Malia M.
Yelp
This experience was on April 11th, but I still cannot stop thinking about how horrendously we were treated during our visit.
I am going to preface this by saying, I came to this restaurant based on a coworkers recommendation. He said he loves this location over the Campbell location, because of both the area and the better service. Great! I was treating my parents who just moved from Hawaii to San Jose. I was a fine dining server for 5 years as well so I really appreciate good service.
I was so excited for this reservation I spent the day before looking at pictures and already pre planning my order (I'm sure other foodies can relate).
The host was great! He was laughing and joking with my group. Our reservation was at 3:30PM on a Friday, I knew this meant happy hour on the patio and it was a beautiful day. Not to mention beating the dinner rush.
Our server, Francisco, came to take our drink orders. My dad made a joke that he was wearing a Hawaiian shirt so he gets a discounted maitai (it's on the menu) mind you my dad is 70, and he likes making dad jokes. The server was annoyed at this and grabs the host and he's like what is it about the shirt? He gets a free drink or what? The host told him about the special when people wear aloha shirts during happy hour. My dad says sorry because for some reason the server was offended.
We then order drinks, I order the tropical tea not realizing it's just unsweetened black tea. When he comes back I ask the server if I got the correct tea, and he goes "well it's the only tea I got." I say do you mind if I just switch for an Arnold Palmer? I wasn't aware it wasn't sweetened, sorry. He says he'll just bring a side of lemonade. Mind you, am I supposed to chug half the unsweetened tea I didn't want in the first place and add the lemonade? But since he had so much attitude about me wanting to change drinks I said ok that's fine. I guess it doesn't matter cause he never came back with the lemonade. He was busy showing the bartender videos on his phone, we were literally seated next the bar window and could see him the whole time. I would like to mention the two tables outside with us were already packing their boxes, the rest of the area was empty because it was early. Only one other table came during our visit.
Our server is clearly just not in a good mood. That's fine, we are looking forward to the food. I order the pupu platter that's on the happy hour menu, which is a sampler platter for their apps. He says with SO much attitude, we're out of that. I say really? But happy hour just started.. and dinner hasn't even happened yet and you're out? Are you sure? He says yeah they've been out two hours ago. I say ok, I'm sorry what is out? Because the pupu platter consists of almost all the appetizers available, may I know what is out so I can order what is available? He goes let me check, and storms off.
He comes back and says yeah we have it, that's what you want? I say oh good because I was looking forward to trying it, Yes thank you. At this point we are still giving the restaurant a chance.
We order our main dishes, we spend over $200 on appetizers and our main courses. The runner gave us our food and the place is empty, our server didn't check in to see if the food was ok or correct or if we needed anything, he's just kicking it in plain sight behind the bar. He even had the audacity to catch me looking at him and says "you good??". I'm really at the point where I feel like I need to speak to manager, but he seemed already agitated throughout our whole experience that I did not want to trigger a scene.
At the end he eventually comes and says "you done??" and takes plates, my parents are elderly and the way that he was speaking to them, unwarranted, baffles me. I mention to him that he never came back with the cup of lemonade I was supposed to mix into my tea and he told me he removed it off the bill along with another drink.
I tipped 20% because as I said I've been a server for over 5 years, I tip well automatically. But I was seething as I left, so disappointed that this was my first time taking my parents out to eat in the San Jose area and had the worst experience. They even said they didn't know why he was so mad at our table.
Francisco (the server), honestly my best guess I can have for the terrible service was that you're a bar tender who was forced to take tables so you didn't feel the need to provide ANY service. OR you were forced to stay after your lunch shift to take our table so you were annoyed? That's my best guess.
Two stars because at least the food was good, I would have ordered poke to-go if I wasn't so offended by the service.