House of Tides

- Food: I could feel the time and effort the chief devoted into the tasting menu. But it lacked the completeness and variation as a dinner meal. Each dish had a very strong taste and at the end it felt plain. Food quality was absolutely good, if looking at each dish separately. But for me, an enjoyable dinner is like a journey, there is a start, a light touch, a strong emphasis, and a gentle fade-out. As a Michelin restaurant with a star chief, I personally found the dinner inadequate. - Service: The dinner was booked a month in advance, with a clear message that it was for 30th birthday celebration. A day before, an email confirmation of attendance was required by the restaurant, I replied and mentioned again that the dinner was for birthday celebration. Most of the restaurants I’ve been to, they would either prepare a small note and some little decorations on the table, or they would write ‘happy birthday’ on the dessert plate. But I received none. At the end of the dinner after the dessert was served, my partner and I asked about this, the gentleman waiter looked confused (I don’t think they ever read my booking message) and said ‘we don’t do this’. I sensed that the waiter felt my disappointment, they got me a dessert plate with ‘happy birthday’ and a card. But it just felt… not the service I expect from a Michelin restaurant. - Atmosphere: There was no atmosphere unfortunately I have to say. The entire restaurant lacked energy and vitality. I’m not sure if it was because it was Thursday? Also, I sensed that the gentleman waiter who was serving the food seemed to not in this position? He was staying in the bar area most of the time. The lady who brought the food from kitchen sometimes had to hold the food, go to the bar and find him, come back to the table and then serve the food. There was a lady in black turned up once and asked if the food was okay, and gone. The male waiter was literally the only main staff there during the evening, serving two tables. But when we left the restaurant, there were another few restaurant staff at the reception saying goodbye to us. It just felt so strange. - Environment: The building was an extraordinary old building sitting next to the river, feel historical. Interior design is classic and elegant. - Overall: The food was good and they looked pretty. But everything else, personally I felt it has a large room to improve as a Michelin restaurant. I don’t feel the fulfillment and joy after having my birthday dinner here. There was not much of a dining experience.