Eating at Jakes--

Jennie@ifish · 08-07-2005, 08:00 AM

I ate at Jakes the other night. (The Grill)

We made reservations for 7:45. They seated us at 7:30.

So far, so good!

We did not order drinks or wine. I think that was a mistake. After they heard that, it was like they didn't care to serve us well. I've heard that if a table doesn't order drinks, then they figure it won't be a money maker. Is this true?

Anyhow-- I get tired sitting for long. By 9:00, I finally asked for my food in a doggy bag, and went to my motel to eat it with plastic forks.

I think that is too long to wait for dinner!

They were busy, yes... but nearly two hours???

The food was alright. Probably would have been better if it hadn't sat in a box for a while.
I had the Cabezon.

One thing good I can say. We ordered Calamari for an appetizer, and their horseradish sauce was superb! I'd die to know how to make that! The Calamari was a good portion and was delicious. The sauce was the best I've had!

Dinner for three (with appetizer, no drinks) came to $81.00. We left a decent tip, regardless.

I adore their blackberry cobbler and got some of that to go, too. :smile:

I'd say the best thing to do at Jakes is to order a salad and Calamari and then the cobbler. Forget dinner. This would be plenty for me!

Jen

angler_andy · 08-07-2005, 08:23 AM

If I'm not happy with the service in any way I don't leave a tip. On the other hand I have been know to leave a very good tip for good service. My girl find says I leave to much some times. I used to work for tips so I know what it is like on the other side.

Andy.

ko · 08-07-2005, 08:35 AM

That is terrible. 30 minutes would be ridiculous. I work in the industry, and your waiter either forgot to place your order, or it got lost by the kitchen.

Next time let the manager know. He would have more than likely bought your meal.

There are much better restaurants in Portland, and you'll spend about the same amount of money.

Fast Water · 08-07-2005, 08:40 AM

Seated at 7:30 and served at 9?!?

Wow, that is way out of line. :depressed:

Bummer.

Jennie@ifish · 08-07-2005, 08:54 AM

Yes, I think so. I rarely afford myself the pleasure of a nice dinner and when I do, I am very disheartened when it doesn't work out. I get so excited about looking forward to it and then... bummer!

Even though I think my waitress did forget, she was so sweet that I thought she should get a tip. I dunno why, but who knows what happened and whether it was her fault.

I am going to copy the reciept and send Jakes a letter. They should keep reservation dates and then see the time stamped on the dinner receipt. I don't know what kind of response I'll get but I think they should know.

Even though this isn't an official complaint, I'll sign my name. I still believe in Jakes and think they are a good choice for dinner. I had to go, after reading another complaint. Maybe they are going downhill, or maybe I just got unlucky.

Jennie Logsdon Martin (By the way.) :smile:

Abalone · 08-07-2005, 11:41 AM

Jennie thank you for making this post.

From what I have heard from some friends that work at Certain venues in town, Businesses are very reactive to comments made on websites such as yours. I for one think it is very important for the public to communicate concerns. If I were the owner of Jakes I would want to know this and I would be very concerned.
But it is just as important to express issues in a proper manner not just rant. I think you did a great job of that.

I have heard of people getting fired as a result of these kinds of posts.

Personally I don't hesitate to confront the manager about issues.

Jennie@ifish · 08-07-2005, 11:42 AM

I hope they don't fire me! LOL.

Jen

JasonsZ06 · 08-07-2005, 04:23 PM

I have not been back to Jakes for this very reason. This happened years ago, and I still get fired up thinking about it. I'd taken my girlfriend there for dinner, and waited at a table for 30 or 40 minutes, with nobody coming to help us. I made three trips to the hostess, asking for a waitress to bring us drinks, menus, anything, and it never happened. We were dressed very well. We ended up leaving, and I will never be back. I've told countless people about my bad experience there, and still do.

Jason Schurter

Ryan Pultz · 08-07-2005, 07:12 PM

ok you were sat at 7:30 and you did not get your food buy 9 I would be talking to the manger buy 8:15. What the heck did they have to go out and catch your cabazon first that is crazy. rp

BentMetal · 08-07-2005, 08:32 PM

Way off topic, but I have to ask: on the Calamari appetizer, did they serve whole tentacles, or was it just strips of meat where you can't really tell what part of the squid it came from? I LOVE Calimari, and having whole tentacles I think really adds to the eating enjoyment (I'm not sure why), but I haven't found too many restaurants that serve Calimari that way (admittedly I don't eat out that much).

Sorry to hear about your dining experience though, that does make it a long night and I hope they give you a refund.

Radke · 08-08-2005, 05:46 AM

Heck, even if I had a party that I thought I wouldn't make money off of, I'd want to get them served and on their way so I could (hopefully) seat someone in that booth that I might make money off of.

I've only been to Jake's a couple times, but I've always felt the staff treated us like we should be honored for eating at their establishment. There are too many really good places to eat at to put up with that.

HammondSeaRanger · 08-08-2005, 05:54 AM

i've eaten there. VERY good food but they def. tailor service to #1 appearance & #2 Appearance. Suits and ties first .. Cut off shorts and a glass of Budwiser last.

but man the food rocks.

Jennie@ifish · 08-08-2005, 06:17 AM

The Calamari was mixed mini rings and mini whole ones. I love the little surprise whole ones. :smile:

They are by far the best.

Jennie@ifish · 08-08-2005, 06:17 AM

...and maybe it was because two of our party was wearing birks. :smile:

Jen

Troutinator · 08-08-2005, 09:21 AM

Jake's and a number of older high end eateries just haven't got into the Orygun experience. They do cater to a certain "class" of customer over others. Same at the Ringside, Morton's and El Gaucho. If you want high class A-#1 service, dress the part. I'm not condoning it but it is what it is. In fact, in many of the restaurants back east, you won't get seated if not dressed appropriately for the kind of joint they pretend to be.

And I am NO WAY saying not having your food served for 90 minutes is acceptable no matter what you were wearing. Period. I'm simply saying that restaurants frequently provide a level of service comensurate to what they think the patron "deserves" or expects.

Jennie@ifish · 08-08-2005, 01:03 PM

Hey! I was wearing a skirt and a tank top! Give me a break. If that wasn't class, then I hang out with too many fishermen!

Jen

Herring Problem · 08-08-2005, 02:35 PM

Don't feel so bad, My first wife and I went there and were seated very quikly. We were served water and the waiter came ond took our order. Then came in four peolpe,they were seated at the next table on our right, they get water and then they oredered. Then anohter four people are seated to the table on our left, same thing, given water and orders go in.

First group recieves drinks and dinner, second group recives drinks and dinner, now the funny part, here we all talking because I can't leave things go un-noticed, and here comes our waiter and he hands me a bill.

I tell him, all we have had is water, no drinks,no food.
He calls me a liar and threatened me, wrong! I stand up and he hollers for someone to call the police. He's 5.6, I'm 6'3.
I insist he has lost his mind, we never recived any food. About that time, the police show up. He gets to talk first, I call him a liar and offer to barf for them to prove we have't eaten. I'm still tring to prove to the officer we have not eaten .

Then the people sitting other tables got the attention of the officer who is now going to arrest me for refusing to pay and they all tell him that we never were served.
First cop gets told by second cop and then he calms down and I am let go.

Didn't pay, wouldn't go back if H------ freezes over and ice tea was free.

Gooseman · 08-08-2005, 02:47 PM

If I feel that the service is lacking, I speak up immediately. Do NOT be shy !

The wife hates this idea, but I love it. Take a wad of $1 bills with you, calculate how much a 20% tip comes out to be and call the waiter over. Explain to them that if they work things correctly, that this TIP will become theirs, but if things do not go according to a reasonable time table and set of expectations, then I start subtracting dollar bills as the night goes on.

TIPS = To Insure Prompt Service.