Water Margin
Restaurant - Chinese in Portsmouth
Gunwharf Quays
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO1 3TZ
Contact Numbers
Reviews
Not bad at all
The secret with this place is to go for the lunch menu, as it is much better value. There is less to choose from, but more than enough. I often go for the stir-frys, which are cooked in front of me by the chefs. Drinks are expensive and you are charged for water. This is very much a get as many people as we can kind of a place, but it does represent value for money. This is not the place to bring a first date, but if you are hungry and with friends you can't go far wrong.
A User - 11/07/2009 | report this review
Good for a pricey food poisoning
I would normally avoid places like this (buffets and suchlikes) but I had to go to this place after my (Chinese) girfriend asked me again and again to try it. Moreover, I like healthy and quality food, regardless the style or the way is cooked, and this "restaurant" hugely disappointed me. First of all, we made the mistake of getting there on Christmas. For this reason we gotsc#mmed with a so called "Christmas menu" which consisted in the normal stuff for double the price (15£ per person). Moreover they charged us 5£ (yes, you heard me) for a jug of tap water. We got there in the evening, as my girfriend asked me that because the variety of disches is supposed to be higher. Even if I don't fancy eating out I have a long personal tradition of trying Chinese restaurants, both in UK and abroad. And Water Margin is definitely at the lowest place in my ranking. The food is oily and greasy, I don't even want to know how many times they re-use the same oil in their kitchen, moreover the quality of fish and meats is very low, not to mention that the vegetables and fruit taste like the worse value Tesco food. If you take a peek on their food crates or in their ice cream freezer you can actually see that the ingredients ARE labeled as "value" grade food. Although I don't mind too much about the environment or the decor if I can get good food (this was clearly not the case), the place really looks like a big school canteen. I don't understand how families can bring their little kids to have their food here (we'll talk about this again in a few years time though, when they have some more serious eating disorder).The owner of this place should publicly make amend for intoxicating so many people everyday and they should eat their crappy food for the rest of their lives.In a few words, AVOID IT!
A User - 05/12/2008 | report this review
Only if you want to stuff your face with rubbish
I really hate this place, although I have some friends who seem to like it and so I have been a few times.Firstly, the place is like a giant canteen - it's noisy, cramped and always busy - hence only one star for ambience! And secondly, the food. For a chinese buffet restaurant, the choice is quite good I suppose, but as is common with buffets the food is of a lower standard than if you were to go to an a la carte restaurant...it's always a bit greasy, with overcooked meat and bright orange sauces. They also have a wok bar where you pick the raw ingredients, and then they cook it for you while you wait. I tried this the last time I visited, selecting some chicken and vegetables. I really wish I'd missed the chicken out - it had clearly been filled with water, and it basically just dissolved in my mouth after it was cooked, which made me feel a little queasy! I like my chicken to actually have a bit of texture!Overall - if you want to really stuff your face with not great chinese food...go for it. If not, then you wont get your moneys worth at this place!
A User - 08/11/2008 | report this review
All you can eat
This is an all you can eat chinese buffet. They offer a lunch menu and a dinner menu with very different prices. The dinner menu offers a wide range of dishes, including as much crispy duck as you can eat which is well worth the money already!! There are many starters and main courses and fruit, jelly and ice cream for desert. If you are wanting gourmet cusine, don;'t come here. The food is good but not excellent. The place gets very crowded and noisy and is not at all romantic. There are also raw noddles, meat and fish to be cooked upon request for you so you can have fresh food. The lunch menu is very restricted and not very good value in my opinion!
A User - 01/11/2008 | report this review
Does what it says on the tin
Water margin is definatley all you can eat, Perfect for all the family as they have a discounted rate for kids. Its cheaper at lunch time however for a reason as there is much less choice. But in the evening the wde aray of dishes will suit every taste. having a number of vegitarian family members we can go here without worrying. Theres pleanty of cake and ice cream as well as fruit for desert if you have any room left after trying all the dishs. Theres even a sction where you can watch what you choose be cooked in front of you. The feel is a little like a school canteen, big long tables and very noisey great for partys not romantic first dates!
A User - 12/09/2008 | report this review
So much food!
If you are a hungry person or someone who can eat till the cows come home, you need to go here!I suppose i'd say its sort of similiar to Cosmo. Buffet based with such a huge range of oriental food your eyes will pop out of your head!The staff are fantastic, you are seated quickly (there are lots of seats here and lots of space too which is good) and the waiting staff are attentive to your needs.The range of food is diverse and you will find something for all tastes even some british for the uneducated in your party!Price is really good for what you eat so enjoy!
A User - 09/09/2008 | report this review
Water Margin
Never know what to choose when you go to an Oriental restaurant? Feeling more than a little peckish? Want somewhere that an cater for you and all your friends at once? You need to try the Water Margin at Gunwharf Quays. On the upper deck, harbour-side at Gunwharf this restaurant is affordable and filling with a capital 'F'. We visited with quite a large group and no booking, and were seated very quickly. Those that dither can take as much time as they like while the decisive can get started choosing from a massive range of Chinese and other Oriental dishes. The buffet is an Asian Smorgasbord and you can eat as much as you like. Hot, cold and alcoholic drinks are served with desserts available on the buffet. Recommended for the very hungry or groups where everyone wants something different.
A User - 06/09/2008 | report this review
Chinese buffet
Pros This is a big all you can eat buffet restaurant in Gunwharf Quays. Lunch and dinner is served. There is a big price difference between the two and having tried both, i can see why. In my opinion, lunch is not worth trying. There is a limited range of dishes and no duck! Dinner has everything you'd expect - inlcuding as much crispy duck as you like!! There is raw meat and noodles to choose to be cooked fresh for you while you wait and a wide range of precooked dishes. Desert is jelly (coconut and fruit), fruit and ice cream. The place gets really busy and definatley is not a romantic place to go!
A User - 06/09/2008 | report this review
chinese buffet
Friends of ours love this place and say that the buffet is very good, have not been as yet but the other reviews look good so think I will give it a try and update this once i have.
A User - 04/09/2008 | report this review
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