The Real China

The Real China in Poole is possibly the most disgusting place I have eaten in, and that includes the likes of Burger King and KFC.
The place itself is clean and the staff were polite and friendly when I went and if you buy a soft drink, you get an unlimited refill. The ‘food’ however is a complete disgrace. I can understand chips being at a cheap Chinese restaurant as you see that everywhere, but onion rings and cocktail sausages? Even that wouldn’t be too bad if they actually tasted nice. And if you thought the Chinese food would be better then think again. Most of it is swimming in grease, there is a tray of unidentified meat (one of the local tramps perhaps?), and the noodles resembled plastic. The worst offender was one of the spring roles I had which seemed to contain a weird goo.
I can understand why people might be tempted to eat at The Real China when prices are as low as £3.95, but do yourself a favour. Don’t! You will be much better off spending a bit more money and eating at one of Poole’s many other restaurants. You really do get what you pay for here.

the restaurant in poole, dorset is great. at £3.95 for all u can eat buffet and free unlimited refills on any soft drink e. g coke u can’t complain. plus a free ice cream afterwards. i love the portrates and chinese symbols on the wall and the furniture is lovely. the staff always put us where there is plenty of room because we have two children. i haven’t had any problems with this restaurant yet and we eat there all the time. it’s cheaper than a chinese take away and it’s not as greesy. i definatly come home with a full and satisfied tum lol! as for them kids well they enjoy the chips, onion rings and noodles. plus anything non spicey.

Can I give no stars at all? I would if I could. This place is an insult to Chinese cooking. The food is running with fat, The soup like grey dishwater and sesame prawn toast like stale fried bread.
Have you seen what cocktail sausages floating in a large bowl of sweet and sour sauce looks like? You wouldn’t want to.
I lasted ten minutes there before grudgingly paying and leaving. The staff were teenagers and I think only one spoke English. Worse than a cheap canteen.
No wonder there were only about fourteen people in the whole large restaurant. I am fairly sympathetic and broadminded, but I have never been so disgusted a restaurant’s food and service.
There wont be a second time, I promise you.
Overall, the whole experience was a big pile of poo !

Although it is listed as fixed price buffet and despite arriving in good time at the Real China in Poole (well before closing), there was a very tense and hurried atmosphere. Food choice was plentiful but of very basic standard. We found the drink choice very limited for such a large establishment and were irritated by an on going rearrangement of heavy wooden furniture throughout the meal.
The evening regretfully came to an ubrupt end when there was a very rude expectancy to come to the counter and pay despite still eating the main course. On asking for a receipt to accompany the credit card slip I was met with an attitude that made me feel extremely unconfortable and keen to leave at the earliest opportunity. We had liked the look of the Real China but looks aren’t everything and will not be paying a return visit.

This is a good value buffet for about £5.95 during the week — more at weekends and in the evenings. The buffet is quite extensive with a wide range of chinese starters and duck pancakes. There is then a good range of ten or so main courses to choose from and as much as you can eat. The puddings are a bit limited but the choice may be greater in the evening.
The ambience is chinese and it is a large restuarnt — not particularly restful eating as everyonr is up and down all the time filling their plates. A good venue for a cheapish lunch in the centre of Poole.

I’ve only been here once, and it will probably stay that way.
At lunch time, it’s all you can eat for £9.99. But I felt the choice was somewhat limited. Several hot plates had the same food on it.
Although it says ‘All you can eat’ there are signs saying that if you ‘abuse’ this, you will be asked to leave. I don’t see how you can abuse it unless you bring tupperware with you!
And children over seven are the same price as adults!
You somehow become paranoid, feeling as though the staff are watching your every move, counting your forkfuls.
I did not enjoy this at all.