Lee Wah Moultonboro
 

I am a long time customer of Lee Wah in Moultonboro, over 20 years. So much so that Jimmy knows what I like to drink and pours a Bacardi Gold and Coke (no diet!) as I enter. I am not a daily or weekly customer, but I live in the area and frequent Lee Wah often. Yesterday I went with my two daughters and two granddaughters. We sat at the table in the back and there were several other customers. The table in the front by the bar was filled with “the regulars”. Daily drinkers who sit and drink for hours. I’m okay with that, I’ve seen them plenty in the past. But yesterday the foul language, inappropriate sex talk and general loudness of the table of 8, I think, was over the top. I am not a prude and not the fun patrol and my name is not Karen. But appropriate behavior in a restaurant with other customers was not in their wheelhouse of common courtesy.

And then they started requesting music from the Alexa Echo devise. This speaker is in the back by the table. They had it so loud to be heard over their talk, that it was deafening in the back. To each his own on music, but what they requested I have no words to explain. Alternative, punk-rock country? We turned it down ourselves several times, but they repeatedly turned it back up.

When Jimmy brought our food my daughter asked if something could be done about the extremely loud noise and music. Jimmy stated those are his “regulars” that are there every day and he cannot offend them. I find it deplorable that they bully the owner and that he accepts it. We packed up our $200 worth of food and left. I will not be back. I’m wondering how many others don’t return. In allowing the abusive few customers, how many more customers has he lost?

I thought they were being forced to close by the landload

I live in Sandwich and drive to Wontons in Wakefield rather than go to Lee Wah Chen...

I've never been there but now I would think twice about visiting!

Last year the building was renovated to include some apartments. Most recently Lee Wah was closed for a month. The kitchen was renovated and Jimmy and family went to China for vacation.

You know, this exact thing has bothered me in the past, too, but we never stayed to eat.

The group of guys just congregate near the bar and make it an unwelcome entry/pickup.

It was especially bad during Covid when the plastic sheeting was up and there was only one small access point...usually cluttered/closed off by that group.

Sounds like maybe it's time to start hitting Google reviews.

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If they have decided to support the type of regulars who offend other customers, they will lose other business and possibly end up closing. Maybe there are enough jerks to keep them in business. The word will get out and no one else will go there, not even for take out.

Thanks for the heads up.

Well i never liked the food so I don’t go any

I prefer Green Ginger in Tilton.

Unfortunately most places attract their regulars, some are nicer than others. I know most of the characters that frequent Lee Wah. I will say something to them and Jimmy about this

Then head down the road to Lemongrass. The food is excellent, with none of that other BS.

Lemongrass is great - probably my favorite local place - but in a different price bracket than Lee Wah. A dinner for two with drinks and appetizers, including tip, gets well into the triple digits fast...

Too bad this restaurant doesn't seem to have what I call the "typical" Chinese restaurant layout, namely: two separate areas, one for dining, one for the bar.

Most Chinese joints out west have the bar separate and it works out well: they get a lot of money from the bar crowd who can hoot and holler like the drunks they are, not disturbing the diners.

Since you have written it off. Maybe take 7 of your Big Boy friends down with the anticipation of a loud discussion with those 8 guys. Be prepared but don't backdown or take this crap. SOMETIMES bullies need to get BULLIED. I have only had that happen to me once on a golf course, LOL, but speaking up shut them down..

Just a Thought !!

There are too many places to go for dinner. That one place is not worth the confrontation, better just to act with your wallet and take your business elsewhere.
That should be the owner's responsibility and if he's not willing to do anything about it then cross that place off your list!
I could see a confrontation in the heat of the moment but going back just to start one isn't very smart.

Already did.

It’s funny last month I was craving Chinese takeout since we have never had any decent Chinese food since living here and we decided to try them, but no one answered the phone and then we found out they weren’t open. I guess they are only seasonal?

Anyway after reading this thread I guess we won’t bother. I really miss the great Chinese restaurants we had back in our small town in NY. I am so surprised there isn’t a decent Chinese restaurant for takeout in Laconia or Gilford or Meredith. (we live in the Weirs)

Got takeout from Lee Wan yesterday. It was fine - service, food, and price. Actually a nice option for takeout. Why anyone would actually consider dining in a dark basement windowless area is beyond me..

Even back in Mass where I live, many of the good ones closed during Covid and never reopened. The ones that did reopened faced a backlash of Chinese hate.
Seems like there aren't as many Chinese restaurants as there were before Covid.

That's interesting... never thought about that angle, probably since I never associated what we call "Chinese" food in the US with the genuine ethnic Chinese...

Your comment about Chinese Hate is real, as sad as that is, and I recently learned this through my neighbor's experience. My next door neighbors in Bedford are Chinese and own several Asian restaurants in that area. Several weeks ago, my doorbell rang one afternoon and two Bedford police detectives were there. They asked me if I had heard or seen anything unusual at the neighbor's house the previous evening. I said that I hadn't and asked what was going on, and the detectives said that the neighbor's house had been broken into, but that this was a targeted attack and there was no threat to the neighborhood. They said that there is a known group of crooks in the northeast that target Asian restaurant owners because they are typically away from the house for many hours at a time at the restaurant and typically have large sums of cash in the house. Who knew? And how disgusting.

We don't know them that well, but several times each summer, they'll just come over and ring the bell with a bunch of veggies from their garden and we get the big hug like we've been life-long friends. They are super-nice people and the whole thing just boggles my mind.

Sure, confront a group of drunken strangers.

What could possibly go wrong?

100% agree. Fighting ignorance with more ignorance is not my way. Voting with my wallet. I like Jimmy, and i certainly don't want to see him lose his business. But also as a regular customer, I felt so disrespected by him.

Wonton's is excellent. But too far for a quick meal.

The restaurant that was in downtown Meredith was the best Chinese but closed

Phu Jee
 

I liked that place, too!

I miss that place, only a mile from my house. Another restaurant is supposed to be going in there, but I don't think it will be Chinese.

Lee Wah Moultonboro
 

Interesting thread. A world of hate, greed and thoughtlessness, and an opportunity to address it. Humanity at its worst, but it doesn't have to be that way.