Bad restaurant
Aug 31st, 2005, 09:10 AM
#21
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This has really turned silly now. So some of you are saying, "yes, warn US to eat there but if you don't have the gumption to tell you daughter (I don't care if she's 3 or 35) not to eat there then that's just fine". Doesn't anybody else think this is strange? Does the original poster care more about the health of strangers on FODORS than she does of her own offspring? Give me a break.
So why am I making an issue about this? Because of the simple logic that's why. I find it hard to believe that a person finds the food at a place so bad or dangerous that she warns total strangers NOT to go there, but thinks it's ok if a family member does. As I said in my first post, What's wrong with this picture?
But again, thanks for the warning. This sounds like a place I wouldn't eat -- nor take carry out from.
So why am I making an issue about this? Because of the simple logic that's why. I find it hard to believe that a person finds the food at a place so bad or dangerous that she warns total strangers NOT to go there, but thinks it's ok if a family member does. As I said in my first post, What's wrong with this picture?
But again, thanks for the warning. This sounds like a place I wouldn't eat -- nor take carry out from.
Aug 31st, 2005, 09:36 AM
#22
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Patrick, logically you make perfect sense. I just worry about people being disouraged to post their opinions about places because they constantly get jumped on for every little inconsistency in their posts. I didn't mean to pick on you personaly for doing that; it's just that it's something that's pretty consistent in these forums and it's kept me away from them.
Aug 31st, 2005, 10:21 AM
#25
Patrick, I never understood the poster to say that she thought the food was tainted or what she was eating was actually bad in a "make you sick" kind of way.
I stil contend that what she did makes sense even if you wouldn't do it given that her family had all ALREADY eaten the food. If she had ordered, said "whoa, this food is putrid, I'm not eating any of it," and then let her daughter take her food to go, well, then I would agree with your point.
I stil contend that what she did makes sense even if you wouldn't do it given that her family had all ALREADY eaten the food. If she had ordered, said "whoa, this food is putrid, I'm not eating any of it," and then let her daughter take her food to go, well, then I would agree with your point.
Aug 31st, 2005, 01:21 PM
#26
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Sorry for not being a professional writer and more precise with my words.
First, I'm the father. I also did all the planning for this trip.
Second, the bugs were a couple small ant like things crawling up the wall next to my 18 yr old son. This led us to wonder what may be walking around the kitchen. However, I don't recall seeing any other of those insects elsewhere in the dining room. That doesn't mean they weren't there.
Third, not every dish or utensil was dirty. In regard to the dishes, they didn't appear until the food was brought out. The parts not covered by food seemed o.k. With regard to utensils, some looked o.k., a couple didn't. I grabbed utensils from an adjacent table to get some that also looked o.k.
Fourth, the food didn't look noticably bad in terms of "if I eat this, I die" it was bad in terms of this burger is not up to par, it's dry, I don't like the bun and so on. We didn't notice anything tainting the food. Daughter, 16, didn't really like the wrap she got, but wanted the remainder to go anyway. The fries must've been at least edible since I saw that my wife a daughter shared the ones they had. I don't recall what son had. I also don't order my kids or wife around. They're old enough to decide for themselves what they will or won't eat. Overall, this meal was pretty bad in terms of food quality and apparently indifferent preparation. Even by burger joint standards.
Next, the waitress was pretty careless to bring an obviously dirty carryout box. Not that it mattered in the end with the the non consumption of the carryout. We also didn't get much attention from her for things like drink refills, not that I wanted any.
What I wanted was to keep quiet and get out as soon as possible. I also didn't want to waste any of my precious vacation time in a confrontation with anyone.
Sorry to imply that eating at this establishment was likely to send someone to the local hospital. It wasn't that at all. It's just not a place for good food. It managed to make McDonald's look good. But that's just my opinion.
The choices for spur of the moment dining in the town Volcano are fairly limited. You could choose to eat at Kilauea Lodge where the food is superb, but that requires a reservation made far in advance. Had I known how this dinner was going to turn out, I would just have drove into the national park and ate at their restaurant.
I'll try to be more precise in the future. But I suppose there may be logic gaps in even this attempt at clarification.
First, I'm the father. I also did all the planning for this trip.
Second, the bugs were a couple small ant like things crawling up the wall next to my 18 yr old son. This led us to wonder what may be walking around the kitchen. However, I don't recall seeing any other of those insects elsewhere in the dining room. That doesn't mean they weren't there.
Third, not every dish or utensil was dirty. In regard to the dishes, they didn't appear until the food was brought out. The parts not covered by food seemed o.k. With regard to utensils, some looked o.k., a couple didn't. I grabbed utensils from an adjacent table to get some that also looked o.k.
Fourth, the food didn't look noticably bad in terms of "if I eat this, I die" it was bad in terms of this burger is not up to par, it's dry, I don't like the bun and so on. We didn't notice anything tainting the food. Daughter, 16, didn't really like the wrap she got, but wanted the remainder to go anyway. The fries must've been at least edible since I saw that my wife a daughter shared the ones they had. I don't recall what son had. I also don't order my kids or wife around. They're old enough to decide for themselves what they will or won't eat. Overall, this meal was pretty bad in terms of food quality and apparently indifferent preparation. Even by burger joint standards.
Next, the waitress was pretty careless to bring an obviously dirty carryout box. Not that it mattered in the end with the the non consumption of the carryout. We also didn't get much attention from her for things like drink refills, not that I wanted any.
What I wanted was to keep quiet and get out as soon as possible. I also didn't want to waste any of my precious vacation time in a confrontation with anyone.
Sorry to imply that eating at this establishment was likely to send someone to the local hospital. It wasn't that at all. It's just not a place for good food. It managed to make McDonald's look good. But that's just my opinion.
The choices for spur of the moment dining in the town Volcano are fairly limited. You could choose to eat at Kilauea Lodge where the food is superb, but that requires a reservation made far in advance. Had I known how this dinner was going to turn out, I would just have drove into the national park and ate at their restaurant.
I'll try to be more precise in the future. But I suppose there may be logic gaps in even this attempt at clarification.
Aug 31st, 2005, 02:07 PM
#27
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I agree with speaking up or leaving without ordering!
This past weekend, we stopped at a Taco Bell. Since we had been traveling, we went to the restroom 1st. It was filthy...obviously in a chronic condition!
I was surprised to see DH in the order line when I came out. He was just about to order when I whispered in his ear that I wouldn't eat at the place! We left!
As bad as it was, the Taco Bell we stopped at on Oahu told us they didn't even HAVE a restroom for it's customers!
We experienced this in a McDonald's on Oahu, but they at least let us WALK BEHIND THE COUNTER, THROUGH THE FOOD PREP AREA to use the employee restaurant, which was also being used as a STOCK ROOM!
Aren't there Federal Laws requiring 'facilities' to be provided by eating establishments?
Belle
This past weekend, we stopped at a Taco Bell. Since we had been traveling, we went to the restroom 1st. It was filthy...obviously in a chronic condition!
I was surprised to see DH in the order line when I came out. He was just about to order when I whispered in his ear that I wouldn't eat at the place! We left!
As bad as it was, the Taco Bell we stopped at on Oahu told us they didn't even HAVE a restroom for it's customers!
We experienced this in a McDonald's on Oahu, but they at least let us WALK BEHIND THE COUNTER, THROUGH THE FOOD PREP AREA to use the employee restaurant, which was also being used as a STOCK ROOM!
Aren't there Federal Laws requiring 'facilities' to be provided by eating establishments?
Belle
Aug 31st, 2005, 02:38 PM
#29
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jpiwaron -
We will be going to Volcano in the spring. Thanks for your kind warning. You should feel free to post on this site without having each and every statement picked apart. Nor should you be required to have a Ph.D in "LOGIC"!
We will be going to Volcano in the spring. Thanks for your kind warning. You should feel free to post on this site without having each and every statement picked apart. Nor should you be required to have a Ph.D in "LOGIC"!
Aug 31st, 2005, 02:43 PM
#30
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Just checked tripadvisor. The reviews on the restaurant have been great so far.
Thai Thai is #1 on the list for Volcano. Really, really good Thai food in a simple setting.
Maybe it was just a bad night for jpjwaron's family?
Thai Thai is #1 on the list for Volcano. Really, really good Thai food in a simple setting.
Maybe it was just a bad night for jpjwaron's family?
Aug 31st, 2005, 02:59 PM
#31
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In light of the new description of what was wrong with the restaurant, I certainly wish to retract the whole thing about taking the food with you. Somehow I had an totally different picture of the entire thing from the phrase "Insects, dirty dishes/utensils and poor food (even by fast food standards."
When you mentioned "insects", I wasn't picturing a couple ants climbing up a wall.
And if the restaurant you now describe was "one of the worst restaurants I've ever come across in 30 years of traveling around the country" I must say -- you've been lucky.
My apologies if the whole thing got overblown, but at least I now understand where you were coming from on this -- I think.
When you mentioned "insects", I wasn't picturing a couple ants climbing up a wall.
And if the restaurant you now describe was "one of the worst restaurants I've ever come across in 30 years of traveling around the country" I must say -- you've been lucky.
My apologies if the whole thing got overblown, but at least I now understand where you were coming from on this -- I think.
Sep 1st, 2005, 05:04 AM
#32
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Patrick -
Perhaps I have been lucky. Normally, I never ever see any bugs of any kind in the places I've eaten at. I've been known to skip meals rather than eating in just anywhere at all. This time was different, we had been hiking all day in Kilauea and were really hungry.
As for the rest of it, the utensils and the take out box, those things didn't leave me with a good feeling about the establishment.
Thai Thai had sounded interesting to me, but knowing my family, they weren't going to be interested.
Our time in Volcano was limited, so the overall visit for dinner was Kilauea Lodge on night one (excellent), Lava Rock on night 2 (bad, IMO) and then we prepared dinner (such as it was) in the cottage we had rented with food bought at a grocery store in Hilo.
That night was great. Eating pizza, drinking Hawaiian beer and watching the local flock of turkeys strut by the deck. The sun going down, gentle breezes and so many stars! Who knew there were that many! There's too much light pollution where I live to see the fainter ones.
Perhaps I have been lucky. Normally, I never ever see any bugs of any kind in the places I've eaten at. I've been known to skip meals rather than eating in just anywhere at all. This time was different, we had been hiking all day in Kilauea and were really hungry.
As for the rest of it, the utensils and the take out box, those things didn't leave me with a good feeling about the establishment.
Thai Thai had sounded interesting to me, but knowing my family, they weren't going to be interested.
Our time in Volcano was limited, so the overall visit for dinner was Kilauea Lodge on night one (excellent), Lava Rock on night 2 (bad, IMO) and then we prepared dinner (such as it was) in the cottage we had rented with food bought at a grocery store in Hilo.
That night was great. Eating pizza, drinking Hawaiian beer and watching the local flock of turkeys strut by the deck. The sun going down, gentle breezes and so many stars! Who knew there were that many! There's too much light pollution where I live to see the fainter ones.
Sep 1st, 2005, 08:19 AM
#33
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I just want to say that I have eaten at the Lava Rock Cafe in Volcano numerous times. The service is usually very slow and indifferent, the food is okay and I've never noticed any problem with cleanliness. There are not a lot of choices in Volcano and the Lava Rock works for us occasionally. I just don't go there if I am in a hurry, or wanting a special meal. I would not necessarily classify it as a "bad" restaurant. I had some great Punalu'u bread french toast there once. Just IMHO.
Sep 1st, 2005, 08:45 AM
#34
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I'm always a little suspicious of these types of posts -- on the internet just because someone says something doesn't necessarily make it so.
Anyway, here's the website for the place in question:
http://www.volcanovillage.com/LavaRock.htm
Anyway, here's the website for the place in question:
http://www.volcanovillage.com/LavaRock.htm
Sep 1st, 2005, 01:07 PM
#37
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People who have a bad meal (or just have an axe to grind) like to think that they can bring down a business singlehandedly by posting something negative on the internet, never stopping to think that they'll be hurting everyone EXCEPT the owner.
Sep 1st, 2005, 01:12 PM
#38
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This post made me chuckle. But my husband and I went to Lava Rock cafe several years ago and had a pleasant experience. Although I don't remember the food being spectacular, my husband remembers the hamburger fondly and I had chili and we're still here to talk about it. We also enjoyed some nice music by a guitar player/singer there. There isn't too much nightlife in Volcano, so we remember the musician fondly.
Sep 1st, 2005, 01:23 PM
#39
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Al, you're wrong.
I *never* have an axe to grind. I don't care if they remain open, choose to close down or whatever.
When I was researching my trip I came across their website. Our experience there in no way lived up to the kind of place the web site would suggest that they are.
I merely reported what what happened during our visit and our take on them. Your mileage may vary. The place has been open for a while, I suppose there's plenty of people that like them enough to keep coming back. Especially local residents of Volcano since there's not very many dining choices around there if you want to eat out.
One other thing - precisely how do my negative remarks about that place hurt anyone at all? I think people would be well advised that this is not a particularly good place to eat. It won't harm you do so, but it also won't be very good. There's a couple of other better choices around there. One of those would be a better deal.
I *never* have an axe to grind. I don't care if they remain open, choose to close down or whatever.
When I was researching my trip I came across their website. Our experience there in no way lived up to the kind of place the web site would suggest that they are.
I merely reported what what happened during our visit and our take on them. Your mileage may vary. The place has been open for a while, I suppose there's plenty of people that like them enough to keep coming back. Especially local residents of Volcano since there's not very many dining choices around there if you want to eat out.
One other thing - precisely how do my negative remarks about that place hurt anyone at all? I think people would be well advised that this is not a particularly good place to eat. It won't harm you do so, but it also won't be very good. There's a couple of other better choices around there. One of those would be a better deal.
Sep 1st, 2005, 01:50 PM
#40
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Honestly a few ants isn't the worst thing in the world. It really sucks though when you get dirty dishes, poor quality food and slow service.
For some reason when I first read your review, seemed like there were roaches climbing the walls or something. I guess it's hard to tell what someone experienced by reading only a paragraph.
I'm sorry some people are so negative, thinking that you have some sort of axe to grind.
I laughed pretty hard at some of the first responses. How many of these people will actually to that island and have a choice between those exact restaurants, and will they remember this review? Not very likely.
I always appreciate people that say, maybe you should think twice before eating here, or this is the best food I've ever had.
Don't let them be so nit picky. You were just trying to warn people against a potentially bad restaurant.
For some reason when I first read your review, seemed like there were roaches climbing the walls or something. I guess it's hard to tell what someone experienced by reading only a paragraph.
I'm sorry some people are so negative, thinking that you have some sort of axe to grind.
I laughed pretty hard at some of the first responses. How many of these people will actually to that island and have a choice between those exact restaurants, and will they remember this review? Not very likely.
I always appreciate people that say, maybe you should think twice before eating here, or this is the best food I've ever had.
Don't let them be so nit picky. You were just trying to warn people against a potentially bad restaurant.
