HKG Pier dining — what a let down!
Apr 28, 2019, 1:35 am
#106
Join Date: May 2004
Location: TPE
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 507
I've been to the Pier F too many to count, so this is less about the food and more about service.
I had a superlative experience in the Pier the other day. Midday, a very aggressive (in a good way) perhaps Middle Eastern or SE Asian gentleman. I could be getting the heritage wrong here, but hoping someone else knows who I'm talking about? He has a darker complexion but speaks English flawlessly without an accent, I couldn't nail down where he was from. Or maybe southern Mediterranean? Anyway, this guy was doing a fantastic job of checking up on everyone, making sure orders were expedited properly, essentially making sure service was on point. I think I've seen him before and he manages a few of the lounges. Somebody give this guy a raise or keep him around please because the whole drumbeat of the lounge was on point with him in there working hard. Another lady, this one either African or Middle Eastern, was my server and was just excellent. I think she is evenings normally. The food was "fine", I thought my main the chana masala was lovely although I'm not p robably a very good judge, but to be honest I don't expect Michelin starred dining in the airport anyway. Kudos to the poster above who brought that up. But hey my appetizer arrived first and a few minutes after ordering, my main arrived a few minutes after I finished my appetizer, my drink came out promptly and was refilled promptly, smiling friendly staff asking if I needed anything else, just everything was on the mark. I don't make a pilgrimage out to the Pier F very often, but this time the service made a real impression on me in a good way.
The whole experience reminded me that when service is on point, it really is a lovely facility. And how much poor service (or just "clueless service") can spoil things.
I had a superlative experience in the Pier the other day. Midday, a very aggressive (in a good way) perhaps Middle Eastern or SE Asian gentleman. I could be getting the heritage wrong here, but hoping someone else knows who I'm talking about? He has a darker complexion but speaks English flawlessly without an accent, I couldn't nail down where he was from. Or maybe southern Mediterranean? Anyway, this guy was doing a fantastic job of checking up on everyone, making sure orders were expedited properly, essentially making sure service was on point. I think I've seen him before and he manages a few of the lounges. Somebody give this guy a raise or keep him around please because the whole drumbeat of the lounge was on point with him in there working hard. Another lady, this one either African or Middle Eastern, was my server and was just excellent. I think she is evenings normally. The food was "fine", I thought my main the chana masala was lovely although I'm not p robably a very good judge, but to be honest I don't expect Michelin starred dining in the airport anyway. Kudos to the poster above who brought that up. But hey my appetizer arrived first and a few minutes after ordering, my main arrived a few minutes after I finished my appetizer, my drink came out promptly and was refilled promptly, smiling friendly staff asking if I needed anything else, just everything was on the mark. I don't make a pilgrimage out to the Pier F very often, but this time the service made a real impression on me in a good way.
The whole experience reminded me that when service is on point, it really is a lovely facility. And how much poor service (or just "clueless service") can spoil things.
May 7, 2019, 8:16 am
#107
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan SE. AF-Plat
Posts: 617
My first time J class to HK visiting the three lounges, The Wing, The Pier, Quantas. The best lounge, providing you don't have a short connection time, is by far Quantas. The food and service was excellent and not crowded like The Pier and The Wing. I suppose the Quantas Lounge is some sort of hidden gem, Also the lounge is nice and bright with nice views to the adjacent gate. I found the Pier too dark, also kids yelling and running around don't add to the atmosphere. JMHO.
May 7, 2019, 8:31 am
#109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
A less frequent user’s thoughts on The Pier:
https://www.headforpoints.com/2019/0...-kong-airport/
“While the food was very good, it just didn’t have quite the same wow factor as the first time I ate here a few years ago. At that time, the food quality was that of a top-end London restaurant – hardly surprising, as the catering was done by a top-end Hong Kong hotel. This time the food was the quality of a top-end first class lounge. It is still very, very good though.”
https://www.headforpoints.com/2019/0...-kong-airport/
“While the food was very good, it just didn’t have quite the same wow factor as the first time I ate here a few years ago. At that time, the food quality was that of a top-end London restaurant – hardly surprising, as the catering was done by a top-end Hong Kong hotel. This time the food was the quality of a top-end first class lounge. It is still very, very good though.”
May 7, 2019, 9:17 am
#110
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
A less frequent user’s thoughts on The Pier:
https://www.headforpoints.com/2019/0...-kong-airport/
“While the food was very good, it just didn’t have quite the same wow factor as the first time I ate here a few years ago. At that time, the food quality was that of a top-end London restaurant – hardly surprising, as the catering was done by a top-end Hong Kong hotel. This time the food was the quality of a top-end first class lounge. It is still very, very good though.”
https://www.headforpoints.com/2019/0...-kong-airport/
“While the food was very good, it just didn’t have quite the same wow factor as the first time I ate here a few years ago. At that time, the food quality was that of a top-end London restaurant – hardly surprising, as the catering was done by a top-end Hong Kong hotel. This time the food was the quality of a top-end first class lounge. It is still very, very good though.”
May 7, 2019, 9:22 am
#111
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
That's an absurd assertion made by somebody who has obviously never eaten in a top class restaurant. No mass market airport lounge has, or will, ever come close to that level, and it is absurd to suggest that it might.
May 7, 2019, 1:47 pm
#112
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,520
Fully agree. The only lounge I can think of that comes close to a top end restaurant is the AF La Premiere lounge at CDG, which is staffed by Alain Ducasse teams and has only a tiny fraction of the daily custom the Pier (or, for that matter, any other HKG lounge) has. I like the Pier a lot and liked it even more in the Peninsula days, but neither then nor now was it ever anywhere near "top London restaurant" food quality.
May 7, 2019, 4:05 pm
#113
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,966
Was beginning to get very bored of the Pier, but then went to the Wing this weekend. What a disaster. The Pier is still far better even if its not as good as it once was. Tried to beyond burger and while it wasn't great, it was serviceable replacement for a mediocre beef burger.
May 7, 2019, 9:10 pm
#114
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
Loved reading this blog and call the different views and perspectives. Want to add a tangential experience a couple months back at the pier. We had a full day layover in hkg on our way from the states to Australia at the beginning of a 3 week trip. After a day out in Hkg we went to the pier for a meal and foot massage before the flight to Sydney. After the meal.. which we probably enjoyed with appropriate expectations for an airport lounge, we went to collect our bags and realized we were missing a carryon..yes a full day and night of travel can do that to even experienced travelers although it had never happened before. We realized it had probably been left on one of the small carts my husband likes to use in the airport. since he carries a very heavy laptop case that we wheeled to the entrance. The pier staff could not have been more helpful in dealing with the airport and security and amazingly the bag was found in the transit area not even near the lounge. They made many calls to various airport dept and sent a cathay staff person to escort my husband to retrieve the bag and helped us to make the next flight. It was the carryon we had taken into HK for the day and had it been opened a nice camera and pearl jewelry were sitting right on top. The staff in our case deserve big kudos from the front desk to the massage staff who told us most items are usually found and relax. It was a happy ending and a lesson for us but we will remember great service.
May 8, 2019, 12:13 am
#115
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: MNL
Programs: CX MPO DM, Le Club Accor Platinum, World of Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,284
Loved reading this blog and call the different views and perspectives. Want to add a tangential experience a couple months back at the pier. We had a full day layover in hkg on our way from the states to Australia at the beginning of a 3 week trip. After a day out in Hkg we went to the pier for a meal and foot massage before the flight to Sydney. After the meal.. which we probably enjoyed with appropriate expectations for an airport lounge, we went to collect our bags and realized we were missing a carryon..yes a full day and night of travel can do that to even experienced travelers although it had never happened before. We realized it had probably been left on one of the small carts my husband likes to use in the airport. since he carries a very heavy laptop case that we wheeled to the entrance. The pier staff could not have been more helpful in dealing with the airport and security and amazingly the bag was found in the transit area not even near the lounge. They made many calls to various airport dept and sent a cathay staff person to escort my husband to retrieve the bag and helped us to make the next flight. It was the carryon we had taken into HK for the day and had it been opened a nice camera and pearl jewelry were sitting right on top. The staff in our case deserve big kudos from the front desk to the massage staff who told us most items are usually found and relax. It was a happy ending and a lesson for us but we will remember great service.
May 8, 2019, 1:37 am
#116
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 83
[QUOTE=thatflyer;31040158]
T
wooohh. Hold on here.
Whilst i too complained about the F CX lounge in HK let’s not get to the point to say it is not worth going to.
If you would spend any time in any lounge my choice would always be in a CX lounge (with perhaps Sydney Qantas F lounge the exception - but generally CX is my place of choice).
It is miles better than any BA lounge.
Clearly you have never been to The Concorde Room. It is miles better than any CX lounge, including The Pier. Better food, better champagne, better service, better seats (unlike the Wing where the springs on those armchairs have gone a long time ago) and the ability to book spa appointments in advance.
wooohh. Hold on here.
Whilst i too complained about the F CX lounge in HK let’s not get to the point to say it is not worth going to.
If you would spend any time in any lounge my choice would always be in a CX lounge (with perhaps Sydney Qantas F lounge the exception - but generally CX is my place of choice).
It is miles better than any BA lounge.
Clearly you have never been to The Concorde Room. It is miles better than any CX lounge, including The Pier. Better food, better champagne, better service, better seats (unlike the Wing where the springs on those armchairs have gone a long time ago) and the ability to book spa appointments in advance.
May 8, 2019, 4:08 am
#117
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,520
Clearly you have never been to The Concorde Room. It is miles better than any CX lounge, including The Pier. Better food, better champagne, better service, better seats (unlike the Wing where the springs on those armchairs have gone a long time ago) and the ability to book spa appointments in advance.
May 8, 2019, 7:26 am
#118
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
many of us who use the ccr a lot - some every week - would disagree with your assessment that the CCR is ‘miles better’ than the Pier. Champagne and wine are indeed a clear win for BA, showers and relaxation rooms a clear win for CX, the food could easily split people but I personally like it significantly more at the Pier in general except the cheese plate and desserts, juices and non alcoholic drink much better with cx. I personally like decor and comfort a lot more at the Pier too though appreciate tastes vary.
May 8, 2019, 10:32 pm
#119
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 83
The relaxation rooms and showers at the Pier or the cabanas at the Wing are irrelevant to the many Diamond members who are based in Hong Kong. We are not going to the airport early to shower or relax in a cabana! What we want is somewhere to have a good meal (given CX's poor onboard catering), a few glasses of decent wine or champagne and for some a treatment. At the CCR, I can get the same champagne as they serve in first class, a proper three course meal, a seat and a massage if I want it. At the Pier, what I get is mediocre champagne, food that is more fit for a school cafeteria than a first class lounge and no hope of a treatment unless I was in the lounge for 12 hours!
I'm sorry but The Pier is not a first class lounge. It's a Diamond/OWE elite lounge with business class standard food and drink offering. It might beat the CCR on design but falls short on just about everything else.
May 8, 2019, 10:44 pm
#120
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SIN
Programs: AS MVPG75k, AA Plat
Posts: 741
The relaxation rooms and showers at the Pier or the cabanas at the Wing are irrelevant to the many Diamond members who are based in Hong Kong. We are not going to the airport early to shower or relax in a cabana! What we want is somewhere to have a good meal (given CX's poor onboard catering), a few glasses of decent wine or champagne and for some a treatment.