V&A - What a Disappointment!

[beachbunny]

My husband and I celebrated our tenth anniversary at V&A on July 3. Sadly, we were disappointed. We had dined there several times before, but not for a couple of years (too many other great places to eat at WDW).

The food was lovely. But service has gone way down hill. We had to wait forever between courses (we were there over three and a half hours).

And one of my appetizer selections was wrong. Everyone from the manager of the restaurant on down came to apologize but this is not what you expect from a five star restaurant.

There was a party going on in the private dining room and maybe this slowed down service. But again, that's no excuse when you're dishing out $150 per person before tip.

 

[Peter Pirate]

Apologies no longer suffice in an appropriate situation? When did people gain the ability to be perfect? I must have missed the memo...

 

[CarolA]

I know that when I ate there it took at LEAST 3 hours, but I never felt like the service was bad. (Actually I was glad, I had so much food we needed time to digest between courses).

I have to admit that if everyone including the manager apologized I think I would be satisfied. It happens at 5 star resturants, people are only human.

 

[beachbunny]

Beat up on me why don't you? I was just comparing my past experiences at V&A to my last experience. There was a CLEAR difference in level of service. Just thought people on this board would want to know before going there. And yes, if I'm going to a five star restaurant I expect perfection. For my money, I'd go to the California Grill - much better service and I enjoyed the food just as much.

 

[DisneyVillain]

Originally posted by Peter Pirate
Apologies no longer suffice in an appropriate situation? When did people gain the ability to be perfect? I must have missed the memo...

So, you don't care how bad your service is, as long as they apologize?

The OP didn't say she expected anything more, but saying "I'm sorry" doesn't make it as though it never happened. When you pay 5 star prices, you should expect 5 star service.

 

[billybaruch1]

Good point. "Sorry don't feed the hogs" is the way I learnt it.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Well. Sorry that you had a bad meal--or poor (just slow?) service.
Service is a prime feature of a restaurant like V&A, and when service is bad, then the meal is bad.
Hard to believe they could get your appetizer wrong tho--.
Did you have a "Victoria" and an Albert" both waiting on you?? Or were they short staffed so that you had but one person??

 

[Lisa F]

I agree that impeccible service is part of what you are paying for when you go to V&A. On our last trip there, our "Victoria" was obviously VERY green. They had paired her with an "Albert" who was wonderful but it did sort of detract from the whole experience to have a "Victoria" who awkwardly recited the menu, stumbling over words and pausing to remember what came next. Her service for the remainder of the evening was equally as awkward. I was a little surprised because when we had been to the chef's table and had the opportunity to talk candidly with our victoria and albert, they indicated that only the best of the best got to work at V&A and that you had to prove yourself as an excellent server elsewhere for YEARS before even being considered for a position there. I always took this at face value because the servers we had on subsequent trips were just THAT good, pacing the meal perfectly, being attentive and unobtrusive at the same time. I felt sorry for our "Victoria" because she was so nervous and awkward about everything (even pronouncing some of the foods wrong) but at the same time, when you're paying that much for a meal you don't want to be thinking about how sorry you feel for the server, you want to be enjoying your meal.

I think it's a delicate balance between a long, leisurely meal and one that is just TOO long and 3.5+ is REALLY pushing it. Our normal meal time is about 2.5 hours (though we did spend more like 3.5 at the chef's table, but there was entertainment and an additional coruse).

I, too, have a hard time imagining how they got your appetizer wrong. When you're somewhere else and there are screaming kids and the server has 10 other tables to look after and often isn't even the one to bring out the food, I can see it happening. In V&A when you have two choices and practically your own set of servers for the evening, it's surprising. Yes, people are only human and an apology did suffice (it's not like the OP said she demanded they get their bill for free) but the preference when you are paying that much is for the mistake not to happen in the first place. I think it was probably that in combination with how long the meal took (and too long between courses) that led to the disappointment and not the mistake alone.

Lisa

 

[Peter Pirate]

Ooops, I forgot, that isn't sufficient around here.

I'm so sick of this "I have money, I deseve to be treated better" mentality (if you think this is harsh, reread the so called reviews). Sure V&A's is expensive and thusly you would expect to receive the finest of sevice, food and setting. But is this a given? Should the word "expected" be thrown about like a football? People are human and mistakes will occur at the finest of establishments.

I understand that the OP didn't fuss about not getting comped, or whatever, but she still fussed about the service after having been there "seveal times before". So this poster isn't unaware of the feel & quality of service that generally permeates this establishment. She just isn't willing to cut them ANY slack. After all virtually everyone apologized!

Disney Villian, your comment is amusing. I never said one shouldn't care about service and if this became the standard for service at V&A's an apology certainly WOULD NOT suffice. But had this happened to the OP before? No. Has this problem been prevelent on this board? No. So it is obvious that this is an anomoly rather than a trend and I do think (and yes I would accept) an apology as genuine and sufficent in this case.

Certainly this should be posted here for others to see, but hardly under the heading "What a Dissappointmnt!" Followed by comments like "the service has gone way down hill"... Based on one meal! This isn't a review as much as it was an assualt, IMO...

 

[ducklite]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who was underwhelmed by the service.

We felt it was condescending when we ate there.

My DH is a meat and potatos type of a guy, and he was the one stumbling over the names of some of the foods (he can spit them all right out at Shula's! ) and our Victoria was practically sneering at him because of it. We were really made to feel like we were a bother to Victoria when I told her about my food allergies, although Albert was very gracious. Too bad we only saw him once, maybe twice during the entire meal. Regretfully his graciousness didn't make up for her almost bordering on rudeness. Maybe she was having a bad night, but as part of the Disney show, this isn't allowed. She's an actor, and when on-stage there is no such thing as a bad night.

I have to agree with some of the other posters, for less money I can get an excellent meal with much better service at Citrico's, the CG, Jiko, the list goes on.

I also agree that 3.5 hours is too long for a meal. I can have a liesurely meal in 2.5 and never feel rushed. After that I've had enough and am more than ready to leave.

Anne

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

I'm probably going to regret responding but I'm just not in agreement. DH & I dined at V&A last December and had a wonderful time - I don't remember how long it took but I think it was over 3 hours but we did the wine pairings so I was happy that they didn't rush us. Maybe we had an alternate mentality that for that much money we wanted to savor the experience and not be rushed - not that 2.5 hours is rushing but with that many courses it does take a while.

I also can't subscribe to the concept that the staff at V&A is not allowed to make a mistake. If that were true can you imagine how stressful it would be to work there? I have worked in service industries for over 10 years and while I always strive to do my best and absolutely hate making mistakes - it does and will happen. I expect people to be human and humans make mistakes.

It sounds as if several people apologized so I'm wondering what you would have had them do differently to change your opinion of them? Also, was there something else about the service you didn't like? I can see in ducklite's post legit reasons for being disappointed with the service but based on the information given I feel the "thumb's down" on the post is a little harsh. JMHO

 

[crisi]

The trick is, and its a hard line to walk, being attentive without being visable. Clearing away plates promptly, but not making the diner feel rushed. Bringing new food promptly, but once again, without making the diner feel rushed. Being personable, but almost invisable.

We've never eaten at V&As but eat at a similar style restuarant here in the Twin Cities.

Waiting tables at these places is a skill and an art. And even if you have it mastered - it is possible that you will misread your guest and remove a plate they haven't touched in five minutes only to discover your guest was resting between bites. Or not clear the same plate to have your guest wonder why it is taking you so long to clear his plate.

 

[grinningghost]

After reading all these posts, I'm just glad I can't AFFORD to eat at V&A's - it's a pretty controversial restaurant.

 

[SarahAndMike]

I go once a year and always love it. We all have different expectations and that's fine. V&A is not for everyone. I for one do feel like the dinner there provides value well above the money I spend. I'm sorry you had a bad time. I hope you return and they make it up to you.

"I'm so sick of this "I have money, I deseve to be treated better" mentality (if you think this is harsh, reread the so called reviews). Sure V&A's is expensive and thusly you would expect to receive the finest of sevice, food and setting."

I think this is a bit of a contradiction. You are sick of people wanting to be treated better when they spend money, yet admit we can expect the finest???

" But is this a given? Should the word "expected" be thrown about like a football?"

I say yes. If I spend the money on a Lexus I don't want a Toyota. I expect to get my money's worth. If my lexus arrives and they don't add the navigation that I order, I will be "dissapointed". I don't see anything wrong with that. I feel like they should make it up to me and fix my problem. Im most cases, an apology is all I would need. Just my $.02.

 

[Lisa F]

Originally posted by Peter Pirate
Ooops, I forgot, that isn't sufficient around here.

I'm so sick of this "I have money, I deseve to be treated better" mentality (if you think this is harsh, reread the so called reviews). Sure V&A's is expensive and thusly you would expect to receive the finest of sevice, food and setting. But is this a given? Should the word "expected" be thrown about like a football? People are human and mistakes will occur at the finest of establishments.

Who the heck is advocating that they be treated better just because they have money? It's not like the OP is putting on a tshirt and walking around the parks saying "I ate at V&A's last night, you may kiss my ring." The point is that I am WAY more willing to cut slack to a server who is clearly serving a bunch of tables at a restaurant where I know my final bill will be around $50 for four people than for someone who is a professional and supposedly the "best of the best" at disney who screws something up when the final bill will be closer to $600 (with an accompanying $120 tip). Sure, mistakes happen, but when you go to V&A you go for "the show" and part of that show is the perfect service. Another part is the perfect pacing of the meal and screwing up a course means that the pacing is thrown off and ultimately the timing fo the whole thing. Kind of like if I am going to a local theater group and seeing a show and paying $10 for the ticket vs. going to broadway and paying $90 to see the same show. I don't think I'm better than anyone else because I am seeing a $90 show but if things go wrong on stage, I am much more likely to be disappointed by it because 1) I've just paid a lot of money to see that show and 2) the cast and crew are supposed to be the best professionals in the world and things shouldn't go wrong. Sure, sometimes they do, but it doesn't mean I'm petty if I am disappointed that I just spent all of this money and they went wrong.

BTW, I don't think that service overall has gone downhill. I'd have to go there much more regularly than I do to make that call. The last victoria we had was a big disappointment but I assumed it was some freak thing and I wouldn't hesitate to go back. In fact, V&A on our honeymoon was out first "foodie" experience and my husband also pronounced some things incorrectly. I couldn't stiffle my giggle when he mispronounced "consomme" and our Victoria immediately made light of it and set him at ease. It was a GREAT introduction into the world of fancy food and now we enjoy going to really fancy restaurants everywhere and knowing what to do with all of that silverware and not feeling the least bit intimidated.

Lisa

 

[Gabrielle]

Hi Beachbunny,

Thanks for the review. There was nothing at all the matter with your post - it was balanced and had good things to say about WDW as well as constructive criticism. I think 3.5 hours is too long also and you are justified in having higher expectations given the greater cost.

Thanks again,
-Gabrielle

 

[Uncleromulus]

grinningghost:
Actually, it might sound controversial from this thread, but if you consider all the threads we've had on V&A (and Lord knows I've posted dozens of my own!!) I think you'll see that V&A does quite well in the favorable review department.
It certainly isn't a restaurant for everyone, and as you see, it's possible for someone to have a bad experience there. Unfortunate--but possible.
But that's the case with each and very restaurant at WDW (or anywhere else for that matter), so it shouldn't come as a suprise that V&A gets a bad review now and then.
But just weigh those against the other reviews and I think you'll find the general consensus is thumbs up.

 

[nutz4dzny]

Sorry you had a "not-so-great' dining experience. We eat at V & A at least one time each visit to WDW and we once had a bad experience but we went back and had a great time! I just wanted to know....did they bring you the right appetizer or did you just eat the one they brought?

 

[Krissalee]

I've only dined at V&A's once (12/02). The meal was incredible, the service was incredible, too. There was a glitch - our Albert gave my chocolate souffle to someone else, and I was served another dessert. Was I dissapointed? Yes. Did it detract from the overall dining experience? Not really. Our Albert was extremely apologetic. He was almost in tears! He apologized many, many times, and truly felt bad about the error he made.

I don't hold it against him, or the restaurant. I will surely dine there in the fututre. Least of all because I really want that chocoalte souffle!

In my opinion, it is OK to be disappointed when a meal is not what you expected. It is OK to be disappointed when the service was not what you expected. These boards are here to share our opinions and our feelings and our experiences.

 

[Micca]

I am familiar with fine dining, but I find anything over 2 hours or so too long to sit in one place. I'll never get to V&A's because I am the only one in the family who will try the different items.