar to our local Chinese restaurant (nice sit-down place, not take-out). I don't at all regret going there, but with all the other great places to eat at WDW I probably wouldn't go back.

Hope that helps!

 

[llp479]

We eat there every trip, and I'm picky about Chinese food. We were there April 1 for dinner. We learned from our server on a previous trip not to order any of the "package" meals as those are prepared in advance and in his words - "not as good". So if you order individual entrees you should be fine.

 

[ead79]

Thanks! That's a great tip about the individual entrees instead of package meals.

 

[Minniespal]

That's a fab tip about the individual entrees. Thanks very much for sharing it.

 

[Ms. WDW]

But what is a "package meal"? Is that like a combination plate or something???

 

[Alice28]

I would guess that a packages meal is a combo plate. You know, like meal A you get soup, chow mein and each person gets to choose an entree. But I wonder if he said that because it's more expensive to order individual things; therefore a bigger tip? Just the former waitress in me...and cynic..

 

[Darian]

DW and I were there last Oct (2002) during the F&WF. The place was busy and we went in because I just LOVE Chinese food. DW is not a fan of that cuisine, but she was being... flexible.

Well, the floor of the restaurant was dirty. Our table was crusted with some very old food (blackened gum and dark brown filth) and some recently deposited nastiness. Our silverware could have stood to be washed again. The noise level was very high.

While we were waiting for our food to come we spyed the food on the table next to us. It looked... well "old" and slimey. Then our "food" came. It smelled "funny." It tasted worse, almost like it was rancid or contained some spoiled ingredients. I must say it was without doubt the very cheapest, nastiest most vile chinese food I have ever had. It tasted bad when I ate it but tasted even worse when I puked it back up on the way back to the YC. I ran into the restroom just outside the international gateway to powerpuke. My apologies to the poor CM who had to clean up after me. MY poor DW got sick too.

I'm surprised the Health Department hasn't shut them down. Did I mention the service was lousy as well? Finally, I'd have to say the food was over priced.

Darian

PS We order a la cart - no combo meals.

 

[Muffy]

We had the all you can eat lunch there in Jan. It was very good and we enjoyed it. We will probably go back.

 

[Belle5]

I must say, that's--uhmm--quite an advertisement!!!!! I'm glad we canceled our ressie now!

 

[RogerB]

It just so happens that my wife and I had lunch at the Nine Dragons 2 days ago. It had been a while since our last visit, and we wanted to give it a try. The restaurant was not busy and we were seated immediately. The table and surroundings were clean and orderly. We ordered the lunch sampler for two in part to sample a wider variety of foods and in part that it looked like the most economical deal. We started with soup (wonton for me and spicy hot and sour for my DW). Next they brought us each a large bowl of steamed rice and also brought three entrées to the table. They were 1) stir-fry shrimp with cashew nuts, 2) honey sesame chicken and 3) Canton pepper beef. The food looked and smelled fresh and well prepared. We enjoyed it very much. My wife loved the honey sesame chicken, while I preferred the stir fry shrimp with cashew nuts. Our waitress was charming and she and the man that helped her stopped by several times to see if everything was OK and if we wanted anything else. We could not begin to eat everything that was served and they offered to put the rest in a box. In hindsight we probably would have done quite well sharing a regular meal. It was a very good meal and we would go back again.

 

[madcoco]

We share RogerB's sentiments. We used to steer clear of the place after bad meals in the past. Decided to give it a try in 02 again after hearing some positive comments. Ate there also in Oct. during the Food and Wine Festival last year. Have to say we didn't experience any of what Darian experienced. Thank Goodness. Last meal being there in Feb this year. We shared the lunch sampler meal both times.

 

[Darian]

madcoco-

I'm very glad to hear you and RogerB got to "miss out" on what I experienced at the 9 Dragons. The hot and sour soup tasted ok going down, but I've gotta admit the flavor was not nearly as good coming back up.

Darian

 

[madcoco]

Thanks for the touch of humor with that horrible experience.

It will be awhile before touching hot and sour soup again
I'm sure we would never be going near that place again with what you experienced.

 

[Darian]

madcoco - think of it as an added componenet of excitment when you go out to eat. DW and I do enjoy eating out frequently, and when things like our experience at the 9 dragons happen, it sort of adds a certain "extreme sports" edge to the pastime.

But seriously, sometimes mistakes are made in restaurant kitchens... a counter with raw meat isn't disinfected before salad items are chopped on it... something stays in the warming oven too long, or ingredients which are too old are used instead of thrown out. Then there are the horror stories of employee's doing vile things to a customer's food.

In any case you can't let the fear of "will this meal make me sick" control your life. You just try to exercise good judgment on where to eat and if you start feeling queasy afterward, don't be the tough guy and fight to keep it down. That is always a mistake. Puke it up at the first sign that something is wrong. That minimizes the absorbtion of poisons in the bad food into your body. Then brush your teeth, drink some mylanta so the acid doesn't damage your throat and drink lots of water to flush whats left outa your body. You'll be good to go in no time.

Darian