Slow Tango
By Melissa
Once a year, my cousin Celia Chu Lines comes home from Singapore to visit with her husband and kids. We try to find places to have a nice meal that are also kid-friendly. This past week, we went to Tango in the Hokua building.
Clockwise from me: Jordyn, Viv, Emma, and Cel.
I had been there once for lunch with Laureen Matsushima of Atlantis Adventures, and it was totally fine! In fact, patrons around us remarked that they try to eat at Tango as often as possible. Well...maybe it's different for lunch.
When I walked in, there were several staffers busy at the back of the restaurant, but no one in the front to greet the people coming in and waiting. It took several minutes for the people in front of me to get someone's attention, and then a few more minutes for me.
At first, the waiter seemed pretty "on it." But when it was time to order, I had to go to the back of the restaurant to get my own menus as no waithelp could be found. During dinner, it was odd to look around the restaurant to see NO waithelp checking on tables--it was as if no one was working. If we wanted to catch someone's attention, it was literally impossible because there was no staff on the floor.
It's too bad, though--the food at Tango is very nice, and the chef seems to be very accommodating. For example, Jordyn & Emma like to eat plain pasta, so the waiter was good enough to suggest it although it is not on the menu. The wine list is also smallish, but very nice.
I had the braised beef, which was fork-tender and a good sized portion; Cel had the duck, which had an Asian-inspired sauce; and Viv had the cioppino, which he highly recommended. The entrees were filling, but not to the point where you feel you'll burst.
The desserts were also excellent! I had the bread pudding, and Cel had the Kona Coffee Cake, which is layers of ice cream with a sponge cake base. Viv and the kids each had ice cream, but that didn't stop them from taking multiple swipes off our plates.
When it was time to finish settling the bill and validate our parking, I again found myself hunting down the staff. I finally just took our parking tickets up to the kitchen and waited for the manager to look up at me so I could be validated. It was weird--each time I had to walk to the back for self-service, no one blinked or seemed apologetic.
I later found out through another media buddy that the service at Tango has been a long-standing complaint. It makes me wonder why--especially in this economic climate--do businesses allow their service standards to slip? Tango pumps out creative, delicious dishes. If the service were better, I wouldn't think twice about going there again.
Tango Contemporary Cafe
1288 Ala Moana Boulevard
Suite 120
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 593-7288
Breakfast : Monday - Friday, 7 am - 10 am;
Sat & Sun, 8 am - 10:30 am
Lunch : Daily, 11 am - 4:30 pm
Dinner : Daily, 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Urban Mix Plate
February 5th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
that kind of thing really sets me off. every time u need more water, plates cleared away, come on, just a menu to order from--it becomes an issue. thnx for the heads-up. i'll never go to tango.
next thing that sets me off is indifferent service that becomes v chatty and attentive just before u get the bill.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Does Celia remember me from Kalaheo/Kailua? We were classmates!
February 6th, 2009 at 7:41 am
Good Morning Melissa, it looks as if it's a self serve restaurant, did you leave a tip?
February 6th, 2009 at 7:59 am
papaya, I think the whole situation was magnified because I felt embarrassed to have brought my guests to a place with that kind of service.
Rod! Small world!!! I forwarded your message to her but I haven't heard back yet.
M, I did begrudgingly leave a tip, albeit not a big one. My reasoning was that the waiter did do a little "beyond the call" with the pasta for the girls. I don't know if I would have if he did not do that.
Side rant: Last night, I didn't give the valet at the Aston Waikiki Beach a tip. Our parking was $24 and $32, despite having a $400 tab at the restaurant upstairs. We had validated our parking, but were unaware that it was only good for 3 hours. After that, our parking was charged at rack rates--apparently with no max! You'd think the hotels would have a second tier of rates for kamaaina. I kept telling the valet (who only had to get my car, 10 feet away), "You know we're not coming back, right? If you charge us that much, we're not coming back!"
February 6th, 2009 at 8:43 am
That's too bad about Tango because the few times I've eaten there, I've enjoyed the food. Have to admit the service wasn't stellar but it wasn't as bad as the service you DIDN'T receive. I'm really suprised because the executive chef for Tango is pretty well known. You would think he'd demand better service. Jordan and Emma are so grown up now! Cuties too!
As for the Waikiki parking, what a rip off. Take a lesson from Royal Hawaiian Center. Four hours free parking with restaurant validation!
February 6th, 2009 at 9:15 am
24.00 and 32.00 for parking? ouch!!!! that hurts!!!
February 6th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Food looks good but not worth it if you gotta go chase after the help. And that Valet guy should have just let you guys go. But I know the machine going ready the clock, BUT he could have fudged it for you guys. Sheesh. Like you said in these time of Economic distress, you would think businesses would do what they can to hold their customers. That kind parking rates no can. All day yes, but not 3 hours.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Cute kids! And I echo what everyone has said . . . too bad about the service because the food sure looks good. And then businesses wonder why they fail?
February 6th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Your experience at Tango reminded me of the episode of Top Chef where the Italian guy was working the front of the house. He said, "We could serve monkey a** on an empty clam shell and we would still win because I am in the front of the house." In the end their food wasn't the best but the service was really good and so they won the challenge.
As for the valet bill, I am very surprised the pushy Pake broad in you didn't demand to see the Asst. Hotel Manager. I hope you sent an e-mail to the place where you ate, so they will know what is happening once people leave their place and try to get their cars.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Yup, you guys are all correct: The bad service was such a contrast to the nice food!
As for the parking: Tiki's is sorry and invited me back, and I do understand that the problem lies with the hotel. Too bad, tho.
Bruce! I actually had too many martinis and was super tired. But I'm sure the hotel knows now.
February 7th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Chang,
You drank martinis and drove!? I'm glad I was at the Princess Taiping down at the Ala Wai fuel dock!
February 10th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
I hate it when a restaurant has bad service. It totally ruins the dining experience... Although I'm too chicken to complain about it at that moment because of my fear of retaliation. I only heard of the nasty things restaurant workers do to your food in the back but that movie "Waiting" got me scared.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
They must know that people feel that way. I wouldn't even bother unless I knew it changed. Thanks for the warning.