Sweet Mandarin

Went for a friend's birthday celebration. We were approx a table of twelve and the cute owner went all out to make sure we had a great night.

Lots of choice on the menu. We did the whole 'have a bit of everyones' thing and I have to say the majority of the dishes were gorgeous. Best Chinese food I have had - not at all greasy. The only dish that let me down was my own chicken satay. I could barely taste the peanut and the sauce was quite watery to which all my friends agreed.

Still, the atmosphere was great. Fashionable clientele, we were sat next to that moody guy off Waterloo Road who eventually did a pic with us.

They brought out a massive homemade chocolate cake for us at the end of our feast. Very attentive! I have tried to return once since but they were fully booked with a lengthy waiting list so I suggest getting in early!
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Lulu Drinkwater
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, February 22, 2010

Went to Sweet Mandarin with my boyfriend yesterday and loved it. They made us feel very welcome and the ambience is romantic. Given that I am gluten intolerant the staff were very accomodating and knowledgable about the ingredients used in the dishes and were very helpful in assisting me with my menu choices. I ordered the Hunan Beef and my boyfriend ordered the Mabel's Claypot Chicken. The food was tasty and fresh. Had a bottle of Pino Grigio to go with the meal which was perfect. This is a place that I will go back to again and again - I've found my new regular haunt.
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Miriam and Jed
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, January 29, 2010

I heard about Sweet Mandarin from the F Word so booked in with a party of 8 to celebrate a friend's birthday and from the booking process to the end of the dinner, I thought the service was efficient and friendly.

Our party had a really really great evening and personally, it was the best Chinese I have ever tasted. We opted for the banquet - the Hot Plate Manchurian Fillet of Beef was exceptional. The aromatic crispy duck was delicious and it was great that they kept bring extra pancakes for us. The food was fresh and full of flavour.

At the end, they even surprised the birthday girl with a cake! The service, food and ambience was superb and I would highly recommend this place.
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Mrs J. Sanderson
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, January 22, 2010

I too went here to celebrate my birthday on Sunday, what a disaster!!!

Where do i start...There were napkins wrapped round table legs to keep them steady, food all over the floor which i actually stood in and was not impressed to see it had stained my brand new shoes.

Next the waiter comes over asks what drinks we would like i advised i wanted more time to look at wine list to which i got the response of "i want to take your drink order" After 3 times of me telling him i wasn't ready he decided to take my partners drink order and leave me without a drink.

Then we ordered several starters and 2 mains, the food came out and it was ridiculous for the amount of money we were going to pay for it. Small portions is an understatement.

THEN...the icing on the cake was when the waitress came over to clear away the starters which she almost dropped all over me and removed our dirty cutlery from our plates and placed them back in front of us to use for the main course. OMG never been so shocked in my life. Ive ate in some of the best restaurants and believe me some of the worst but never have i had dirty cutlery put in front of me to use for the next course.

When asked for fresh cutlery we were given daggers as someone else has mentioned.

The food itself was not the best and i have had better from local takeaways for a quarter of the price.

We asked for the bill, (this was the only time we seen any of them smile) and hover around waiting to be tipped, we didnt tip if you hadnt already guessed lol.

As we left the waiter threw the wallet with the bill in onto the bar as if to say no tip!! what do they expect!!

Extremely over rated, never EVER will i return to this restaurant, i dont know what Gordon Ramsey seen in this restaurant but judging by the other reviews it is not only us who have had a bad experience.
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Natalie
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, January 19, 2010

After visiting this restaurant on sturday for a mates birthday i was told that it would be a good place to go good food and service.....IT WAS AWFUL i found the service slow and the food was takeaway quality at best which wasnt very good.

I think its surviving on its F word reputation but believe me folks i wouldnt bother .

It was also expensive for what you got and the service was slow and inconsistant

11 people were at that meal and we all agreed it was dire.

SAVE YOUR MONEY AND TIME FOLKS!!!!
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WAYNE
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, January 18, 2010

The food here was horrible. We ordering aromatic peking duck and a couple of their "specialities". The food was bland and tasteless with most of it getting cold by the time it reached the table. The standard of the food was really bad and I am so surprised that Sweet Mandarin managed the win Gordon Ramsay's prize for best local chinese restaurant in the UK.

Never going back there again.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Sunday, January 17, 2010

Took my son and his wife to Sweet Mandarin and we had a lovely meal. Service and food was excellent. I will be back. The service was friendly and warm. The food was just delicious.
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P.Watson - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, December 28, 2009

As we were down visting Manchester we booked for lunch after seeing the F Word. The food was the best we have ever tasted - a feast for both the eye and palate. I really thought the salt and pepper ribs were delicious and the best i've ever tasted. I'll be back to sample more from the menu.
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Mr Thompson
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, December 28, 2009

Oh dear..... wish i had read the reviews BEFORE we made an on the spur of moment to visit this by now well known establishment. The restaurant was cold inside and the toilets were "poor".

A big problem was the fact that our food went cold very quickly - they were surprised that i had asked for some "hot" bowls to have our food served in. When these arrived they were only tepid and i have to say that this must be the only chinese restaurant that i have eaten in that does not use hot plates for the food.

We had to ask for chop sticks and out overall opinion of the special dish called "Claypot" was it that was bland.

Finally i have to agree with a previous reviewer that the prices were extortionate for the size of the portions served. My daughter goes to Manchester Uni & has taken me to several establishments in Chinatown which provide far better value for money!
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Chris Cox
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Sunday, December 13, 2009

Descent enough food, but extortionately priced. 4 soups, 2 spring rolls, prawn crackers (they charge for these!) 6 mains (no Fillet, Lobster or King prawn, the usual beef in something, chicken in something different), some rice (also some more rice as there wasn't enough) 2 coffee's and 2 banana fritters, and a house red. £143. Also poor service, the waitress spilled some sauce on a jacket as she carried our plates away, she offered little in the way of an apology, let alone a clumsy waitress discount. The question " Could I have some more sugar for my coffee?" was met with DAGGERS, and, eventually, some sugar, which I no doubt paid for.

Like someone else said before, go to china town, the same food could be found at half the price. Looks like another taste of "northern quarter" tax.
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Rob
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Monday, September 21, 2009