Just returned from visiting Charlie Chan restaurant in Cambridge. Initially I was concerned having read the previous comments. However the experience of my group was entirely different. We were greeted at the door and throughout the evening the staff were excellent. Food was great. Would definitely return again.

It was the reviews (admittedly dating back nearly three years) that drew me to Charlie Chan. Either the restaurant has changed hands in that time or the good reviews led to complacency, because this is one of the worst restaurants in Cambridge. Inattentive, offhand service, food that is mediocre at best and appalling at worst, and seriously overpriced: the worst of all possible combinations. Don't pay any attention to the old reviews. Has anyone been complimentary about Charlie Chan recently.?

Being a student here, I decided to come with my parents to Charlie Chan because it was 'popular' amongst the Chinese community. Upon walking in, and hearing Norah Jones jazz music, I was pretty impressed with their tastes and with the decor and was expecting a nice meal out with my parents. So I'll give 1 star for decor and ambience. We were seated downstairs where the decor wasn't as nice as upstairs though.

Service - Appalling. It took at least 10 minutes to get the waiters' attention and it wasn't even that busy. Yes they were serving other people but they could have acknowledged us. They knew we were trying to get their attention but ignored us. I've been to many chinese restaurants and I can safely say this is the *only* Chinese restaurant that didn't greet us when we came in or bid us thank you when we left like most other chinese restaurants do.

So really unfriendly staff. I don't expect they get many loyal customers returning as I suspect most of their clientele are just tourists who only go there once, not knowing what to expect. Poor souls.

Value - Rip off. Not good value for money. There are places in london with dimsum cheaper and so much tastier! There was one dish which was better than average so 1 star for that but the desserts, especially the sai mai lo, had no sai mai lo in it! Just pure milk and probably 15 pearls in it. Not worth the £4, probably cost less than £1 to make.

Manager - Rude and cold. Unsympathetic. Moody to us. I'm not happy with his attitude.

Overall service was average. Food ok. Left with a bad taste in my mouth, figuratively and literally.

Charlie Chan's is the best Chinese restaurant that I've manged to find since leaving London for Norfolk (that is vaguely near me), in particular their dim sum is very good. As a life-long connoisseur of Chinese food (I am from the Orient myself) I would thoroughly recommend the food. Their service is generally fine, but the Chinese style of service can be a bit off-hand. It's a cultural thing you know!

'Greenky'