Was excellent but now has become just GOOD. Review on Mainland China, Ballygunge, Kolkata

First let me confess that I am a big fan of Specialty chain of restaurants and a great admirer of how Mr. Anjan Chatterjee has revolutionized Indian middle & upper middle-class dining. I also admire the fact that he left his job and started off with a single restaurant in Mumbai and now has gone off to become the biggest restaurant chain in India.

Whats good about it??

Me and my wife is a complete foodie and we both are crazy about Oriental Cuisine. Our first tryst with Mainland China started in Bangalore (off M.G Road) and as soon as we had the first time we have become absolute loyalists to this brand. What we liked then is that Mainland China was not another mushroomed Chinese restaurant serving very much an adapted Indianised Chinese. It was absolutely authentic, with its flavors, the ingredients used, the ambiance & decor, even the vegetables been infused were so exclusive. The taste was just too good something which we have always wanted coupled with excellent customer service. We kept frequenting the joint as often as we can..!! It would be worthwhile to mention about their duck specialties and also the wantons.

Then we moved to Kolkata and tried the Mainland China at Gurusaday Road. It was good but not as excellent as compared to the one in Bangalore. That was agreed by both me & my wife in unison. As per my understanding if its a country wide brand and have several outlets across the country, then whatever the chef's dishes outshould also be consistent.

Now been dissapointed with this branch, we tried the next Mainland China in Kolkata (they have several outlets here) at Silver Spring. The decor & ambiance at this place was just so amazing, completely levels above what I have seen so far. The food & service was better compared to one at Gurusaday Road. I would definitely like to suggest this one to anyone above Gurusaday road.

What's not so good about it??

Even being the biggest admirer, I must confess that Mainland China is slowly loosing its charm, as the quality of food is dropping from the standards it has set earlier. It might be due to the fact that the success has gone to head and they are heading towards a more commercial way by spending so much money in tv advertisement nowadays. I strongly believe that food is one business where you can completely live without commercially promoting it, just by serving excellent food and then relying on word of mouth of its customers.

I feel that they are now trying to attract as many people they can and in doing so, they are moving slowly away from authentic Chinese to Indianised chineese...!! Then why should I go to Mainland China paying extra bucks, I can go to any A B C restaurant all over the city...!!

I also feel that their customer service has also deteriorated and there are many attendants who does not properly understand English and you literally have to converse then in the language he speaks.

There is one more thing which I disliked from the day-1 I visited Mainland China. Why don't they have Pork in their menu. Do you think any Chinese food could be complete without a pork delicacy?? I don't think so, after travelling half of the world. I know, Indian consumers are not always open to everything, but times are changing. Who does not want would not order, but why you want to disappoint the ones who love to have Pork.. think about it Mr. Anjan Chatterjee.

Having said all that, it is still one of the best Chinese available, only if they keep consistent to their standards. The ones who have never tried, please go off this weekend and have it and then give comments to this review....!! I would love to hear what others think... as I believe sharing our experience only empowers us as consumers in India, where there is not so much of Quality adherence in any field...!!