xiankerlai

I booked the karaōke function room upstairs for my birthday meal on a bit of a whim I walked past the posters on Rochester High Street one afternoon and thought karaōke AND chinese? Two of my favourite things! Score! without knowing anybody who’d eaten there before. A bit risky, but I took the chance knowing that even if I hated the food, I could have a few drinks and sing my heart out.
This was possibly one of the best birthdays I have ever had and trust me, I have thrown a good few parties in my time! The service was good, and very friendly indeed. We were waiting a little (say 10 mins) for drinks, food, etc, but as there were so many of us enjoying a good catch-​up it wasn’t so much of an issue. The food was the only word for it EXQUISITE. The lamb ribs are to die for. Seriously.
I loved the share-​style spinning plate in the middle of the table, even though I am not usually one to share my food! There was plenty for everyone, and some left over, such good value for money.
The only down-​side to this evening was that although we had enough 90s cheesy music to see us through the evening, a good 85% of the music on the karaōke machine is chinese. Still, it wasn’t as if we ran out of music, so I think this would only be a problem to people who did this on a regular basis, or who didn’t like really cheesy pop music! (but who would do karaōke if they didn’t?)
I would recommend this to anybody who wants a good meal out to celebrate, I honestly was amazed and blown away by the wonderful atmosphere, decoration, friendliness and range of wonderful dishes available at this restaurant. FABULOUS.

A bit pricey compared to other restaurants in the area but decided to give it a try since the menu was a bit different and we are always excited about trying unusual/​exotic dishes.
The service in the beginning was good, attentive waiter. Nice décor and good menu. Although we were the only customers in the restaurant 7:30pm on a Sunday night (the other restaurants in the area were pretty busy), which meant the ambience wasn’t great and made us wonder.
The starters came and they were not too bad, although a bit small for the price but then if the quality is good, one doesn’t mind. But I’ve had better in other places.
And when the mains came it was just utter disappointment. Bland, greasy, overcooked dishes.
When the waiter asked if everything was ok I couldn’t help but to answer that we didn’t like anything since it was going to be obvious when he had to take all the plates full of food back to the kitchen.
The manager offered to swap to other dishes and came back with 2 others he chose from the menu. By then the rice was cold and one dish was tasteless and the other he suggested to put the lamb between 2 dumplings and I tried 1 dumpling alone and couldn’t even bite through it!
Took them back to the kitchen and we asked for the bill.
He offered ½ price vouchers for the next meal and I would have taken them if I would have liked anything but it’s not like you are going to go back when you didn’t like ANYTHING! So we turned them down and he brought the bill and he was charging us for everything! I said I felt bad for being charged for something I hadn’t eaten, the special fried rice was £3.80 for a miserable little bowl, I mean, if 3 people have rice you are being charged almost £12 just for rice! Where else do u get that? Not even Hakkasan is that expensive! And I didn’t even get to eat it!
The manager said that was a mistake and should have been £2.30 instead but that’s not what the menu said and I doubt it since boiled rice alone was £2.20. If it’s a mistake they should also change it on the website and the menu. It wasn’t about the cost of it but if u don’t eat it or enjoy it then one shouldn’t have to pay for that. In the end he removed 3 mains from the bill although he didn’t rectify the cost of the rice but I was too tired, upset and disappointed to point it out again. Paid and left with an empty stomach and the memory of the worst birthday party ever.
The funny thing is the manager was trying to convince us that it was due to us not liking the taste and not the quality of it. We eat all sorts of cuisine. Food from all over the world. I’ve had heart, brains, liver, testicles, raw chicken, snake, eaten in buffets and £100 a head restaurants. And I’m half Chinese and travelled through China so I told him I knew what authentic Chinese food is like. He said their chef is one of the best in China. I very much doubt it and it was probably one of his relatives. He shouldn’t even be arguing with me by then. If a customer doesn’t eat, has a bad experience and makes it obvious, as a manager you should apologise, give them a complimentary meal and some vouchers for the next time. So that they don’t feel hungry and hard done by. Next time they return you try your best. Instead here I am, writing this review, telling my neighbours about my awful experience, tomorrow will be my colleagues and patients, because I surely wouldn’t want to wish that night out for anybody. The manager needs to learn from this, and I surely will rather eat McDonalds for my birthday next year than to return for a second serving of rubbish. Happy birthday to me.

i’ve been meaning to come here and as my birthday is on its way, I wil definitely be thinking towards this restuarant.:)
can I just ask if you have any special features i.e. singing happy birthday etc as I would really like the day to be special. look forward to your response.

I strongly suspect the good reviews are written by associates of the restaurant. This restaurant has nice décor and serves pretty decent, well priced food, but…
we arrived for 8.30pm on a low-​key Saturday night. The main restaurant was maybe one third full, including our fairly large pre-​booked party. The private room was booked for another larger party. The waiter said he would write starters on one side of his pad and mains on the other so they did not get confused in the kitchen.
It took ages for our order to be taken.
We got our starters after around an hour or so.
We had to ask three times for drinks and water.
Two of the starters were wrong.
Three people waited an hour and a quarter for their starters.
Mains arrived a staggering two and a quarter hours later, after a couple of requests and no information, with four mains arriving even after that.
Two side dishes were incorrect.
Rice was served up to go cold for those awaiting mains.
Two mains were so loaded with chili that the people eating them couldn’t feel their mouths, even though they had specifically asked if they were spicy and chosen them on assurance that they were not.
We were fobbed off with the following reasons for the shoddy service:
–They were busy with the private room.
–The chef wasn’t aware of the writing being on both sides of the paper so only got our mains orders after an hour and three quarters.
–The chef used to work in a Michelin-​starred restaurant so cooked every dish one at a time, hence some of our party were served and some left waiting and all food taking so long.
No apologises were given, no haste was evident to make things better, and no proper information was forthcoming.
We were given a random free bottle of wine, but it wasn’t enjoyable given it was nearly 11pm before we had dinner. We were also given a discount of a third off the food, but not the drinks.
The food is lovely and different from standard Chinese fare available in England, but the service is diabolical and the excuses unprofessional.
This restaurant has been here under six months. If they keep this kind of service up, no amount of nice food and karaōke rooms will see them staying in business. A shame, as the potential is there. I’m just not prepared to wait for over two hours for my meal. I could cook for 50 myself in that time — and I’m not a professional.
This restaurant’s name means ‘welcome heavenly guest’. They really can’t have too high an opinion of heaven.

I have been meaning to visit Xiankerlai ever since I first looked into the new restaurant to appear on Rochester High Street some time ago. As today was me birthday I was asked where I would like lunch by my boyfriend and Xiankerlai was the first place to pop into my head.
As we walked into the restaurant it was obvious that this was no ordinary Chinese restaurant like the many that adorn Chatham High Street, the ones that serve the staples of MSG ridden piles of Chow Mein and Chips n’ Gravy for the less adventurous.
The Restaurants décor in gorgeous, very tasteful, modern but still with a nod to the East. The staff were welcoming and very helpful. Even assisting me with my choice as I was very indecisive as there were so many beautiful choices of authentic Chinese cuisine.
I opted for Chicken in a pile of chillies that I have to say was the most delicious thing I have tasted in a long time. Small pieces of chicken fried with chilli, leeks and carrots served in on a plate tumbling out of a basket.
We also had shredded pork with pancakes, singapore noodles and egg fried rice, none of which disapointed.
The only downside to my visit was the lack of custom, other people opting for the wetherspoons across the road.
The only thing I would suggest to the owners is to bring in a lunch menu. I am aware this may cheapen the look of the restaurant but it would bring more people through the door to find out for themselves this jewel in our high street, a restaurant that would rival any upmarket Chines in London.