Food Opera @ ION - Shaky tables, shaky start to dining experience

http://www.tnp.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,209412,00.html

"SPECIALLY-commissioned animal sculptures worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Gothic European chandeliers.
Philippe Stark-inspired chairs.
Bone china crockery."

Tried the place on Friday, August 7, in the afternoon.

Crowd was there.

Food itself was so-so.

The animal sculptures I'm afraid, wouldn't contribute to recouping their costs.

The chandeliers were so densely spaced together they make the place look like lighting shops along Balestier Road.

No comments about the chairs, but some of the modern design tables were more wobbly than the tummy of Mr. Greedy.

What really turned me off though were a couple of things related to SERVICE.

First, some of the food vendors had dining quarters located behind their stalls, which they apparently reserved for exclusive use of their customers, which mean those sitting there couldn't have food from other stalls.  I don't know if they do pay for these areas, but even if they do, it should have been decorated differently like how it was done at the food court in Jurong Point - each private dining area decked with branding theme of the stall, instead of looking exactly like the common eating area.  The sign "No Outside Food Allowed" are everywhere, including both private and public dining areas.

Second, when I ordered my noodles, the staff asked me to sit in their stall's private dining area, but I didn't want to because Snowylady wasn't eating food from that stall.  The staff then asked if I could bring back the crockery after use, and one even asked if I could get it as a take-away with disposal containers and utensils, for just another 20 cents more.  Out of sheer magnamity, I returned their crockery, but I'll never patronise them again.