75-5809 Alii Drive,
Kailua-Kona,
96740
Hawaii,
United States
Went out for a birthday dinner with several people on September 6th, 2019 from 7pm to approx 9 pm.
A couple of us had to send wine glasses or appetizer plates back because they were dirty. Ordered appetizers and drinks first. Then waited 30 minutes on appetizers, waitress took our dinner order. Dinner salads arrived before the appetizers. Then the apps came out. They were either cold, such as blooming onion, whichbthe waitress brought us two, one was complimentary for it taking so long, both were not worth eating. The coconut shrimp were burned, we sent those back, salads were over dressed, were lacking described ingredients as they were "premium", salads were not cold. One person ordered soup, it was room temp and with way too much cheese to even eat. So big food safety problem with hot food not being served hot and cold food not being served cold.
Then the entrees arrived. Food not looking great or as pictured. We were hungry so we ate some. Food was again not hot, the drawn butter for my lobster which was too salty, was cold and started to coagulate. Everything was not as it should be, even on a basic, safe level.
We asked for a manager, it took them forever to come over... We got a Front of house manager. C'mon, I need to speak to the person in boh who deals with food! So we got a few apps taken off the bill, the manager saud she'd " take care of us" when we come back. We won't in Hawaii!
She didn't want to budge about serving us lack luster food or comp anything. We have gone to serveral outback locations on the mainland and anytime there is a complaint, they just comp you, you don't even have to ask. Here they don't want to lose money even though prices are much higher than everywhere else.
I got sick a few hours later after coming home and falling asleep. To be as vague as possible, I had to sit on the pot with a waste basket on my lap to throw up in, it wasvan awful night. A couple of other people in my party were sick as well with the same symptoms.
I'm thinking cross contamination, improper hold temps which allow bacteria to grow and unsanitary dish cleaning were to blame.
I will never go back to this , not even if they offered me a free meal. Their unsafe food practices are enough to keep me away and feel the need to warn people about them too.
This is all extremely frustrating being an executive culinary professional for over 14 years and knowing about food safety. | Symptoms: Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting
