Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum

Calis Beach Forum => Calis Bar and Restaurant Questions and Discussions => Topic started by: Jacqui Harvey on September 09, 2010, 11:34:26 AM

Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Jacqui Harvey on September 09, 2010, 11:34:26 AM
We visited the Chinese Breeze last week and asked to go up to the Terrace.  When we got up there, we found one other couple eating and only three tables laid.  We waited about 15 minutes for a waiter, however, after he took our drinks order we got no drinks.  After about 5 minutes another guy arrived and took the order and explained the first guy did not understand English.  We ordered the meal and when it arrived we could hardly see what we were eating the light was bad and no candles on the tables. My meal was very average and had a very salty taste.  No one came up to ask if we wanted anything else, we had to call down to the restaurant, we got another drink, and by this time we were alone on the Terrace. We decided to leave and had to again shout down to the restaurant.  We got the bill from a woman paid it and left, no one said goodbye or shook hands. We did not get any free starters or any free tea, which is usual at the Calis Beachfront Restaurants.
The "upstairs" in  this place used to be packed it fact, it was difficult to find a table sometimes, it's such a shame that it is now neglected and obviously, the staff don't want people using the Terrace.  What a change from the days of "La Terace".  We will not go back.:(
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Jukebox on September 09, 2010, 18:32:55 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jacqui Harvey

 We did not get any free starters or any free tea, which is usual at the Calis Beachfront Restaurants.
 :(



We must have been picking the wrong seafront restaurants over the past twenty one years, I didnt know it was usual to get free starters! Darn it!  ;)
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Jacqui Harvey on September 09, 2010, 19:43:07 PM
The free "starter" is usually before the Entree.
We usually get one of those puffy breads, or some prawn crackers, or some bread and garlic butter and we did get a lovely meze and garlic bread in the Hello/Merhaba Restaurant, a place we had never tried before, lovely meal and surprising good free meze.  If you don't get a free meal starter you usuallly get tea or coffee after the meal.
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Scunner on September 09, 2010, 20:23:55 PM
Hmmm I'm with Jukey - I think we call your entree a "starter" and your starter "bread" :D
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Gavos999 on September 09, 2010, 20:44:09 PM
chinese breeze has never appealed to me  and when over in july and when over last week it was always very quiet with the staff looking a bit miserable..
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Jukebox on September 09, 2010, 22:55:04 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Scunner

Hmmm I'm with Jukey - I think we call your entree a "starter" and your starter "bread" :D



Must be a scouse thing Keith!
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Jacqui Harvey on September 10, 2010, 08:06:26 AM
O.K. It's not our fault that us Scousers are well travelled gourmets. So we will agree to call it a pre starter freebee.  
So back to the thread.  Why are people being discouraged from using the Terrace now? and what happened to the really nice guy... tall balding who used to front the Chinese Breeze, he told us he has a website for his own business so maybe he has left the Restaurant?
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Jukebox on September 10, 2010, 09:06:05 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jacqui Harvey

O.K. It's not our fault that us Scousers are well travelled gourmets. So we will agree to call it a pre starter freebee.  
So back to the thread.  Why are people being discouraged from using the Terrace now? and what happened to the really nice guy... tall balding who used to front the Chinese Breeze, he told us he has a website for his own business so maybe he has left the Restaurant?



I love chinese food but make it a rule of thumb that I wouldnt choose to eat in a chinese restaurant that doesnt even have a hint of a chinese chef. That said, I did eat there two weeks ago on a stag night that had been arranged by one of the party so i just went along with it. The food was ok but I had no expectations due to my earlier commnts. I would certainly not have gone with my better half for dinner a deux.

Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Scunner on September 10, 2010, 09:10:10 AM
That's a shame, I heard they do very good Peking deux.
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: mercury on September 10, 2010, 11:25:05 AM
P.M.S.L Very clever.
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Old Daffodil on September 10, 2010, 11:53:13 AM
And what about hors d'oeuvres!:D
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: laffa on September 10, 2010, 20:11:17 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jukebox

quote:
Originally posted by Scunner

Hmmm I'm with Jukey - I think we call your entree a "starter" and your starter "bread" :D



Must be a scouse thing Keith!


Kenny has just said the meal ( he had ) on the stag night was quote. a load of sh-te, and so did my son-in-law.the hot and sour soup could only be described as hot water with an oxo in, so maybe us scousers are used to a decent chinese here, and I would never call a bit of bread an entree,or a starter,even,
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Jukebox on September 11, 2010, 00:14:54 AM
quote:
Originally posted by laffa

quote:
Originally posted by Jukebox

quote:
Originally posted by Scunner

Hmmm I'm with Jukey - I think we call your entree a "starter" and your starter "bread" :D



Must be a scouse thing Keith!


Kenny has just said the meal ( he had ) on the stag night was quote. a load of sh-te, and so did my son-in-law.the hot and sour soup could only be described as hot water with an oxo in, so maybe us scousers are used to a decent chinese here, and I would never call a bit of bread an entree,or a starter,even,



Is right!  ;)
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: bee on September 11, 2010, 12:35:58 PM
we went to china breeze while over in August and sat on the Terrace, the lighting was very poor, the waiter sat on the table smoking one cigaret after another, the food was disgusting the starter was spring rolls, which had what tasted liked those tinned burgers you used to get years ago, my chicken satay was a peice of chicken in batter sliced with what looked like black gravy, and tasted very odd, the plate was filled with the tomatoe rose and the cucumber palm tree, just what you expect at a chinese restaurant the price said 29.00 for two, for a main and a starer, I took it as 29ytl, it was actually £29.00, Im not a penny pincher and thought £7.00 per head was ok ,very clever of them to just put 29.00, the bill came to £74.00 for 4 with drinks, they took 10ytl off for mine, with much reluctence, I complained that my satay had never seen a peanut, he brought out a sticky dirty jar from the back and told me that it was indeed satay all the way from china!!!, we will never go there again and told him so, the place is very busy most nights, why ? I dont know, this list of best restaurants is getting shorter and shorter, haha
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Scunner on September 11, 2010, 13:24:31 PM
It's strange, it never appealed to any of us when we were over and seems maybe our feeling was right. This certainly doesn't sound like the place to be for Chinese - so where is? When we craved a Chinese sort of meal we generally (in Calis) went to Serkul 1, and for a time George's but I'm not sure they do Chinese anymore.
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: laffa on September 11, 2010, 13:55:06 PM
When in Rome,! funnily enough we got one of those chinese meals for 2 from Marksies when we got back yesterday, lovely, and strangely enough Chinese Breeze has never appealed to me either.sixth sense or what, ;)
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: captainjon on September 12, 2010, 09:04:36 AM
We would def recommend Serkul 1.We have used this place for a long time now,the staff are always great.The chef does not change,food quality always good and prices fair.In the winter they stay open with very competitive prices,ie all you can eat for a fiver.Plus Efes on DRAUGHT for 3.5lira.cant beat it!
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Jacqui Harvey on September 13, 2010, 17:30:48 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Scunner

It's strange, it never appealed to any of us when we were over and seems maybe our feeling was right. This certainly doesn't sound like the place to be for Chinese - so where is? When we craved a Chinese sort of meal we generally (in Calis) went to Serkul 1, and for a time George's but I'm not sure they do Chinese anymore.




George's are now doing Chinese meals again.. and they are very good. ;)
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: spookyshimmyshake on July 10, 2011, 19:59:10 PM
We ate here last week after having a really greasy chinese @ Serkol 1 and it was lovely!!!!  Sat on the upper terrace and Tom, the waiter stayed there all night and waited on us hand and foot.  We recommended it to another couple that we met out there and they also enjoyed it and said they would go back again! :)
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Anne on July 10, 2011, 20:19:03 PM
Nice first post.
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Eric on July 10, 2011, 20:35:35 PM
Hmmmm  1st post knocking one establishment and praising another on a topic which is 10 months old.  Nice 1st post indeed.  My suspicious mind alarm is going off again: :)
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Scunner on July 10, 2011, 20:47:11 PM
She does seem very impressed with the waiter Tom
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Jacqui Harvey on July 10, 2011, 22:21:14 PM
Yes, and she seems to be in Turkey to try Chinese Food.
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Bluwise on July 10, 2011, 22:34:54 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jacqui Harvey

Yes, and she seems to be in Turkey to try Chinese Food.


Didn't you recommend George's chinese food last year Jacqui? ;)
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Jacqui Harvey on July 10, 2011, 23:07:05 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Bluwise

quote:
Originally posted by Jacqui Harvey

Yes, and she seems to be in Turkey to try Chinese Food.


Didn't you recommend George's chinese food last year Jacqui? ;)



Think you are missing the point here. :o I recommend lots of places that I think are worth recommending, however, this person is new to the Forum and her first post is about 2 Chinese Restaurants my comment was tongue in cheek [^]
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: philrose on July 11, 2011, 07:22:32 AM
Hmmm! Interesting that the head waiter that used to be in Serkul 1 is now working at Chinese Breeze............
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: davybill on July 11, 2011, 10:50:25 AM
i have always had good food at sercul one,and ithought its a pity mo left there to go to the chinese breeze,
as i found the food better and cheaper at sercul one,
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: blackjack on July 11, 2011, 12:43:29 PM
we had a funny tommy whenever we ate in serkul 1 serkul 2 is better
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Rindaloo on July 11, 2011, 13:23:32 PM
quote:
Originally posted by blackjack

we had a funny tommy whenever we ate in serkul 1 serkul 2 is better



Cooper?? :P
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: pookie on July 11, 2011, 13:25:04 PM
:D:D
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: ronzeus on July 11, 2011, 14:43:59 PM
Nice one rindaloo.:D:D:D
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Anne on July 11, 2011, 15:39:08 PM
:D
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: davybill on July 11, 2011, 18:04:04 PM
[blackjack.funny tommy] maybe you ate to much?lol
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Highlander on July 11, 2011, 19:22:32 PM
The present Mrs H and Martha both had the set meal and both enjoyed it. Good value also :).
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: hydeaway on July 12, 2011, 14:35:00 PM
last thing you want is a chinese on a turkish holiday ?? Thats the only thing with alot of the restuarant owners you never get a free drink for your custom unlike Cyprus and other countries, `alittle tight is the word one thinks` The bar owners are just the same I bring printed dart flights,stems and darts and not even a poxy Effes in return. Had me moan see you all Friday.
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Rindaloo on July 12, 2011, 14:53:11 PM
When we used to be on holiday here, we would eat Turkish as much as poss.  But, at some point in the holiday we'd crave a Chinese, LOL!    Having said that, we had 13 holidays here and only had 3 Chineses.
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Scunner on July 12, 2011, 14:55:20 PM
Not unfamiliar hydeaway - members from the early days of CBF will remember the unnamed hotel and unnamed Brit in this - a British guy we knew had a favourite hotel and although he had his own place in Calis, spent a lot of time at their hotel bar (nothing wrong with that of course  ;) ) - anyway, as a favour he picked up a litre of Bacardi at the airport for them, as it is very expensive to buy in Turkey. His favourite tipple was also Bacardi. During his stay he had many Bacardi & cokes at this hotel bar, almost finishing the bottle single handed.

Imagine his surprise at the end of his holiday when he went to the hotel and asked for his bar bill - only to find he had been charged, full price, for each and every one.
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: DANKY on July 12, 2011, 15:10:20 PM
I have taken  large packs of catering bacon and Susauge,s out to a place we used to stay in before we bought,and  i never ever asked a penny for these items, But likewise we used to get charged the full amount for bacon and sausauge rolls when we asked for them at breakfast :(
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Piscoe on July 12, 2011, 15:50:15 PM
I thought it was just me. The owner of a popular bar in fethiye in 2005 asked me to bring him a variety of bottles in which I duly did as a favour. Instead of paying me for them he charged me and my group (I think there were 8 of us)the full whack for an evenings drinks and deducted what I paid for the spirits. Cheek! Never again
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Rindaloo on July 12, 2011, 15:55:01 PM
What a shame, they lose out in the long run. I mean, you wont put yourself out for them again, eh.   When we were asked to bring bacon, sausages and booze, we got all monies paid to us and a discount on the bill too.  Nice to be appreciated.
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: nichola on July 12, 2011, 16:09:20 PM
I have this year asked a couple of mates to bring us the odd bottle of Bacardi and we always reimburse in full. How can you not? How could you ask again if you didn't?

And there are still restaurants that do offer a free drink at the end of the meal - tea/nescafe or Turkish coffee so I guess its all about going to the right places  ;)
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Scunner on July 12, 2011, 16:37:39 PM
I did ask about it in one restaurant (the free drink at the end) saying it was very much appreciated in places like Cyprus and the Canary Islands (I remember honey liqueur - very nice but you'd never have one if you were paying for it  ;) ) - the response was that most restaurants used to do it in Calis when a bottle was 4 lira or whatever but it had doubled or trebled in not so many years and really expensive to give free to all.

That said, it wasn't long ago that similar appreciation was shown in the form of a free fruit plate which it must be agreed costs very little indeed - and that little special gesture seems all but gone in recent years too.
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: laffa on July 12, 2011, 17:12:13 PM
heard loads of these stories over the years, I too got charged for my own bottle of vodka at the end of a holiday, but never charged the people in question for the stuff we bought over for them, but the best one yet was a mate of ours who was asked to bring 2 bottles of scotch over with other stuff, they said they would arrange his pick up from the airport, which they did, then charged him £70 , now thats what you call a proper whopper. :o oh and that was one way.
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: marina on July 12, 2011, 17:12:41 PM
First time we came to Turkey 10 years ago we were amazed at the amount of free food/drinks we were offered including the free fruit plates as Scunner has mentioned.

These have all pretty much disappeared now, sign of the times or difficult times perhaps? However, as Nichola says, we still often get offered a coffee or something similar 'on the house' at the end of the meal which is a nice gesture when it's offered.  :)
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Toky on July 12, 2011, 17:14:22 PM
I was asked last year to bring out a bottle of Bailleys amongst other things last year, by a bar owner. They then invited me to join them for a thank you drink then charged me the bloody 8tl for the Bailleys I'd just brought over!!!!!
And also,--- If they get it at our duty free prices, why then do they charge us prices as though they've imported it themselves!!!
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Scunner on July 12, 2011, 17:19:10 PM
I really, really hope that all these examples of members generosity in bringing bacon/spirit requests over being unappreciated were the last time they did it for the bar in question???
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Highlander on July 12, 2011, 18:53:16 PM
We must just be lucky.

At the Hamsi in June we were given a large plate of mixed fruit and in one particular restaurant we are always given baklava at the end of the meal, even when on our last visit, we specifically aske them not to :)
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Scunner on July 12, 2011, 19:30:16 PM
In a story where all participants and locales have been changed or omitted, a story. Friends came over and wanted to stay at a hotel rather than with us so we arranged this for them. The owner of the hotel is well known to us (that doesn't narrow it down much). Friends and owner got on very well and I saw the owner in Fethiye - he told me they had invited our friends to dine with them that night and they would very much appreciate it if we would come and join them too. We did and had a lovely evening.

After a few days our friends were leaving to return to the UK. When they settled their bar bill, what was on it - not just two x meals for them for that night but 2x meals for us too - how embarrassing was that [:o]
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: tinkerman on July 12, 2011, 19:34:26 PM
sounds like a Cemal trick:D
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: Scunner on July 12, 2011, 19:40:30 PM
It does, but I would hardly have given him their business :D

Actually I think it isn't a trick, it's just a different understanding of "join us for dinner" - the hotelier in this case is not at all mean or tricky. That is how I discovered that an invitation to join someone for a drink or a meal in Turkey doesn't necessarily mean they are picking up the tab, even if they own the place!
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: DianeT on July 13, 2011, 16:45:02 PM
We must be lucky too H, sure it's the same place as you go to on your 1st & last night (as per previous post) and we too always get free baklava each time even when asolutely stuffed.
This is our 2nd week in Calis and so far have been offered tea / coffee or liquer each evening.
Had a fabulous meal last night for my birthday at the SAT restaurant which is another place that is not everyone's cup of tea so to speak.
Back to topic I don't know why but I just don't fancy trying the Chinese Breeze but I did use to lke the previous chinese place on the front think it was called the Bamboo
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: hydeaway on July 14, 2011, 21:40:59 PM
Me thinks i opened a can of worms Scunner hope to see u out there again mate
Title: What a shame about the Chinese Breeze
Post by: hydeaway on July 15, 2011, 08:38:44 AM
Must say though in the defence of one bar jenep and Cath where the only ones who gave a gift in return for my present god bless them