I was a restaurant waiter and manager for 6 years, and I've seen a lot, but today was the first time I went to a restaurant where reservations are (a) accepted, but (b) routinely ignored.\r
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It's fine if a restaurant doesn't want to accept reservations; they have that right. If you're on a schedule and need to be able to make a reservation, choose a less busy restaurant that accepts them. Also, it's understandable that sometimes on busy nights a restaurant gets behind and can't seat reservations quite on time. \r
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But accepting reservations, and then making absolutely zero effort to seat reservations before walk-ins, is stunning, outrageous and unacceptable. But that seems to be the norm at Rainforest Cafe in Southcenter. \r
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I had made reservations the day before. When we arrived shortly before our reserved time, there was a long line. I walked to the front and said we had reservations. They told us the long line was for people who had reservations! Another one of our party didn't believe it, and went up separately and asked again, and was told the same thing. \r
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It took us over half an hour to reach the font of the line. The party in front of us did not have a reservation, and was amazed that we had to stand in the same line. They were seated before us. \r
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We were not the only people who had reservations and were amazed to be told to stand in line. We saw it happen to others while we waited. \r
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One person with a reservation, and who said he was on a schedule, became quite irate about it. The employees took it in stride; they seemed to have a LOT of experience getting that kind of reaction from customers.\r
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Again, it's fine if Rainforest Cafe is so busy they don't need to accept reservations. Good for them. But if that's the case, DON'T ACCEPT RESERVATIONS!!!!!\r
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The food was excellent, but excellent food is available at many, many restaurants. Avoid this one if you want to make a reservation.
Pros: Good food, fun for kids
Cons: Reservations accepted but routinely ignored
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