O'Hana and a small complaint

[SandrainNC]

We went to O'Hana for dinner on Tuesday, November 27. Let me start by saying we all thought it was very good! The meat was tender and I would love to eat there again. We do feel that we were rushed through dinner though.

My small complaint, however, is I asked when we sat down if they have a children's menu. Our server said that he likes to see if the kids will eat what they are serving before he will get them something from the children's menu because it is better for them. Ok, I know my 6 year old and I knew he was not going to eat any of the food. So of course, he has to sit there while we get our food and then the guy asks if the children are eating anything. My youngest was fine with the food, but my oldest was playing with the potatoes on his plate. I told him, no, like I said, he is not going to eat it. I found this very annoying. I know my child and if I want to go ahead and order him something then I should be able to do that. So he pretty much had to sit there while we were eating waiting on his food to be cooked. Ridiculous. Next time I will just insist that I know my child and they need to fix his food (if he is still picky at that time).

Has anybody else had this happen?

Sandra

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I wouldn't like that either.

 

[Nom]

It's just another example of Ohana's sub-par customer service, IMO. That place is just terrible anymore.

 

[Robert P]

I wouldn't like that either.

I totally agree. And the OP handled it much better than we would have.

 

[dancemomnj]

We went this past July with 5 kids and Nov. 2006 with our 2 and didn't have a problem at all when we asked for chicken fingers and fries. They told us the kids are still welcome to try what we have too. We had super service both times. We agree we never felt rushed. It is our favorite place! I think you must of had a bad server. I would not of been happy either if that happened to us.

 

[micmacmissy]

I agree. I would have asked the waiter, "I'm sorry, are YOU their mother?"

Okay...maybe I wouldn't have been that forward, but still--you either have the children's menu, or you don't. If a customer asks, give it to them.

Thanks for the heads up, though. We have an ADR there in a few weeks, we haven't been there before, so now I'm prepared!

 

[krismom]

something similar happened to us in August... the server told us "they can order from the Kona cafe menu for the kids, but won't they like to try what we have here first?" after my daughter just sat and stared at the food I (begrudgingly) put on her plate- I asked for mac and cheese from another server. I should have insisted int he first place-

 

[cinjoe22]

Same thing happened to us....I wasn't as nice as all of you and I insisted from the beginning. They wanted the Mahi Mahi from Kona..... I thought that was healthy....

 

[VLee]

Maybe you should have asked the waiter if he used to work at the Prime Time 50's .....did he also tell you to get your elbows off the table??

 

[Belle5]

These servers need to learn their place! He was way out of line! Last year while dining for our second time in a week at Kona, our server argued and argued that my sons (now 21, 19, 17, 15) shouldn't have pressed pots of coffee. Hello! It's our vacation and that's what they like. They had ordered them the week before with no problem.

 

[melmlantz]

Out of curiousity, (and I have never been there...) is this like EPCOT, where there are people from another culture (Hawaiian, yes?) working? This may be a cultural issue, especially since it has happened with different servers at different times. It is possible that they don't mean any disrespect, but that they are simply encouraging people to encourage their children to try the food. Research has shown that the more children are subjected to different foods when they are young, the more they will like those things later...... I will admit that I do not have children, but it's been shown that not encouraging trying a wide range of foods young can limit the range of foods they will eat later in life. Which is very bad when we are talking about french fries and fried chicken fingers being among the few things encouraged (found on most all kids menus). Especially in this age of obesity becoming a serious problem for children.

Just my two cents.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

These servers need to learn their place! He was way out of line! Last year while dining for our second time in a week at Kona, our server argued and argued that my sons (now 21, 19, 17, 15) shouldn't have pressed pots of coffee. Hello! It's our vacation and that's what they like. They had ordered them the week before with no problem.

That's crazy! But no one blinks an eye when a kid orders coke after coke....

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Maybe you should have asked the waiter if he used to work at the Prime Time 50's .....did he also tell you to get your elbows off the table??

 

[frdeb1999]

I think you handled it much better then I would have. We had a similar problem there only it was with me. I ordered a drink and it was just WAY too strong, don't know how anyone could have handled it the way it was. And I asked if I could get a glass of juice to see if I could tame it a bit.....she told me I should just add water and ice....basically deal with it since I ordered it. My husband about had to sit on me I was so mad. We spoke to the manager and it was taken care of immediately. I think they need to realize that the customer is right in most cases....especially since it is we who are paying for everything!

 

[DisneyJoo2008]

That's terrible, you're poor kiddie!!!
My brother has younger kids and his are really fussy and both have a huge appetite, he'd be horrified if that happened to them. The moaning from my brother's kids would be unbearable too!!! hee hee
xxx

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

I am very disappointed to hear that. This is the meal that I had been most excited about. But after hearing all of the recent bad reviews, I am honestly thinking about finding a different restaurant. I have a VERY picky 5 year old...I am afraid, looking at the kid's menus, that she will live on mac and cheese our entire vacation!

I, personally, don't understand what made the waiter think he had the right to tell you what your child should or shouldn't eat. You are a paying customer and it is their job to serve you what you want. If they are going to advise you to what is healthy to feed your children, do they deny deserts to overweight people? I imagine it had nothing to do with what is healthier, but more as what is easier for them to deal with....

I am seriously starting to consider Kona as I really want to eat at the Poly....

 

[Nom]

Out of curiousity, (and I have never been there...) is this like EPCOT, where there are people from another culture (Hawaiian, yes?) working? This may be a cultural issue, especially since it has happened with different servers at different times. It is possible that they don't mean any disrespect, but that they are simply encouraging people to encourage their children to try the food.

The servers are American.

The only cultural issue is the culture of Ohana servers: incompetance.

Just check out some of the recent review threads- mine ended up locked, but it shared my terrible experience at Ohana in Oct that was the last straw for me. Never again!

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I never in my klife felt rushed except for there. I don't think I will ever go back.

 

[daannzzz]

'Ohana is my favorite restaurant. I don't have kids but have read about this practice here a couple years ago. Seems stupid to me. But I don't think this is the servers and wait staff making it up as they go along, It sounds like a management decision to me and you should all write letters of concern. Perhaps it will stop the practice and make for better meals for those in the future.

 

[hildarumpole]

Our server didn't give us any hassles about ordering from the kids menu for DD9 and DS5, but she did insist that they have some of the skewered meats. I politely asked that they not be served the meats, but she went ahead and plopped some sausage right on top of their mac & cheese. DD9 was horrified. She's super-picky, especially about things like sausage. I picked the sausage off her mac & cheese, but it was already ruined for her and she wouldn't eat any more. We were already unhappy with Ohana and tired from a long day at MK, so decided to just finish up as quickly as possible and get out of there, rather than make an issue with the server. All these rumors of menu changes are irrelevant for me, because the main problem is the service. We have no intention of going back.