mag and i went to Hot Peppers for supper tonite. at first glance, the place looked semi-classy. the servers tried to be courteous and exceedingly helpful like in high-class hotel restaurants. but the service was a bit all over the place. first they told us that the place was booked for a function, but then stopped us at the door and gave us a table. we waited forever to make our orders, to get the correct food orders, or to ask for the check. I'll give them a break on the service coz it was a fullhouse at the time.

then, there was the food... I ordered the grilled chicken with thai basil chutney, which was supposed to be a specialty item for some cook-off competition. the chicken didn't taste grilled or like anything pleasing to the senses at all. the chutney was good, but the whole ensemble as a dish looked as if it was thrown together by someone who is brave enough to try new things but utterly unqualified to do so. to say the least, I was unimpressed with the food. mag liked her Pad Ped with beef.

what did impress me was the furniture and the utensils: bold glass-top tables, leather-covered dining chairs and cutleries that top the ones we find in much more expensive restaurants. however, that only further confused the dining experience: my admiration for the unique design of the cutleries was interrupted as they sink into the uninteresting food; the pleasant and polite waiter soon became an annoyance because of the absence of service. the place gave me very mixte messages... I had the impression I was in a very good restaurant, then they disappointed me with the food; I had the impression I would be very well taken care of, then the waiter was no where to be found.

I wish I had just caught them on a bad night, coz the restaurant has a lot of potential.

I give them overall a 5.5 out of 10, with Mcdonald's being 2.5 out of 10. .e  22:43