"Simply put, my first dining experience with Red Ginger was awful! I originally made a reservation for two on my birthday (November 19, 2018) but I was running slightly late. When I gave the restaurant a courtesy call to make them aware of my delayed travels, I was only rushed off the phone and was told it would be 'okay ' and they would see us when we arrived. I initially thought it was rude I was not given a chance to ask some questions about the dine-in experience, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt that they were possibly busy. When we get to the restaurant, they did NOT have a rush but they did have two full tables with two chefs. The hostess asked me if I would like to sit at the dining tables or if I would like to wait for another chef to become available for the sit-down experience. Of course, being that I was dining in for my birthday, I chose to wait 20 minutes for another chef and meanwhile ordered some drinks at the bar. My problem with Red Ginger was that when we were finally sat down and afterwards the chef arrived 20 minutes later, he asked us and the other couple, who joined us later, if there were any special occasions...again, I made them aware of my birthday a third time. After noticing they were celebrating other birthdays with nice music and a dessert with sparklers, I thought it would be nice to have the same done for me...however, my birthday was never recognized. Anyway, while the chef cooked, he rushed through the entire thing with little to no conversation and the food tasted horrible; it all had an awful burned aftertaste and the vegetables were all bitter to taste. Then after the chef departs, we all notice him right outside the windows of the restaurant on his phone and smoking a cigarette! Mind you, this was not even 10 minutes after he left our table. I was not please and highly disappointed I wasted my time and my birthday evening at this Uptown Charlotte spot, where I had high expectations."
