Swiss-Belhotel

[rgeczi]

Well, I went there today to ask about the pizza special that was mentioned in another thread, but alas, the deal is no longer.  So, I asked about other specials and so on and they told me about their lunch/dinner buffet.  I am going to check it out this Saturday night, and report back to this site with my thoughts.  The price 99RMB, two for one type of thing.  So, for two people, it's 99RMB.  Can't wait to check out what they have, and how good it is.  In another thread, I mentioned a place called Ding Gua Gua, where you pay 38RMB per person, and can eat what you like in a buffet setting.  So, I am thinking for 50RMB per person, Swiss Bel seems like a good deal, if the food is better than Ding Gua Gua, which I think it is.

Keep you all posted.

[rgeczi]

I haven't yet tried their buffet, but I will be going this weekend for a taste. 

I recently picked up some food from there, pizza and a club sandwich is what I bought.  I talked about their pizza in the pizza thread, so I will just talk about their club sandwich.  Was kind of disappointed.  I figured a big hotel like that would have made a better sandwich, but no.  They had some meat in there that is what children eat in China, and is really cheap, from what my wife told me.  The name of it is Huo tui chang.  What a poor choice of "meat" to put in the sandwich.  All the other toppings on it were ok.  Also came with fries, which I actually enjoyed more than the sandwich.

[rgeczi]

I just came back from a buffet dinner at the Swiss-Bel and man, was I disappointed.  Here I am thinking, a hotel like this (internationally known I believe) would be more organized in how things are run there.  Whoever is in charge of the Swiss Cafe, should have their head on a platter, as part of the buffet selection because my god, the choices to choose from were too little.  I had a better time at Ding Gua Gua (3rd floor Carrefour) than I did there.  Most of their food had MSG, which is a big no no for me.  I thought because it's from a hotel like this, that they would cater more to international tastes, which means no MSG.  I was wrong.  And at least at Ding Gua Gua, if a certain food is finished, they will replenish it with a new batch.  Not here.  Whatever is there, is there (or not).  The waitresses do next to nothing, other than just standing there pretty (which they weren't even doing a good job at that).  The poor manager, was doing everything, or at least tried to. 

I rate this place a 3/10.  Washrooms were ok, which got a point, as well as their potatoes.    Never going back there again, not even to try their other foods, the ones that are not on the buffet line.  I am too afraid to see what I might bite into.

 

[WhitDeMuerta]

Thanks for the review rgeczi. I'll be sure to avoid this place in the future.

[jazzydave]

Shame, it used to be pretty decent. And the food at the Asian kitchen downstairs wasnae bad either. How things change...

[rgeczi]

I might check out the Asian Kitchen some time down the road.  I just need time to "digest" what I went through that night.

[Aussie Mike]

There's a Cantonese restaurant on tyhe 3rd floor of the building next to the entrance at the back.  The Asian Street is on the ground floor.

I found the Cantonese to be very good and not too expensive.

The Asian Street is so-so but fairly cheap.

[rgeczi]

I will check out both places then.  What is the difference between Cantonese style foods and Hefei foods, for example?

[Aussie Mike]

Cantonese is GuangDong style, the flovours are more subtle with little oil and fat.
Hefei is usually quite spicy with lots of oil, salt and fat.

[rgeczi]

I heard that about Cantonese food.  I prefer that, to what is here.  Before coming to China, I didn't load up on oil, salt and so on as much as they do here.  So, I really want to go check out this place more than ever.