There has been a price hike but no difference in the food or service. Tables are small and cramped. During the dinner rush the noise level can disorientate you.
Red hat is probably better for large groups but not the best place for couples or a quick eat.
I used to eat here a lot, usually big groups of us. I have had several excellent experiences until what happened last time I was there. It wasn't really late but I and a mate were the last to leave, while we were eating all the wait staff and chefs sat down to eat.
We were still going after they had finished, still had half a bottle of wine and were still eating when a waiter came out with a vacuum cleaner and started vacuuming the restaurant. I got up immediately paid the bill NO TIP and have never been back.
Absolute must for UNSW students, with an average lunch dish costing 7-10 dollars, massive serving size and great tasting food. Surrounding is spacey which is different for a Kingsford restaurant, you aren't forced to eat and leave.
Highly recommended from a fast lunch to a nice Chinese dinner experience, definitely should be rated higher.
I suggest that Red Hat is the one of the most decent place around the Kingsford community. It's relatively clean yet the service is yet to improve. Again as I have mentioned in other commentaries of restaurants in Kingsford, you eat in Kingsford coz you have to (good location - close to university).
It used to be a good restaurant in Randwick. Food now is dull. My Chinese girlfriend mentioned that it is not a Chinese food at all. Although we have asked to bring appetizers first (ha gao obviously was defrosted and warmed up, extra sweet crab meat and corn soup), all the food arrived at the same time.
Result: full table and cold at the end. Not enough waiters: I had to go and fetch the spoons myself. Cold tea. No value. Definitely never again.
It's a place where you go to eat and run. You can't go past the BBQ Pork noodle with Ho Fan @ $7.90. Good sized portions of food and great tasting. Have been here loads, and never had a bad meal.
The service isn't great here but that's not the priority of most Chinese restaurants I find. This is a good place to come if you're a student, I have been here for dinner with friends and I really enjoyed myself. Highly recommend the salt and pepper squid and fried ice cream for dessert.
An oldie but a goodie. Well good enough anyway. This has long been a favourite whenever you needed something quick, easy, can usually find a seat and cheap. The food is ok as long as you steer away from some of the Malaysian/Indo style dishes, as you will be disappointed. But all the regular dishes like salt and pepper squid, shredded beef, pae dun congee, combination hot pot, fried rice noodle and fujian fried rice are good enough, considering the price you pay. This is good for families who require a large dining area.
The food is just fair with much MSG especially the soup. The serve is also getting smaller and smaller. The service is terrible. Most of the waitresses are impolite while the waiters are better. You don't want to eat in this restaurant with such waitress (as you don't want what she would do to your food) when there are far better choices out there.
If you are looking for a restaurant with no atmosphere but good food and terrible service, you need to go to the Red Hat. The service is fast, so fast that if after having the bill laid down on the table, you are asked to please pay and vacate the table so others can come in (with no lines of people waiting and upstairs unoccupied) after only 1 -1/4 hours in the restaurant eating a meal. The servings are plenty, the value quite good but the service, ambience and relaxation factors are in the negative. The owners seem to be more interested in the $$ than in the return business. I won't be returning as there are enough value for money Chinese restaurants who offer good food in Sydney, without returning to Red Hat! Don't let rude, impolite conduct be acceptable in business here in Sydney by patronising such businesses!