Here's a letter that I wrote to this restaurant: Browsing around for lunch today 08_07_08 we came across your menu in our office. Based on the information on your website we decided to make the... More

Here's a letter that I wrote to this restaurant: Browsing around for lunch today 08_07_08 we came across your menu in our office. Based on the information on your website we decided to make the trek and go to your establishment for lunch. Myself and two of my co-workers had high expectations of your restaurant. We were not only hungry, but looking forward to having a good break from the day to day stresses of work. Getting to the point of this email, you restaurant failed to live up to expectations, either customer service oriented or otherwise. The server was polite and nice, but seemed to be overwhelmed. We ordered 15 minutes after we were seated. After the 30th minute WE HAD to ask our server when our food was arriving. He said he?ll check and came back to us saying it will take another 5 minutes. Well after waiting 45 minutes in your restaurant, we had enough. Judging from the fact that you open during lunch hour, and that you cater to small/big size businesses based on the location of your restaurant, I was safe to assume that your establishment would know the importance of what a lunch hour consisted of. Not once did your server or your management come over and offer information that our food would take long. I saw other customers being fed up with their wait as well. It is unfortunate that this had happened, when it looked like we were leaving then and only then did someone come over and try to let us know that our food was coming out shortly. Had we the luxury of waiting all day we might have decided to stay, but in the real world people tend to have hour lunches. Your establishment needs to realize this and either hire more staff in the kitchen area or at least explain to customers how long the wait will be. I?ll not be recommending this place to any of our coworkers. I?m sure your food is good, unfortunately we neither had a chance to sample it, nor will we ever. Pros: no comment Cons: no comment
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I absolutely love this restaurant. The servers are so helpful and the food is delicious. Prices are reasonable also. Best Chinese restaurant I have found in Southern Orange County!

I absolutely love this restaurant. The servers are so helpful and the food is delicious. Prices are reasonable also. Best Chinese restaurant I have found in Southern Orange County!
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I used to go to Monterey Park or Alhambra for dim sum (Hong Kong style brunch) on Saturdays, but now I can eat closer to home. Sure, there are a number of places that serve dim sum in OC, but I... More

I used to go to Monterey Park or Alhambra for dim sum (Hong Kong style brunch) on Saturdays, but now I can eat closer to home. Sure, there are a number of places that serve dim sum in OC, but I haven't found another one that is as good as Russell's (there is another place in Cerritos, but I can't remember the name). Service is better if you sit at one of the lower tables where it is easy to see what is coming around on the carts. In addition to good food, Russell's boasts a classy interior with lots of dark wood. It usually isn't too crowded, but I think that's more of a testament to its hidden location behind a McDonalds on the corner of Main and MacArthur. I can't comment on the dinner menu since I have only been there for dim sum four times on Saturdays.
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Even though this is not the best dim sum in Irvine, it's is worth the trip for their soup dumpling ( as my other friend called it, exploding dumpling). I felt they had 2 chefs in the kitchen. One... More

Even though this is not the best dim sum in Irvine, it's is worth the trip for their soup dumpling ( as my other friend called it, exploding dumpling). I felt they had 2 chefs in the kitchen. One makes the food for dim sum plates. The other make soup dumplings and "milk yolk" bun. The latter one require you order with waiter and wait 10~15 min. The second chef is exceptionally good while the first chef is unforgettably bad. I tried soup dumplings in Taipei, Hong Kong, China, and Monterey Park. This is one of my top 5. I tried the egg yolk bun and was surprised by the chef's skill. You should try "milk yolk" bum (straight tranlation from chinese) if you're there. The milk yolk is runny and hot hot hot. The chef captured the essence of this bun. I always wondered how they make it so the bun is not soggy. Price is above avg, but not that much. one thing is the decor was not at all chinese, more like a NY restaurant. like Jerry's deli. So don't think you're in the wrong place when you walk in. Pros: no waiting before 12; soup dumplings & milk yolk bun Cons: not in best location; dim sum could be better but acceptable
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this place has really yummy dim sum...which is hard to find in orange county...the prices are reasonable also

this place has really yummy dim sum...which is hard to find in orange county...the prices are reasonable also
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