With all of the raving and great things said about Roy's we (5 of us) couldn't wait to come here. Two of my group had been here before and had nothing but great things to say. So what went wrong last Tuesday night?
First the good stuff: We decided to order drinks, yak for awhile then order. We told that to the waiter who couldn't quite seem to get it but finally did. I ordered a Watermelon and Jalapeno Margarita. Premium liqour, sliced jalapeno's and one of the best drinks I've ever had. Went well with the great bowls of edamame they serve as you settle in your seat.
My friends' salmon, butterfish and shrimp dishes were deemed excellent and they were! Lilokai salad was very different with toasted macadamia nuts. We liked it very much.
I ordered the halibut in dashi broth with scallion spaezle. I love spaezle and this one sounded different. Then I realized I could substitute so I changed my order by ordering the pancetta wrapped Hebi but subbed a side of spaezle instead of the squash. The waiter said "no problem at all." Well there must have been a problem.....
Here's the bad stuff: The edamame that we still had half of one bowl left was whisked away along with our dishes while we were still munching on the stuff. When we told our waiter he apologized and said he'd bring another. He didn't. We asked again, He still didn't. We TOLD him again and he finally did.
I had no knife and no napkin. When I asked for napkin I had to repeat my request to the busboy cuz our waiter never brought it. I never got the knife I asked for 3 times.
The waiter brought our dinners. I got the halibut. Realized I got the wrong dinner and by the time I was brought the Hebi I ordered most of my tablemates had finished eating. The Hebi was tough, I needed a knife to cut it. Never have cut fish with a knife before but had to borrow a knife from my friends sitting next to me cuz my knife never arrived. The fish was bland as well as tough so it was a double whammy for me.
J. said her butterfish was outstanding, C. loved her salmon as did M., and they insisted I try it. They were right, it was awesome. L. said the shrimp was to die for. I got screwed. LOL.
I just ordered the wrong thing is all, but the service was bad, just plain bad. There were two other tables occupied when we got there so there was no excuse. When we left the place was packed full and for a Tuesday that was impressive. I would love to give this place another try and maybe I will but the service had better improve. For the $73.00 that dinner cost me I expected more.
Ambience: Beautiful and romantic.