Travel Diaries Hong Kong 2006 Day 15 Evening - Buffet Number 2 | Day 15 Evening - Buffet Number 2 |
| Monday, 18 September 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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This evening myself, Clara and Grace were off for buffet number two at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Wan Chai. The Grand Hyatt is located next to the Hong Kong convention center which was built just in time for the 1997 hand-over on reclaimed land in the harbour. We took a taxi to the hotel and as we were a few minutes early we had a walk around the block to take a quick look around the convention center. As we entered the hotel it is obvious that it is a very posh hotel (I believe its 5*), as the hallway is all marble and decoration very plush. We walked up the grand staircase to the first floor where the dessert buffet was held. The area was normally a lounge in the hotel but every evening the dessert buffet is held here. We were a little early and and waiter showed us to a table and explained that our table (by the window with a good view over Hong Kong) was still occupied and we could wait until it was empty. To ge to the table we had to pass the desserts, most of which were small single portions, but there were also cakes cut ready to be eaten. Grace had already called to explain she would be late and so we sat and waited for our table and looked out at the skyline. The buffet started at 8pm and so as we looked out of the window we could see some of the light show that takes place (although without the music it was a little bit strange! After 25 minutes and after having to ask the waitress, the table we were supposed to eat at had still not been vacated. There was a man on the phone who had been told to leave, but seemed like he had decided to ignore them. This made us a unhappy at the service as the waiters seemed to ignore the fact that we had the table booked for 8pm and were happy to let the other customer continue. Eventually about 8.30pm we were shown to the table, but we couldn't help but feel annoyed at the service so far! Luckily the food was much better than the service and we tucked into plates of desserts. There was every dessert available including chocolate desserts, eclairs, profiteroles, chocolates, cakes, cheeescake, apple tarts, ice-cream cake, a chocolate fountain complete with many things to dip in it, souffles, cheese and biscuits, ice-cream and fresh fruit. All three of us ate 4 or 5 plates of the desserts, all of which were very nice! The setting for the buffet was very grand, with big plush sofas, low table and dimmed candlelight. There was also a live piano player through most of the night playing relaxing music. We eventually finished about 11pm and when we came to get the bill it appeared all the staff had disappeared. When we had been at the buffet this afternoon at Hong Kong Football Club it actually seemed like the staff cared and wanted to look after the people, here it seemed that they were not really bothered, especially by people who had only come for one meal! This was slightly off putting and would definitely make me think twice about going again in the future, for whatever reason! So if I was a restaurant reviewer I would be saying, great food, nice atmosphere, spoiled by poor service and attention to detail of the staff - not really what I expected from a 5* hotel with 5* hotel prices! Take note Grand Hyatt! After the meal, Grace went home as she has work tomorrow, and myself and Clara went for a quick look at the waterfront at the front of the Convention Center. This area is called Golden Bohemia Square and has a statue of a Golden Bohemia (a plant) that was errected on the hand-over and creation of the SAR of Hong Kong. We took a couple of pictures and took a look at the waterfront and Kowloon side in the dark. By now it was getting late and we took a taxi back home and went straight to bed. Tomorrow we are off to Lamma Island to look around one of the smaller outlying islands, that doesn't have any cars...
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