Bad experience @ family restaurant

[happymommy]

I need to blow off some steam from my recent dining experience.

I just don't understand how a restaurant, which is suppose to be children friendly, have such unhappy waiting staff working for them.

My daughter loves going to eat at Dan Ryan's in Pacific Place (probably for the balloon and food and not for the attitude of the waiting staff); we go there at lease once every two weeks.

Every time we are there, the waiting staff never fails to make such a bad impression on me, not only are they very sloppy with the drink and food orders, what is worst is that they look and act like they rather be somewhere else rather then working at the restaurant and dealing with children.

My daughter is a bubbly girl, every time she's there; she tries to interact with the waiting staff by making eye contacts or smiling at them, only to be totally ignored. Perhaps I am being overly sensitive, but really if you advertise yourself as a children friendly place shouldn't your staff act like they like children?

I like to say I would never go there again, but I know in a week's time, my daughter would be asking to go there again.

Just curious if anyone else out there have had the same experience at that restaurant or is mine just an isolated case? Do you think it would help to talk with their management?

[spockey]

I must say I can relate to your experience. We've been to the Dan Ryan's at KT and PP. And it's like comparing apples and oranges when it comes to service. At KT, the staff's service is just fantastic. They interact with bub, get the usual balloons... etc. At PP, where we've been only once and was sufficient to say NEVER AGAIN, it was just appalling. So we stick to KT. If you can muster the energy, make the trip to KT.

[joannek]

where's KT?

[rani]

where's KT?

I think its Kowloon Tong.

We actually went to Ruby Tuesdays a couple of weeks ago in Taikoo. The food isn't as tasty as Dan Ryans, but the staff were really friendly and great with kids. The waitress, kept coming back to our table to check on D and chat with him. Which is soooo unusual for HK. Not sure if its because she was trying to get us to buy their annual VIP card.

[happymommy]

Dear spockey- thanks for sharing your experience...I will have to try the one in Festival Walk (is that the one you refer to as KT?)

Dear rani- Ruby Tuesdays sounds like a good place to try as well. I don't mind the food not being as good as Dan Ryan's...as long as it a happy place for a child to eat in... (and Mommy feels good about taking daughter out to eat) Do they also have a children menu?

[spockey]

Spot on Rani. Yes... KT is Kowloon Tong. The Italian restaurant in Festival Walk is child friendly too. In general, we find most restaurant staff love entertaining our bub. But, we do try to steer clear of the Island, I find that the service, in general, doesn't compare to the other parts of HK.

[spsmok]

I don't like my experience at Wild Fire in Stanley and don't think I'll go back again.

My husband and I went there last Sunday with our 3-year-old daughter. My daughter was just holding the salt and pepper shakers and asking me what they were, and the waiter took them away instantly. He even took away the "special" menu so my daughter couldn't lay her hands on, and my daughter's cutlery. At first I thought he was just getting kids spoon and fork for her, but I was wrong. I had to ask for cutlery for her in the end, and got the same thing back.

Not only did I have to request for the kids menu, my daughter was given a "stare." What was that supposed to mean? I feel sorry for that particular waiter who works there. He must be so unhappy everyday to go to work.