Yangtze - Online Menu Ordering

So my wife and I decided to go out for Christmas; we're remodeling so it was a good idea to get out. We headed out to Santa Monica to walk on the beach for a little, and decided to stop by this little restaurant that we've heard some decent things about. The seating was prompt. The waiter, while friendly, was barely competent from the beginning. My wife asked for a glass of water, and he brought her an iced tea. When we ordered appetizers, he apparently put them in with the main course order, and we ended up waiting a long time, only to get our table filled with everything all at once. The Tom Ka soup was mediocre at best, the yangtze sampler was ok, and of course by the time we got to our entrees, they were well on the way to being cold. I ordered the honeyed duck, and my wife the jade curry. As far as I can tell, the kitchen got an old green curry, an old yellow curry, mixed them together, and called it jade. It was tasty, but only in a shopping mall thai place kind of way. My honeyed duck was dry dry dry. I'll give it to them that the skin was mostly crispy, but overall the duck was way overdone. Also the sweetpotato in the dish was intrigueingly grilled, but grilled a little too long; it started to taste a little of mold. I had to basically beg to get the check, and we sat there for nearly a half hour with my card in the check portfolio....finally I just got up and walked up to the innappropriately busy hallway between the sushi bar and the restaurant and made them take my card. A person slightly less honest would have just skipped on the check. Frankly I wish I had done, because I am now $45 poorer for a crappy meal. Having worked at restaurants myself, I looked at the wait staff with an informed eye; some people would say they are busy, I say they are terribly disorganized. Essentially: Mediocre food, pathetic service (largely due to incompetence) but lovely location. On the way back to the car, we saw two or three better restaurants. Pros: Location, patio Cons: Aweful service, mediocre food, very awkward hallway to restroom more

Although most seem to be focusing on Yangtze as a sushi bar, it's more of an Asian fusion mix than that. I've been eating here for years, moreso for their Chinese food than their sushi, though they have Thai dishes as well (their pad thai wasn't as good as other places). Sitting outside on the Promenade is great for people watching while sitting in the back gets you half-priced sushi (I've had a blast doing sake bombs with groups back there). Their dumplings are pretty good and their sushi rolls are better than their nigiri. The prices are overall reasonable and I'd definitely go back for more of everything! more

If you sit in the back, where the sushi chef is, sushi will cost you half as much as if you sit in the front (where you get to people watch on 3rd street). It's just OK sushi, but great price. more

I have ordered several times from Yangzte using the online menu thing and had no problems. The food arrived hot - and within 45 minutes as advertised. Someone did call to confirm my order, but frankly that seems like a good idea and not an annoyance. The food is excellent, and I, for one, will continue ordering from Yangtze. Pros: Good food, arrived hot and on time as advertised after ordering online Cons: none so far more

Although the online ordering is simple, if you don't get a phone call confirming it from the restaurant within 15 minutes, you're to call them. Save yourself the time and just phone in your delivery order. I've ordered 2x online, first time not knowing the call back rule. Waited an hour before I followed up, then another 25 for the order. 2nd time, I also had to call, but waited the full 15 minutes for confirmation. The food, is just mediocre, but having sushi delivered is a bonus. Pros: sushi delivered Cons: online ordering more