Taishan Cuisine

Located at 781 Broadway in San Francisco, Taishan Cuisine operates as an Asian restaurant that is categorized as a Chinese restaurant. Based on recent customer reviews, the restaurant's primary positive attribute appears to be its late operating hours. However, several significant concerns have been raised regarding the quality of the food, the service and pricing practices, and the overall ambiance of the establishment. This introduction aims to provide an objective overview of Taishan Cuisine based on the experiences shared by recent patrons.

The environment at Taishan Cuisine is described by one reviewer as "old and dirty," which significantly detracts from the dining experience. This negative assessment of the ambiance suggests that the cleanliness and upkeep of the restaurant may be below acceptable standards. Another reviewer also mentioned that the "hygiene condition is worth improving," further reinforcing concerns about the restaurant's cleanliness. For local users prioritizing a clean and pleasant dining environment, these comments indicate potential issues at Taishan Cuisine.

The services and pricing practices at Taishan Cuisine have been a major point of criticism in the reviews. One of the most significant concerns raised is the practice of automatically adding tips to the bill without notice, which is considered unethical and deceptive, especially given that tipping is voluntary in California. Furthermore, this automatic tip calculation reportedly includes takeout items, which customers argue is unfair as tipping is typically intended for service provided at the table, not for to-go orders. Adding to this, the restaurant allegedly still prints suggested tip amounts on the bill, potentially pressuring customers to pay even more on top of the already automatically added gratuity. This pricing practice has been described as the "worst part" of the experience by one reviewer, who deemed it "rude" and a "sneaky tipping practice."

The quality of the food at Taishan Cuisine has also been a subject of disappointment for several customers. One reviewer provided a detailed critique of multiple dishes: the claypot rice was noted to be missing its signature crispy bottom layer, a crucial element of this dish. The beef bone soup, priced at a substantial $24.95, was described as plain broth with ginger and lotus root, deemed not worth the cost. The "Five Flavor Goose" was revealed to be a sweet-and-sour goose, which was considered too sweet and not a proper Hong Kong-style roast goose that the reviewer would have preferred. Lastly, the clams were described as being excessively salty and "completely overwhelming." This detailed feedback suggests significant issues with the preparation and flavor profiles of several key menu items.

Another reviewer echoed some of these sentiments, noting that the "yellow eel rice is great," providing a single point of praise for the food. However, this positive comment was overshadowed by negative feedback on other dishes. The "pork feet rice" was described as "poorly cooked," and other ordered items, including the "five-spice goose" and a vegetable dish, were rated as just "OK," indicating mediocrity rather than satisfaction. This mixed feedback, with more negative than positive comments, raises concerns about the overall consistency and quality of the food at Taishan Cuisine.

The fact that one reviewer stated, "if you’re craving late-night food, you’d be better off getting a bowl of pho or ramen elsewhere," suggests that even the restaurant's primary advantage of being open late is not enough to compensate for the perceived shortcomings in food quality and service. This strong recommendation to seek alternatives highlights the level of dissatisfaction experienced by at least one patron.

Currently, there is no promotional information available for Taishan Cuisine in the provided text. Given the negative feedback regarding service and pricing practices, it is unclear whether any promotions would outweigh these concerns for potential customers. Local users considering dining at Taishan Cuisine may want to inquire about their tipping policy and verify the quality of specific dishes before placing an order.

In conclusion, while Taishan Cuisine in San Francisco offers the convenience of late-night service, recent customer reviews raise significant red flags regarding the restaurant's food quality, service, and ambiance. Multiple dishes have been criticized for lacking key characteristics, being poorly prepared, or having undesirable flavor profiles. The practice of automatically adding tips to the bill, including takeout orders, has been described as unethical and deceptive. Furthermore, the restaurant's environment has been labeled as old and dirty, with concerns raised about hygiene. Based on this objective analysis of recent customer feedback, local users may want to exercise caution and consider alternative dining options, especially if prioritizing quality food, transparent pricing, and a clean dining environment.