18/01/2010
清真夏姆阿拉伯餐廳 Halal SHAM Dining
北角建華街16號地下A號舖
Shop A, 16 Kin Wah Street, North Point
https://www.openrice.com/zh/hongkong/review/old-sham-versus-new-sham-e2057685
This used to be called "Sham", an Islamic fast food restaurant serving grilled/fried chicken with rice/chips/bread.
My review here before renovation:
http://www.openrice.com/restaurant/commentdetail.htm?commentid=2023517
After my first meal at SHAM Fast Food I was hooked, and went twice, but then the third time is was closed for refurbishing.
When I found out it had re-opened, I was so keen to eat that food again, however, from the new pictures, I realised it wouldn’t be fast food.
I walked in, sat down, browsed the menu, ordered the Set dinner that includes a choice of starters, mains, dessert and soup, however the waitress with bad English said that the main dish was fixed, and also you could only choose one dish.
Their paragraph regarding the set menu, requires cautious browsing, if you skim it, it looks like you can pick two dishes from the chef mains.
That set costs $190 per person, which is quite a jump from the prices before as a fast food chain, the prices before ranged from $13-$85.
The most expensive one at $85 was a family size meal including 3 drinks, 3 pieces of bread, fries, and chicken.
Anyway, after I was told the choice of mains was fixed for the set, I picked other stuff on the menu, the waitress took my order and asked what about the other person, so I said we were sharing it.
Then after 1 minute, she came over again, and said there was a minimum order of $100 per person, and the current bill came to $105.
IF IT HAD CLEARLY STATED THAT ON THE MENU OR DISPLAYED IN THE RESTAURANT I WOULDNT HAVE BEEN SO ANNOYED.
But anyway, I chose other stuff to make up for the $95, after noting my order, she said that it still wasn’t enough!
For crying out loud! My arithmetic is Sham Shat, but hers was more sham shat than mine.
I had to verbally add it in front of her!
I said the existing bill was $105, and the addition of the hummus was $30, the falafel was $40 and the chicken wings were $30, so that’s $100 right.
Then after she froze there for a few seconds, she said Oh yea!
Finally sorted for ordering, I was waiting for the food.
The hummus came first, which was a generous portion with very hot bread, then came the falafel, it was slightly dry, but nice.
The main dish I ordered was the chicken Taook with potato puree and salad, the chicken thigh was tender and juicy, and the potato puree which looked like paste tasted very interesting, it was not starchy at all, the texture was a bit like Mado's ice-cream.
Was then served the Arabic rice, which tasted as good as before, with bits in it.
There are several versions, sometimes it has peas, this time it had short pieces of noodles.
Overall the food was really really good, but if you have been here before, its like paying 150% of the fast food price served here before, although the food is slightly finer with out the chips, drinks etc.
The chicken wings were not spectacular, didn’t taste of lemon or parsley, as stated.
While we were there, another customer came in, after he ordered, he was told about the minimum charge, at that time we found out that waitress was from China as she spoke mandarin, and her accent was a bit different to the English accent of HK people.
That moment, I really wanted to FAKE UP some mandarin and ask her, where is the shop or on the menu it saids about the minimum charge, but I figured, I could just fake it enough in mandarin to ask, but probably not understand her reply.
Finally finished the meal, there was no 10% service charge, but I didn't expect there to be any.
When we left, took a quick glance to see if there was any notice for minimum charge, but there wasn’t, only when we were outside the restaurant, we found this one piece of paper stuck on the front door stating the charge, AS if you would notice that! The first thing I would look at before going in a restaurant is the menu, and if there is anything in there I want to eat!
Overall I felt the service was not that good, if she spoke better English, it would have made communication much easier. Secondly, they need to make that sign more prominent in the restaurant or menu too regarding minimum order.
