Folks, went to Kobe for my birthday dinner tonight. After first debacle, wasn't sure that I was up for this one, but went along with it. Dinner was just ok, not as good as the Smithfield restaurant, and sub par compared to any other Japanese style we've eaten at in the Raleigh area. My biggest peeve was the service. The wait person never identified himself. His neck tatoo, courtesy of his too open collar, was a huige turnoff. Even worse was the gum that he was smacking as we ordered drinks, and which he contined to chew and smack the entire time we were there. Not sure if I was just being crotchety, as I officially hit the "elder flatulent" status today, but that gum smacking really peed me off. I guess I'm used to polite, interested waiters and waitresses, who actually pay attnention to your order, and have the common courtesy to not chew gum as they wait on guests. Doubt we'll be back. Found myself wishing I was at the China King at 40-42 for dinner instead of Kobe.
UGHHHH people who smack their gum..........................:x I hate it. Food to. Close your mouth when you chew...
nah... right click, copy, paste. I'm usually better with pictures than I am with words. Wait. That didn't come out right... My moons have realigned and the urge to be mouthy has passed. Therefore, I make even less sense...so I stick to smilies. :lol:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HATTERAS!! Speaking of smacking ... Years ago I worked for a company that wrote software for Hertz Licensees. There was one Hertz owner that seemed to be smacking loudly on something everytime he called me. Not only did he smack constantly ... he never listened to anything he was asked to do. In anycase, my boss worked with him for about an hour trying to teach the man how to log in ... it should have taken 10 seconds. All the guy had to do was type in his login name and password ... but somehow the guy just couldn't get it right. In anycase, my boss finally ran out of patience and asked me to take the call. After an additional couple of hours on the phone with this man, I asked him if it was OK if I put him on hold for a second. After I thought I had put the man on mute, I loudly exclaimed to those in my office that I thought I was going to lose my mind if the guy didn't quit smacking in my ear. Then to my embarrassment I realized that I had not hit the mute button after all. I really felt like an idiot when I returned to the call. My mother always warned me that "If you can't say something nice, it's better to say nothing at all". Oops. Luckily, things worked out OK. When I returned to the call, the man quickly apologized and he never smacked in my ear again. I'm usually a pretty patient person ... but I have very little tolerance for someone who is smacking loudly. It's a huge pet peeve of mine.
They are still new and working out the bugs. Try them back in about six months and make your final decision. Bonsai is good also.
We went there the other night and had the same waiter you are talking about. I told my husband I thought he was new to the business because he didn't act like he really knew what he was doing. Thought the food was good. We could not understand a word our cook said though, it was kinda funny. Everytime he said something, everyone at our table would kind of look at each other, like "what?"...overall thought it was decent. I think I like the one in Smithfield better because there seems to be more room. The tables at the one in Clayton are kind of tight.
If the desire I expressed about having dinner at China King rather than Kobe in Clayton was seen as a choice between the lesser of two evils, I was unclear. We actually like China King. We eat there about every ten days or so. Service is quick and friendly, food is good. As for Kobe, our cook, Tony, was friendly enough. Yes, difficult to understand, but we did enjoy his banter. He is from Indonesia. It was the waiter who set the stage, unfortunately. The suggestion to try them in 6 weeks might be apropos for a restaurateur who is experimenting with a new idea, or the first restaurant. With the Kobe folks in Smithfield supposedly running the show, I have an expectation that with their experience, they wouldn't have to work out the kinks, and therefore earn a pass for service and menu offering. Thanks, folks, for the warm wishes. I really do appreciate them. H6
10 minute....too funny, Ken. C6 and I both have waited tables, etc. And the way we learned was that we were paired with an experienced server who gradually let us step forward to assume the role. The smart thing for Kobe to have done is to train the Clayotn folks in Smithfield and transition them. If learning things were as easy as the Matrix plug in thing, we'd all have the skills. It's what one does wsith the skills that must be factored in, as well. And the gum chewing and smacking are never appropriate, IMV. Some things shouldn't have to be taught to an adult. They should have be learned as a child.
