11-11-2010, 10:50 PM
I have had bad service at Hilo Bay Cafe too many times. The servers are a little full of themselves working in one of the better restaurants. They are sort of cold (trying to be urban chic or something), and when there's a mistake in the meal they are really BAD at acknowledging it and worse at fixing it.
They have good food but I now have zero expectations of a pleasant and professional experience. Used to live five minutes away from them and went frequently.
For some reason, Pesto servers are always nice to us, Yes a little slow but much more personable and caring that it's a good experience. I walk out of there happy and out of HBC thinking about calling the manager and explaining what is not OK when it comes to service.
I know some people love them, and I'm happy for them they have experienced only the good in this restaurant.
As an example of stuff I've had at HBC, I once got a salad that was full of dirt (not good with rat lungworm around), and the best they could manage was to replace it. They could at least acknowledge that it sucks to have a salad full of crunchy dirt, but instead they put off this air that they're humoring you even though you're fussy.
Also, a medium burger should not arrive in a plate swimming with blood and a bun that is bright red and soaked with blood, and then instead of starting over they just toss the burger on the grill and cook it WELL not Medium and bring it back 15 minutes later after the rest of the table is done eating. And again no awareness that this is uncool. Just a couple of my numerous experiences along those lines with them.
They want to be a foodie place but they can't cook a burger to order, hmm.
They have good food but I now have zero expectations of a pleasant and professional experience. Used to live five minutes away from them and went frequently.
For some reason, Pesto servers are always nice to us, Yes a little slow but much more personable and caring that it's a good experience. I walk out of there happy and out of HBC thinking about calling the manager and explaining what is not OK when it comes to service.
I know some people love them, and I'm happy for them they have experienced only the good in this restaurant.
As an example of stuff I've had at HBC, I once got a salad that was full of dirt (not good with rat lungworm around), and the best they could manage was to replace it. They could at least acknowledge that it sucks to have a salad full of crunchy dirt, but instead they put off this air that they're humoring you even though you're fussy.
Also, a medium burger should not arrive in a plate swimming with blood and a bun that is bright red and soaked with blood, and then instead of starting over they just toss the burger on the grill and cook it WELL not Medium and bring it back 15 minutes later after the rest of the table is done eating. And again no awareness that this is uncool. Just a couple of my numerous experiences along those lines with them.
They want to be a foodie place but they can't cook a burger to order, hmm.