Lantern House - St Albans

I had a great dining experience tonight at The Lantern House on Hatfield Road. The food was delicious and served piping hot. I picked up my order and the assistant was polite and efficient. (I am not affiliated with them, just wanted to give credit where it's due). They also have a 5-star hygiene rating from the council. Well done!

This restaurant used to be great many years ago, but now it is awful. The food is cheap, tasteless, and not enjoyable. All Chinese takeaways seem to be similar in quality now. I really miss the delicious food that it used to have. The last time I ate here, my gut feeling told me it wasn't good, but I decided to give it a try anyway. That was a big mistake. The curry tasted like gravy, the bamboo cashew nuts were bad, and the chicken pineapple dish was not good, although the pineapple was nice. The only decent things were the prawn crackers, prawn toast, and chips. I will never eat here again. It was a waste of money and not a pleasant experience at all.

The chicken in our meal was not cooked properly it was very rubbery and a couple of pieces were a bit pink inside. We phoned them to tell them about it and was told “that perhaps we were not used to their chicken” at 76 years old I think I know what chicken should be cooked like. They told us “we should try the beef next time”. Told them there would not be a next time.

I left a two star review six months ago. The food was so bad I binned it. The last five times I have been there the food has been superb. The exception was the Kung Po Chicken... Which tasted fine, but it just wasn't anything like Kung Po Chicken. I will get food from here regularly now.

Rang up 30 mins later the food arrived, piping hot every aspect was first class, this is my goto Chinese restaurant forever.