Spoodles, what happened?

[Mackey Mouse]

I thought I would write my experience late March with Spoodles.. I do think they have interesting food and it is usually very tasty. I thought the menu had changed, seemed less offerings than I have remembered in the past.

This was the issue I had with the restaurant. We were there earlier in the evening and for some reason one of the chefs, not sure of his official title, was screaming, and I do mean screaming, each order to the chefs in the back. I asked our waiter about it and he suggested I tell the manager that night.

The manager for that night came over and I spoke with her. I told her that I thought the screaming was not necessary to the running of that kitchen. I explained that we always eat there and never remember this amount of yelling from the kitchen. Maybe it was early in the evening, no noise in the restaurant, that it was so noticeable, but I have to tell you here, it was obnoxious....obnoxious enough that I am posting about it. The part of this I did not like is she obviously spoke with the chef and the one screaming who continued to look at our table and laugh as he continued to yell...The Manager gave me the usual, I am sorry about the noise and thanked me for my constructive criticism, but as I said the screaming went on through our entire meal.

I will rethink my eating at Spoodles. When I eat out at a decent sit-down meal at WDW, I expect to hear the bustle of a good restaurant, but this was over the top.

 

[tortoni]

Wow, that sounds awful. Spoodles is usually our favorite place but who needs to hear that on vacation? Thanks for posting.

 

[Alice Sr.]

I thought I would write my experience late March with Spoodles.. I do think they have interesting food and it is usually very tasty. I thought the menu had changed, seemed less offerings than I have remembered in the past.

This was the issue I had with the restaurant. We were there earlier in the evening and for some reason one of the chefs, not sure of his official title, was screaming, and I do mean screaming, each order to the chefs in the back. I asked our waiter about it and he suggested I tell the manager that night.

The manager for that night came over and I spoke with her. I told her that I thought the screaming was not necessary to the running of that kitchen. I explained that we always eat there and never remember this amount of yelling from the kitchen. Maybe it was early in the evening, no noise in the restaurant, that it was so noticeable, but I have to tell you here, it was obnoxious....obnoxious enough that I am posting about it. The part of this I did not like is she obviously spoke with the chef and the one screaming who continued to look at our table and laugh as he continued to yell...The Manager gave me the usual, I am sorry about the noise and thanked me for my constructive criticism, but as I said the screaming went on through our entire meal.

I will rethink my eating at Spoodles. When I eat out at a decent sit-down meal at WDW, I expect to hear the bustle of a good restaurant, but this was over the top.

Wow, that would have really annoyed me too. I don't think he'll be around long if that is his customer service attitude. Maybe they will transfer him to CM where he'll fit right in. We are going in June do you think if we ask for a table away from the kitchen it would help? Was the quality of the food preparation still good?

TIA,
Alice

 

[Gabrielle]

I didn't like Spoodles at all when we went a few months ago. Same general problem. Rude (male) staff. Just one table full of guests in the restaurant -- when I asked to sit not so close to the kitchen area (we were right up against it) and closer to the window, we were denied.

Never again.

 

[Misti]

Wow! Sorry to hear about your experience there! Personally, I preferred the old Spoodles menu when it was a little more exotic. But, we still enjoy the new menu just not as much. Not a great dining experience to hear yelling the whole time!!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I think you would hear this chef screaming from any table in the restaurant, the noise level was horrendous.

He actually thought it was pretty funny though to continue the screaming. I probably will not go back there either, although I do love some of the people who have been there for a while. To see their familiar faces when I go there and they recognize us makes us feel so at home. I am sad for them as they have to listen to it too and seems like there is nothing they can do either.

I do think Disney needs to rethink the handling of this kitchen....we do know it is a bustling Mediterranean kitchen.

 

[Chuck S]

Isn't Spoodles the one with the open "show kitchen?" I think I ate there after it first opened. For some reason lately every restaurant I've been in with open kitchens think yelling is "part of the show"

Look at how "noisy" chefs became popular on TV. There was even a "reality" contest show where the contestant chefs would be loudly humiliated by the head chef. This must be the new popular thing to do.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

It is an open kitchen, but it is not a reality TV program, I agree. I guess to annoy the guests with yelling out the orders like a wild man must be the popular thing now. Wow!!!!!

I think if one of the patrons complained about the noise level to more than one person than that the chef could have toned it down....make the effort, at least while I was there..rather than glancing and laughing.

 

[marcyinPA]

We ate at Spoodles in September, and we were disappointed. We didn't think the food was that great for the price, and the service was below par. We won't be back...it just didn't live up to the hype!

 

[jezebella]

We ate at Spoodles about a month ago. I thought it was pretty good...not quite sure if it was $100 good...but good. I really liked it so much better when it first opened and was a tapas restaurant. Since then---when I want my fix for a fab tapas place--I head for Cafe Tu Tu Tango on I-Drive! Yum-O and great local artwork to boot!

 

[Aimeedyan]

He sounds like a diva =) How annoying!!!

 

[magicmouse2]

My husband loves open kitchens! anywhere else in WDW with an open kitchen ?

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Citrico's has an open kitchen as well......it is a signature restaurant at the Grand Floridian. No screaming at that one and great food comes out of that kitchen.

 

[Desnik]

Well, I for one will welcome all the yelling. It will drown out my 3yo DS who is a screamer!!!LOL Sometimes he just screams when he is excited!

I really love Spoodles and go on every trip, sometimes 2-3 times in one week! I have always gone later in the evening and feel that it is pretty noisey in there with the costomers so I never really noticed it being too loud coming from the kitchen.

I think your experience will definately help others who are looking for a more quiet experience. If you liked the food maybe give it a try later in the evening?

By the way, how was the food?

 

[MickeyCrazed]

when I want my fix for a fab tapas place--I head for Cafe Tu Tu Tango on I-Drive! Yum-O and great local artwork to boot!

I heard this is an excellent (and cheap) place for a great meal. I might have to venture there during my next trip!

 

[frogmommy]

We ate at Spoodles Monday night. I don't remember any screaming, though it was crowded so maybe I just didn't notice? Our waiter and the rest of the CMs were all very polite and accomodating. Ours was a good experience, sorry yours wasn't.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

We have eaten at Spoodles every trip since they opened and have never run into this problem. We usually sit at a table right by the kitchen and trust me, I would noticed. I am very sensative to noise.

We call their 4 cheese flatbread "heaven on a plate" and the desserts are out of this world. I do wish they had not changed the entrees, but one of the servers told me this may not last as people are not happy.

 

[jonimce]

Having worked in the rest. business for over 30 years, kitchen work Is very stressful. Chefs, cooks, waitstaff, and managers yell at each other all the time. Then when the shift is over, we all hug. But never should this happen in an open kitchen. If it does, after the complaint you should have heard a pin drop in that kitchen. If a chef isn't going to respect the custoners, he shouldn't be working there.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Sounds like this chef was sort of an "expediter"--. We've seen it more and more in restaurants where one person (or chef) has the job of barking out the orders as they are posted, then saying that such and such an order is "up", asking for runners to deliver the food, etc etc.
But can't recall anyone screaming or yelling as they do it--

 

[LindsayDunn228]

We are going to Spoodles in November. Note to self: pop an Advil before leaving the resort