Rainforest Cafe-worse service-EVER!

[disneymom225]

We went to Rainforest Cafe on Monday with my mom, dad, DH, and DD (2). We were there for breakfast and there were exactly 3 tables occupied. We were put at a table rigth by the entrance (not a great seat but not really a big deal). DH and I put in our drink orders and took DD for a walk around the restaurant-again 3 tables occupied in the whole place-EMPTY. My dad joined us about 1/2 way through our tour and I went back to the table to keep my mom company. The waitress brought the drinks and then walked away. Everyone else came back and we looked over the menu. THe waitress came over and asked if we needed more time (part of the story also deals with the way it was said-hard to express in email!). We said yes and she sort of huffed and walked away. She came back a few minutes later and started w/ DH who was on the end- He said he wasn't sure-could he go last? She rolled her eyes and started with my dad on the other side. We ordered and I got up to go to the gift shop to buy DD a sweatshirt (too cold for what she was wearing)- DH joined me and the waitress walked into the restaurant and said "Your breakfast is at your table" and walked away. Now, this may seem like a nice thing to do but when it was accompaned with an attiude and said with a frown- it just made us feel like we were being kids called to the table by a cranky mom. It took forever to get the bill (slightly more tables occupied but still NOT a full house). When we did-no pen. I asked the guy at the inside podium and he didn't have one- then he immediately turned back to the conversation he was having with an off-duty co-worker. I asked another waitress and she didn't have one either--I ended up back in the gift shop asking the woman there! I gave a $5 tip on a $54 bill and explained my position to the manager. Now, that said-my mom worked for many years as a waitress, DH spent about 10 years in the restaurant industry and we live in a service oriented resort area so we understand that people have bad days (it was 8:45 AM but who knows what happened the night before!) and waitressing is a tough, tough job. We ALWAYS tip a minium of 20% and I have never complained to a manager about a waitress in my entire life but this service was so bad, so slow, and made us all feel that we were being a burden to the waitress. Horrible! THe food was fine (nothing to write home about but decent) and the restaurant decor is amazing but I would definitely think twice about going back.

 

[ILoveMagic]

Sorry to hear about your experience. For future reference which rainforest was this at?? I have a ADR at the one in the Animal Kingdom on my upcoming trip in April.

 

[scrump]

So sorry your experience was so rotten. It takes a lot for us to get riled up, too. I guess the manager was not too helpful, either?

 

[PinkTink63]

I am really sorry to hear that! We love the RFC! We have eaten there several times over the years and have never had bad service. We mostly eat at the one in DTD, but have eaten at AK and DTD at Disneyand. We have also had exceptional service there by a few different servers. Please give them another chance!
Good Luck!
Stephanie

 

[COmomof2]

I'm so sorry to hear that you had to start your day off in that way! We had lunch at the RFC at AK last April, and it was horrible. The service, the food, everything. They were busy that day, but not swamped (tables open) and they would not move us from the table they put us at in the bar. We were hoping to have a nice lunch, while the boys watched the animals and fish, but we got stuck getting wet by that stupid "wall of water" in the bar! Needless to say, we won't be going back. No wonder why the RFC here in Denver had to close.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

it's an overpriced gift shop pretending to be a restaurant.

 

[klineyqueen]

I am sorry you had such bad service! It stinks that one bad waitress can make you now like a restaurant. We had one of the best servers ever at the RFC at AK. Try it again, you are sure to get a MUCH better server!!

 

[we3disneygo]

maybe try the downtown disney location next time? we have always had good service and food.

 

[Stitchfans]

We were planning on making a ADR for our trip to Rainforest. now I am wondering if it is a good idea. Maybe it will be alright for us. I only experienced one rude person at MGM at a fast food counter. For some reason the name Rosie stands out. I do remember it was a females name, and I vowed never to eat there again.

 

[Priorityonecb]

We've never been impressed with Rainforest Cafe. The kids like the atmosphere...but the food and service just doesn't live up to it. We have vowed to never eat at another again.

 

[Hannathy]

I'm going to get flamed but I don't think you were exactly in the right either. How many times is she supposed to come back to the table? Couldn't you all have stayed and looked at the menu before you started walking around the rest.
Then you didn't know and she had to make another trip, then when the food came you weren't there again and if she had just left it are you telling me you wouldn't be complaining about that? They should have found a pen for you yes but why did you short her that much, she could have just put the food down and left. And if she had gotten busy with other tables that were ready to order would you have been willing to wait until she was done with them. She tried giving you speedy service but you kept sending her away. Maybe she shouldn't have given you a look but you sound like a very frustrating table to serve and she is human after all.

 

[kimmikayb]

We had bad service at RFC in DTD last month. Slow with attitude. I was very discouraged. I enjoyed my food, but DH got sick (food or illness, we don't know,but he never wants THAT steak again!). We were treated as if the waitstaff was doing us a favor for eating in their establishment. They were about half full. We didn't get re fills on our drinks, never offered desert, never asked how everything was...had to ask for our check. However, we at at RFC in AK several years ago and had great service and food. I guess we should have gone back to that location.

 

[lilouisianagal]

I've only been to RFC for supper at AK. The first time the service was super super slow. It was a busy night, and it took forever to get our entrees. But the server was nice. I think he even brought me a kids menu and crayon to draw with (you are never too old for crayons!). I got a veggie burger and it was GreaT! And our volcano was delicious. Second time (Jan 2006), we had the last seating of the night at 5:45 and the service was fast, food was good, volcano was scrumptuous! So for those of yall in doubt--just switch to supper! I gotta say though...the swinging monkey next to our table kinda freaked me out.....

 

[BlindTyldak]

That's a shame. I got hurt at AK (walked into one of the floor seats at LotLK, fell over the bench, messed up both knees pretty bad) and a CM helped me hobble to RFC so I could get off of my feet for a while. The CM did not go into the restaurant with me (I don't know, maybe another CM called ahead though), but a waiter and waitress brought ice packs for my knees without asking and to be blunt, got me nice and loaded from the bar at no charge. I had a great lunch and made sure I covered the price of the alcohol plus extra in their tips. Both servers were excellent, and when I ate there (uninjured) on another trip the service was just as good.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Here is my experience of the service at RFC at AK:

And then there is our experience of the food there:
Yep, huge piles of horrible food in gloppy sweet sauces.

Nice gift shop tho, and neeto atmosphere. Unfortunately, we needed to eat too, so ...

 

[pumpkinboy]

... Needless to say, we won't be going back. No wonder why the RFC here in Denver had to close.

That's not it, COmomof2. It's just that they couldn't compete with Casa Bonita! I think any market only has room for one big restaurant with bad food and cool atmosphere, and in Denver, Casa Bonita has a lock on that niche

 

[DianeV]

WOW we have been to Rainforest at DTD 4 times now and not once have we had bad service or bad food. In fact everyone loved their food each time and we took different people. The pot roast is awesome and my husband loves the Pastalaya..kids love everything

 

[estnh]

Our experiences at the Rainforest are similar--we've probably been there six or seven times, and I don't think we've ever had decent service. Typically we are seated and ignored for half an hour or so. Order takes forever. Never get drink refills. Etc, etc.

Not quite sure why we keep going back--must be the t-shirts!

 

[PinkTink63]

WOW we have been to Rainforest at DTD 4 times now and not once have we had bad service or bad food. In fact everyone loved their food each time and we took different people. The pot roast is awesome and my husband loves the Pastalaya..kids love everything

My DH loves that too and the Mojo Rack-O-Bones! I, on the other hand, love the Rasta Pasta and the Fried Buffalo Chicken Salad! I can hardly wait to have them again!

 

[kid@heart25]

Sorry that you had a bad experience there. We have been there over 10 times and have always had great service and good food. I have even been there when it was so busy that there were no empty tables at all and wait outside for people to get a seat. I always make a reservation...this helps with the seat you get. The times that I did not make a reservation, we did not get soog seating and could not really see much of the decor, but the times that I have made reservations we had great seating. I am sorry that you had a bad experience there.