Tonite we dine in HELL!

This blog post is not meant to defamed Tony Roma's in anyway but just my experience in dining at this particular restaurant at this particular branch and it spoilt my whole dinner.

Tonite we dine in HELL! and i don't mean the Spartan way.

It was suppose to be a lovely birthday dinner with my dearly beloved but it didn't turn out the way i had imagined it. I went to Tony Roma's at Cineleisure and that was my first and my last.

The reason i went there was cause my dearly beloved had good memories there when she patronized it when she was in Canada. So we went in and asked for a table for 2. The guy at the reception counter got us our table but the waitress who was told to bring us to our table took us to the wrong table - A TABLE FOR FOUR! And she took us to our table but i didn't like the location and requested for a much more comfortable seating.

Sidetrack for a moment - outside the restaurant are banners stating that this restaurant is the 33rd branch or the 33rd country, something like that and the second thing is
The best American Casual Dining! Looking at the environment and interior, i think Chillis has more feel!

Back to the story - An excerpt from "the star newspaper"

“The strategy to build a strong brand in Malaysia is to establish very high quality Tony Roma's outlets and operate them at peak efficiency. If we have a strong franchise partner, growth will be tremendous.”

Myres believes once Tony Roma's has established more outlets in key areas and maintained good quality food and service, its brand would grow strong naturally.

“I think that it is important to establish a good relationship with the guests and identify why they like to dine at Tony Roma's,” he said, adding that this would help the restaurant improve its service.

To Myres, success consists of three elements –hiring intelligent staff who are passionate about the business, professional training to provide good service and selecting the right franchise partner.

“We provided 14 trainers from the US to coach the employees for two weeks,” he said.

Myres sees franchising as a growth strategy and a way for the company to expand its brand. “Thus a company must have to have a great partner to stay in the market.”

Myres said the franchising business today was a tremendous business. "

To Myres, success consists of three elements –hiring intelligent staff who are passionate about the business, professional training to provide good service and selecting the right franchise partner.

Some of the waiters and waitresses could not fully converse in english and i dont think they are intelligent staff - come on i mean, i don't expect them to speak perfect english but at least finish the sentence all in english.

Well long story short, the drinks came, the appetizer took the same time as a main course and the main course took longer but its boneless ribs(so i knew i had to wait). The ribs came but it wasn't boneless! IT was BONED ribs, three freaking boned ribs. So we called for the waiter, he changed our food and it came back looking like we had been ripped off! If i`m going to pay RM40++ for these ribs they better don't look like 3 sausages! The side dish which i ordered was so little, its like they are so stingy. The baked potato doesn't taste like baked potato.

If only i took a picture of our miserable meal, oh and not to forget the buffalo wings! They were so salty i had to rely on my coke to help me finish 4 pieces of it. And my lips still feel dehydrated and salty from the wings as i type this.

I quickly asked for my bill as there was an accident that happened just outside the restaurant and i wanted to check what it was(apparently a lady fell on the floor, either fainted or tripped - i wouldnt know - cause the freaking bill took so damn long to come back). So i couldnt wait any longer for the waiter to bring me my change so i headed to the paying counter to wait for it. And to top the already shitty meal and BEST dining experience i observed the waiters taking money out from their own wallet( the first thought that came into my mind was, you gotta be kidding me, a restaurant like this and not enough small change - but it can happen!).

I just took my change and quickly left the restaurant but all the commotion outside the restaurant had cleared up and i missed it. DAMN. Then as i was walking around Cineleisure i was suspicious as those waiters were taking money out from their wallets. Then as i closely observed the RM5 ringgit note the ASSHOLE gave me, it was a ripped note put back together with clear tape!

Mr Myres - very intelligent and passionate staff indeed.

So will there be a next time, most probably not.

I need to get a glass of water i`m thirsty from all the buffalo wings. Oh and the ribs sucked as well.

To top it all THEY even personally hand written a Thank You on the top of the receipt. I paid RM84.75 for 3 items i ordered - worth it? i think not.

Don't take my word for it, you be your own judge, patronize them.