O'Hana and a small complaint

[SandrainNC]

Thanks everybody! I thought it was just really weird and we were kind of taken off guard, so didn't really say anything at the time. We had him try to eat the potatoes but he just played with them. Next time (if it every happens again anywhere) I will be ready for it and insist that I know my son better than he does.

Sandra

 

[DreaminDisney]

Thanks everybody! I thought it was just really weird and we were kind of taken off guard, so didn't really say anything at the time. We had him try to eat the potatoes but he just played with them. Next time (if it every happens again anywhere) I will be ready for it and insist that I know my son better than he does.

Sandra

I know I would have been caught off guard too and probably wouldn't have said anything at the time either.
'Ohana is the only place DH really wanted to go back to upcoming trip.
Your post is going to have me all prepared when I walk in there. Both DS and DD are picky eaters.

 

[just another guy]

I
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.

I am in NO WAY defending the servers comment, but I'm just stating the reasoning for it is probably thats its just easier. The servers get in their routine of greet a table, bring salads, bring meats, a check, and do it again. Having to go get mac and cheese from elsewhere throws off their routine.

 

[bavaria]

soooo.... if I had asked my server for a vegetarian entree would I have been told to try the meat first and see if I like it?

We struck this place off our list years ago and until there is significant improvment in reports here I have absolutely no desire to go back

 

[Puncek]

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

So true! It sounds like the servers are being lazy, it is completely inappropriate for a server to impose on what your family wants. They are very lucky that you were so polite. I could see if the server brought out samples BEFORE your food came out to see if your children would enjoy it, but to have your child waiting there, watching you eat is very unfortunate.

This happens in our family, my mom is allergic to cheese and multiple times here in NY we will go to a restaurant and they assure us there is no cheese in a certain item. Well, we order it and lo and behold - there is cheese. Their reaction - 'it's just a little!' So my mom is stuck ordering something else while we are eating our food.

 

[PrincessMomto2]

It amazes me how you can have such different experiences in a resturant. We went this past August and as soon as we were seated I asked for a kids menu, our waitress was absolutely fine about it and very nice. She said sure and my 3 yo ordered chicken fingers and fries. I personally think that it is rude and crazy for them to have a child wait to see if they will eat it. We really enjoyed our meal and didn't have any issues at all.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

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

This same thing happened to us last year but I was not a graceful as you were. Our waiter insisted twice that we wait to see if our son will eat the food. Which I knew he would not. After the second time, I stood up and thank goodness I was on the other side of the table and told him to please get him chicken fingers and fries. He then attempted a third time to suggest this same thing and was stopped dead in his tracks by the Manager. Who luckily was walking by our table at this point. The manager apologized and did not charge us for our son's meal. I did not need to explain as he heard the whole conversation. We are going back to O'hana's again this April but I think it will be different this time as my son has started eating those types of foods.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

I am in NO WAY defending the servers comment, but I'm just stating the reasoning for it is probably thats its just easier. The servers get in their routine of greet a table, bring salads, bring meats, a check, and do it again. Having to go get mac and cheese from elsewhere throws off their routine.

Yeah, that's what I said in my post, too:

I imagine it had nothing to do with what is healthier, but more as what is easier for them to deal with....

 

[mom2my3kids]

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.

Your boys are old enough, but that is something I hate is when parents of small children let their little kids (like 4,5 etc) have cups of coffee. I don't know why its a pet peeve its not my kids, I always make jokes and say boy your going to be hyper today..

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I don't get what the big deal is. I don't think it's rude that servers encourage kids to try new foods. The last time I ate at Ohana, there was a table next to mine with two kids, the mom asked if there was anything else available for her kids, and the server said she'd get them pb&j, but why don't they just try this food first? She didn't say it at all rudely, but instead encouraging the kids to try something new. They did, and they liked the food.

If parents didn't give in to their kids so much then there would be far less pickiness when it comes to food. Case in point, me and my cousins, my little cousins always got their way when it came to what they wanted to eat, and now they're adults, and they are still very picky. At Thanksgiving all they would eat was turkey and mashed potatoes, no veggies at all, so that isn't even that healthy.

I'm not saying children should be forced to eat stuff they don't like, but they should be made to try it, they will usually like it.

 

[Tara]

I don't get what the big deal is. I don't think it's rude that servers encourage kids to try new foods. The last time I ate at Ohana, there was a table next to mine with two kids, the mom asked if there was anything else available for her kids, and the server said she'd get them pb&j, but why don't they just try this food first? She didn't say it at all rudely, but instead encouraging the kids to try something new. They did, and they liked the food.

If parents didn't give in to their kids so much then there would be far less pickiness when it comes to food. Case in point, me and my cousins, my little cousins always got their way when it came to what they wanted to eat, and now they're adults, and they are still very picky. At Thanksgiving all they would eat was turkey and mashed potatoes, no veggies at all, so that isn't even that healthy.

I'm not saying children should be forced to eat stuff they don't like, but they should be made to try it, they will usually like it.

That's a nice theory and concept, but it isn't always possible. My son, for instance, has Asperger Syndrome and while his manifestations are mild, the strongest and most pronounced is texture aversion with regard to food. He cannot tolerate many food textures. It isn't a simple matter of just "try it, maybe he'll like it." The aversion causes so much apprehension and anxiety in him that anytime we try to introduce a new food, it's a very delicate situation, one requiring a lot of careful preparation. It's certainly not something I'm going to do in the middle of a vacation for him.

I know my child better than anyone else, and if a server suggested that he "try the food" then I would probably respond politely that it isn't as simple as that and ask for what he would eat. If that request was not met, I'd speak with a manager. My child faces a lot of challenges in life, and I'd rather worry about the really big ones - picky eating doesn't make it very high on the list.

 

[SandrainNC]

I agree with Tara completely. My son has Down syndrome and there is no reasoning with him to try something. I know him and what he will and will not eat. It has nothing to do with giving into him. And it really doesn't matter that he has a disability. I should be able to order him what I want.

Sandra

 

[SandrainNC]

I'm not saying children should be forced to eat stuff they don't like, but they should be made to try it, they will usually like it.

I wish that were true!!! My oldest usually does not unfortunately.

Sandra

 

[disneyfav4ever]

You two have good, medical reasons, to need a children's menu, but I know that most don't try things, just because they don't want to, and I think that is wrong on the parents part.

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

If I'm paying for it, I'm getting what I whatever I want no matter what the server says or suggests! Suggesting it once and then turning it down is one thing but to keep suggesting it when the parent(s) said no the first time is ridiculous. I'd tell the server that if he/she liked it so much they could eat it but to bring what I asked for and keep his/her opinions to themselves.

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

You two have good, medical reasons, to need a children's menu, but I know that most don't try things, just because they don't want to, and I think that is wrong on the parents part.

As a previous poster already said, if I'm a vegetarian should I be expected to try the meat dishes too? I don't think a public restaurant is the place to attempt to introduce new foods to a picky child. I'm sure the other diners wouldn't appreciate the crying and screams of "I don't want it!" And yes, I do have two young kids.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

As a previous poster already said, if I'm a vegetarian should I be expected to try the meat dishes too? I don't think a public restaurant is the place to attempt to introduce new foods to a picky child. I'm sure the other diners wouldn't appreciate the crying and screams of "I don't want it!" And yes, I do have two young kids.

I don't get how you can compare vegetarians to picky eaters, the two are completely different. One is a life-style, the other is not. If the parents would have their kids know at home that they are expected to try new things, then it wouldn't be an issue when eating out.

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

I don't get how you can compare vegetarians to picky eaters, the two are completely different. One is a life-style, the other is not. If the parents would have their kids know at home that they are expected to try new things, then it wouldn't be an issue when eating out.

How is it completely different? If someone tells the server they don't want something and the server keeps suggesting it - there's no difference. I shouldn't have to explain my reasons to anyone because it's none of their business (i.e. I don't want the sausage Mr. Server because I'm a vegetarian OR I don't want the sausage Mr. Server because I know my kids won't eat it OR I don't want the sausage Mr. Server because my son/daughter has a medical issue). My lifestyle choice is that I don't need someone else (like a server) telling me what my kids should eat.

 

[SandrainNC]

My lifestyle choice is that I don't need someone else (like a server) telling me what my kids should eat.

Absolutely!

I myself am a picky eater. And I am 37! I do try things though, but what if my server would tell me I couldn't order something I wanted, but that I need to eat something else that is better for me. I would think they were crazy! It is the parent's responsibility to decide what their child can or cannot eat. And if the parents want the kids to have chicken tenders the entire vacation, that is up to them. I did not do this by the way. To much of anything greasy is just asking for an upset stomach.

Sandra

 

[disneyfav4ever]

How is it completely different? If someone tells the server they don't want something and the server keeps suggesting it - there's no difference. I shouldn't have to explain my reasons to anyone because it's none of their business (i.e. I don't want the sausage Mr. Server because I'm a vegetarian OR I don't want the sausage Mr. Server because I know my kids won't eat it OR I don't want the sausage Mr. Server because my son/daughter has a medical issue). My lifestyle choice is that I don't need someone else (like a server) telling me what my kids should eat.

I didn't say that the server should refuse to serve the food you want. I was just adressing the fact that you are all complaining about the servers encouraging your kids to try new foods. And there is a big difference between being a vegetarian and a child being picky.