Kona Cafe..anticipated but was disappointed

[Curiouser&curiouser.]

We had 7ish ADR at Kona Cafe on Aug 6,2009. We checked in early around 6:30 but were NOT seated until well after 7, which I understand but we thought we should try because we were there earlier than anticipated.
anyways....we finally got seated and our server was not helpful from the get go. We had NOT been there before and I was really excited about going b/c my sister & her hubby went in May & said it was fabulous. I loved everything on the menu and wanted suggestions but the server was all about rushing us in and out...or maybe not, maybe she was just not interested in anything because she took FOREVER to do anything. This left us with a very sour taste.
I had the pork and DH had the tuna oscar. both were good but the sides were nothing to brag about. DS(7) loved his ravioli but DD had an inedible hot dog, she wouldn't eat it and DH took a bite and said it was aweful and told DD NOT to eat it. DS(2) ate the fruit bowl but NOT the chicken..oh well at least he found something he liked. We got the desserts hoping that would "SAVE" the meal, as everyoine raves..but to our dismay this was the "icing" on a bad meal. both DH & myself got the choc. lava torte or whatever it was called and it was not good...we have had it before at other restaurants and loved it but it was not good here.
kids liked their ice cream sundae...I was very annoyed b/c the waitress only brought 2 and charged us for 3 TS for kids. whatever...to get her to correct it would have taken another 2 hours. I was very disappointed because we had very high expectations and made a special trip to the Poly for this dinner...spent about $40 for taxi to and from...thought it would be worth it but we gave it a try.
The service really does make the meal!

 

[angelmav]

Sorry to hear about your experience. We have a bfast scheduled here in a few weeks so hopefull that will be better.

You are so right that the Service makes the meal. We eat out alot and lately have had either really great or absolutely terrible service. The great ones have earned our repeat business and made the meal even more enjoyable, the bad ones destroyed the experience and we wont be returning to those places for a long, long while.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

We had such lousy service here about 5 years ago that we've yet to go back...and this used to be our MUST do place to eat every year!

 

[catne]

what a bummer for your family...so sorry it turned out so badly for you. Kona was one of our favorite food places, but will say the dinner service was not the best...she was fast & efficient, but did not seem very happy to be onn the job somehow. I don't know what's going on with the service industry lately but seems like we're seeing this all over. Only thing we could think of is with the rotten economy, maybe there's a lot of people taking serving jobs when they'd rather be working a desk job? Whatever reason, we've seen this a lot lately...less quality food and worse service everywhere (Im talking national chain places like Outback & Applebee's) I just don't get it...a serving job is better than no job,right?

And the chocolate desserts...I just recently read a review covering a large party over quite a few meals...the reviewer commented that the whole group agreed that the best desserts at Disney were not the chocolate ones (even though the family loved chocolate) thinking back over their favorites they all decided the best desserts were always non-chocolate...when I think back, my faves were also non-chocolate too. Maybe Disney just doesn't bother with the chocolate desserts all that much?

 

[minnie_michelle]

I don't know what's going on with the service industry lately but seems like we're seeing this all over. Only thing we could think of is with the rotten economy, maybe there's a lot of people taking serving jobs when they'd rather be working a desk job?

I think this is the reason. Being a server is HARD work, yet very low pay. Yes, you get tips, but in this bad economy, people (including myself) haven't been able to afford to give big tips like in the past., so servers probably aren't feeling too valued anymore. I still give 17% percent, but I use to give 20-25%. Add on wage freezes and few other job options and there are going to be a lot of unhappy people at work.

I know this technically isn't an excuse and one needs to do the best job they can, but in the end if you worked hard in school or in life and all you can get is a serving job, your bound to reach the end of your rope at some point and its going to be SUPER hard to be all syrupy sweet all the time (especially at Disney where all the vacationers are happy and have the money to be on vacation)

 

[disneygirlinnj]

Sorry you had such lousy service! With the whole thing with the hot dog, the service, and the desserts...I would have immediately found a manager. People have to know what a lousy server it was. Plus the hot dog issue would have hopefully been resolved. All it takes is a stroll over to the manager that is usually standing around keeping an eye on things or asking the host stand to get one for you. I know people don't like to intrude or make an issue of things but none of that is acceptable in my opinion and needs to be addressed right away.

Hopefully you'll hear a few more good reviews over the years and try it again down the road.

 

[Curiouser&curiouser.]

I can understand about people being frustrated by being in a job they don't really want to be in.
I worked in the service industry in high school and college (summer-time). Living in a resort area, it was really good money, but I knew there was an end to it and I was moving on to other areas of employment. I can understand the frustration,but I still gave 100% to get the best tip and I was always accomodating regardless of how the guest acted towards me. Trust me I had some pretty nasty people.
There is a certain demeanor that one should have working in the service industry. anyway, I was excited to be there and I felt as though I was shot down before I even got to read the whole menu. Maybe I am just a big foodie and was excited about all the great looking items on the menu...and the waitress was not into the food there...
It does kind of contradict the whole theme this year..."celebrate each day"...