Margaritaville-New Orleans Sux

gcraft · Post by **gcraft** » July 11, 2004 5:50 pm

We went to Margaritaville in New Orleans the other night. It was the worst experience of my life! The service was TERRIBLE and the food was worst! The atmosphere was good though. Jimmy needs to go down there and put his foot up their butts for doing his name a major disservice. I let them know it on their comment cards and the waiter got his well deserved $0.00 tip! Also, it wasn't that busy to have such slow service, our salads came only about a minute right before our meal, if you can call it a meal. I know there are going to be some parrotheads who are going to be mad at me for trashing anything with jimmy, but im not trashing jimmy, just the people who work at his restaurant, i expected alot more, but oh well.

Buffett PHan · Post by **Buffett PHan** » July 11, 2004 5:55 pm

Sorry to hear you had a bad expierence. I've been there and had a wonderful time......service and food were both great!

meisinger · Post by **meisinger** » July 11, 2004 6:16 pm

I get there every couple of months or so and always have a great time. The food and service are top notch and the drinks are strong, even by New Orleans standards. I hope you get around to giving the place another chance. It sounds like they had an off night.

wanderingtoes · Post by **wanderingtoes** » July 11, 2004 7:28 pm

It happens sometimes, I have had good experiences at M N O, it must have been a bad day for them, which is no excuse since you are investing the money.

Coconut Tart · Post by **Coconut Tart** » July 11, 2004 7:33 pm

I have some friends that visited New Orleans Margaritaville a few weeks ago. They had a horrible experience. Their server refused to give them any service. They sat there for awhile without anyone coming to their table. When they finally stopped the waitress and asked for some service, the waitress yelled at them and said that she was the only one there and she was too busy to wait on them!

When they got back from their trip, they contacted management and complained. The manager has promised to send them a box of Margaritaville merchandise. She asked for everyone's t-shirt size in their group. I don't know if they've received it yet. I thought that makes a good apology!

flipflops · Post by **flipflops** » July 11, 2004 7:53 pm

I've also been there several times and it's always been great. Maybe you didn't have enough margaritas? Give it another chance.

sailingagain · Post by **sailingagain** » July 11, 2004 9:10 pm

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience.

DeactiveCarib · Post by **DeactiveCarib** » July 11, 2004 9:31 pm

I had a similar experience in Margaritaville Key West. . .the service was terrible, but the food was the best, and the atmosphere was great so we'd go back any day.

Juicyfruit · Post by **Juicyfruit** » July 11, 2004 11:07 pm

We have had the same thing happen at the one in Vegas. Since it is Margaritaville, and I am what I am, I will keep going back anyway. Not all our experineces have been bad of course, but we have had some really poor service, complete with really poor attitude and the same size check as if all had gone great. Any other restaurant and I would never bother with the place again.

BottleofRum · Post by **BottleofRum** » July 12, 2004 9:48 am

I was at Margaritaville NO a few weeks ago for lunch and the service we had was good. We sat outside on the 2nd floor and the waitress couldn't have been better.

CaptainP · Post by **CaptainP** » July 12, 2004 10:02 am

I have never been to NO Margaritaville, but I can speak from experience, as I run a restaurant. All restaurants have good intentions, but are only as good as the people they hire. Sometimes you will get someone who is new, a bit undertrained, or just not that good. You did the right thing filling out the comment card. They don't know what is wrong if you don't tell them. Now they need to retrain your waiter, or replace him.

Another note...you said it wasn't very busy. Often that's when things end up being the worst. People get distracted, it's human nature. A cook should be watching that burger, but also has to clean the flattop before he goes home. they lose sight of the food, and the quality drops. When it's slow, it's hit-n-miss.

Give them another try. I'd be willing to bet it'll be better!

Coconuts · Post by **Coconuts** » July 12, 2004 10:47 am

That sucks! I will agree that things are a lot more hit or miss when things are slow- depending on the restaurant, that could mean that one person is doing the work of 3 or 4 since the other people either aren't there yet or have already gone home.

cudjoekey · Post by **cudjoekey** » July 12, 2004 10:54 am

If having bad food and bad service at a restaurant is the "worst experience" of your life, consider yourself extremely lucky!

jollymon345 · Post by **jollymon345** » July 12, 2004 10:54 am

I'm sorry that you had such a bad time but I have been to KW several times and the service and the food was great. I only had one problem when I ordered some conch fritters and they were a bit over done and when I told the waitress she took them right back and the next order came out perfect. I guess it is hit or miss. I have attempted to eat at Hard Rock Cafe's 2 times in Baltimore and about 4 times in other cities and the service has sucked every time but one time and that was in Key West. I don't go to Hard Rocks anymore so I can understand your frustration.

finsup2k · Post by **finsup2k** » July 12, 2004 11:14 am

The last time I was there (Halloween 2003), our group had a great time. Much food, much drink, and a fairly decent guitarist playing Buffett tunes in the front room. We had a fine time and I'd go back for sure.

danmac · Post by **danmac** » July 12, 2004 2:20 pm

one word for you: relax!
now a few more words, as a one time resident of the area, i have been to marg new orleans too many times to count, when they are real busy an service is slow i have another drink an kick back listening to some good music, if the food wasnt perfect i ate it anyways an relish in the fact that im not at work, all the people that work there are doing the best they can an are afforded an off day now an then, when its really slow and nobody seems to be around i get up an walk around or chat with the bartender, or i may stuble into storyville tavern an listen to some great live local music while my food is being prepared, lifes to short to b**** about little things like that when your on vacation or taking a break from life.

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » July 12, 2004 4:19 pm

danmac - I can see your point but you also state that you were a resident of the area therefore you could basically afford to go back.

Someone on a vacation had aloted their time to be at Margaritaville. All of the waitstaff should realize that each and every customer is a potential first timer and should devote their BEST service to each and every customer. They should also consider that time the customer is there may be the only time the customer could be there for perhaps their whole life and be treated with respect and given excellent service. If the waitstaff is unable to deliver good proper service I'm sure in a city as big as New Orleans there are several more waiting to take their place - period.

If I am spending my hard earned money on my hard earned vacation at what is basically a tourist place I expect damn good service and if I don't get it then I talk to a manager - right then.

When you're on vacation and you get lousy service "chill out" is not always an option.

gcraft · Post by **gcraft** » July 12, 2004 4:46 pm

Let me explain something to everyone. We were on vacation, we went out of our way to go to Margaritaville. Ive worked in food service before, busy or not, the number one goal is customer satisfaction! I would have just listened to the guy playing jimmy songs, but he sucked too. He didn't even know all the words to margaritaville! Other than watching the videos of jimmy on tv, the experience was bad, and im not "bitching" about it, just telling everyone what happened, and thats it! So, get off my ass for saying anything bad about anything to do with jimmy! I'm a ph too, and hopefully they can give some better service to the next ph.

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » July 12, 2004 4:49 pm

I wasn't on your ass but rather took your side basically. In fact most people here were sorry you had a bad experience.

On this issue you do need to chill out

Bocanut · Post by **Bocanut** » July 12, 2004 4:51 pm

Problem is you went to a place that's more or less a tourist trap instead of a local resturant.

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