Who to contact with restaurant complaint?

[Gator Kate]

Hello,
We had a server at Jikos who was quite rude to our entire table for the whole meal ( and we're nice people .The restaurant also didn't acknowledge our request to celebrate my Dad's birthday. It was noted when I made advanced seating and I also mentioned it to the hostess to confirm. On prior visits they've been lovely about a birthday dessert and even a card signed by the staff. I'm guessing it was another way in which our server,Marty, dropped the ball. I want to let someone in authority know about it but not sure who to contact. Any ideas?

 

[plutolovr]

Why didn't you ask for the manager when you were there when he/she could have done something about it?

I don't get why people wait until they get home to complain about something that Disney could have rectified while they were there. Just doesn't make sense.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

Why didn't you ask for the manager when you were there when he/she could have done something about it?

I don't get why people wait until they get home to complain about something that Disney could have rectified while they were there. Just doesn't make sense.

That's right... IF you want some sort of compensation for bad service, you have to take care of it then... and if you didn't want to do it in front of the family, you could have gotten up and away from the table and spoke to someone then... They are probably not going to do anything about it now...The good thing... IF you ever eat there again, and you get bad service, you'll know to "nip-it-in-the-bud" right away.

 

[mking624]

The best option you have is to always ask for a manager while you're still there. There's not a whole lot they can do after the fact. However, you can still send in a letter...not sure who to direct it to though..maybe send it to Jiko (Attn: Restaurant Manager) at the AKL address?

As for the birthday thing...sorry it didn't get celebrated in the way you hoped, but I would be realy careful when placing the blame on your server for that when you really don't know if it was his fault or not. It could be the CM who took your ADR that dropped the ball, it could be that the host/hostess didn't inform your server, etc. Too many factors play into that for you to know if it was the fault of the server (unless you specifically made a request to the server and he ignored it). I would also keep the complaint about that to a minimum. Since it's not something that's required of them to do, they're not obligated to honor any birthday requests. If another birthday celebration was going on that you witnessed, I might bring it up...otherwise I'd personally just leave it out. Up to you.

 

[ducklite]

Servers have no excuse for rudeness, but they also have absolutely no obligation to acknowldge a birthday or other special event.

If you wanted anything special for a birthday you should have arranged and paid for it in advance.

I ate at Jiko on my birthday a few years back, and there was nothing special done.

I took DS there for his birthday earlier this year, and while he got a dessert with a candle in it, it was just a "regular dessert," and he wasn't even asked which he'd like. It was rather unceremoniously "plopped" on the table. Frankly it didn't matter, as we hadn't asked for or expected it.

Anne

 

[Ms.Mouse]

Servers have no excuse for rudeness, but they also have absolutely no obligation to acknowldge a birthday or other special event.

If you wanted anything special for a birthday you should have arranged and paid for it in advance.

I ate at Jiko on my birthday a few years back, and there was nothing special done.

I took DS there for his birthday earlier this year, and while he got a dessert with a candle in it, it was just a "regular dessert," and he wasn't even asked which he'd like. It was rather unceremoniously "plopped" on the table. Frankly it didn't matter, as we hadn't asked for or expected it.

Anne

Yes, ducklite, you're right about that BUT the OP should have complained about the waitstaff, whom she said was rude throughout the entire meal... The OP most certainly should have complained about that.

 

[ducklite]

Yes, ducklite, you're right about that BUT the OP should have complained about the waitstaff, whom she said was rude throughout the entire meal... The OP most certainly should have complained about that.

Oh, I absolutely agree that she sould have complained about rudeness, but IMHO not the other part of her complaint.

Anne

 

[Uncleromulus]

Of course Gator Kate's question is what to do about it now--
Were it me, I'd call the AKL/and or Jiko directly, get the name of the restaurant manager, then write.
Who knows if you'll get any response, but it may make you feel better that the matter was at least reported...

 

[webray]

You should have spoken to a manager while you were there regarding the rude service.

As far as the birthday goes, unless you have arranged and prepaid for a surprise the restaurant and staff are under no obligation to do anything at all.

 

[Gator Kate]

Thanks for all the feedback. The only reason I thought they offered a birthday dessert is that it had been done on other visits to Jikos and I assumed it was their policy. We didn't really let it spoil our evening.

 

[mitros]

Mmm.. We have a reservation this Friday evening, and it is BiL's 60th birthday. When I made the reservation, a couple of weeks ago, I was asked if there was a special occasion, and I let them know about the b'day. She said, OK, she will make a note of this on our reservation.
Very curious to see what will happen Friday night.....

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Birthday desserts? Where have I been? I've been celebrating my birthdays (as well as my hubby's) at Disney for 25+ years and have never been given a birthday dessert -- unless I paid for a cake. My last birthday (February 21st) was spent at Jiko, too. Wonderful dinner, BTW But no card or dessert.

Who does everyone know that I don't to get these "birthday benefits"?

 

[Laurajean1014]

Well, since you did not speak to the server and manager that evening, I would contact AK Lodge and Jiko Management directly and state your dissatisfaction. I would not expect compensation, but improvement in stabilizing service to other guests and yourself (should you wish to return).

This exact thing happened to us in New Hampshire. Very exclusive restaurant but we had a very bad waiter. We politely complained to the server and he apologized. The manager came by and offered to take an item off the bill.

My question: How much did you tip your server?

 

[calgarygary]

I think we would be well served by forgetting the term complaining and try to turn it into problem solving. If I have a problem, is it best served by waiting or trying to resolve it immediately. When the problem I am experiencing is at a restaurant, the vast majority of times it can only be resolved to my satisfaction if it is dealt with immediately. Bringing an issue to the attention of your server and/or manager at least allows for an opportunity of leaving the restaurant satisfied. Waiting until your home guarantees you won't be happy with your dining experience.