It’s been several years since I last came to Hangzhou — probably sometime before the pandemic — and even longer since I’ve eaten at New Flower Zhongcheng Hotel (Hushu South Road branch). This restaurant has always been more suitable for group gatherings; if there are only a few people, the space feels too empty, and it’s hard to order a good variety of dishes. Most of the seating consists of private rooms, and back in its heyday, the place was always packed and lively. Whether for business dinners or family gatherings, it used to be a popular choice!
This time, though, I’m not sure if it’s because it was a weekday, the current economy, or simply that this type of restaurant has fallen out of favor — but there were hardly any customers. The dining area felt very empty. From the time we arrived to when we left, I didn’t see any other guests. Gone were the sounds of chatter from neighboring rooms or footsteps in the hallway — it was eerily quiet. It felt strange and unfamiliar.
As for the food, we were dining with local friends we hadn’t seen in a long time. The dishes had already been ordered before we arrived, and at first glance, they didn’t seem much different from what I remembered. According to our friends, the menu hasn’t changed much over the years. When the food came, a few dishes were still decent, but most were a bit disappointing compared to before. Some weren’t even served hot — surprisingly, since there weren’t many guests. The serving pace was slow, and the service quality had also declined; it was even a bit difficult to get the staff’s attention.
Overall, it wasn’t a particularly satisfying experience — quite average, to be honest. This once well-known, long-established restaurant seems to have fallen behind with the times. The flavors aren’t what they used to be, and if things continue like this, I wonder if it might disappear from Hangzhou’s dining scene altogether one day.
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