Steven Reagan

Review of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

After being allowed into the restaurant by the out...

After being allowed into the restaurant by the outside gatekeeper we were met inside by a very confused hostess asking if we were wanting to bring out stroller to the table, or if we wanted to leave it outside. After explaining that there was no way we would be waking up a peacefully sleeping 3 month old she asked us to please wait while she went to make sure that "was ok". After a brief wait we were taken to a table. Our waitress arrived shortly after, physically removing the menus from my wife's hand to show her "favorites" that I am sure match the rest of the servers favorites this week. She took our drink order (2 long island ice teas and a Mt. Dew) and explained the mechanics of the "stop forest stop" sign and stressed that when we were ready to order, flip the sign and anyone could take our order. A few minutes later decisions were made and the sign was flipped. I lost track of how many wait staff, bussers, and hosteses walked by before a neighboring waitress going over Gump trivia finally instructed to see what we needed. When we told him we'd like to order he wandered off to find our waitress. We placed our order and eagerly awaited our meal. 10 minutes later our waitress returned with our calamari appetizer and said she would track the status of our drinks. 5 minutes later a busboy returned with our (seemingly alcohol-less) mixed drinks. After a reasonable 5 minute wait for someone to return with our sons fountain drink, we flagged down our waitress to enquire upon the status of the mountain dew to which she gave the empty table a puzzled look and stated she would get it. She quickly returned with the drink when my son asked if he could have a straw, to which she said she would have to return with. She quickly returned stating they were out of straws but she would try to find one. After passing by further times with food, checks, and drinks (with straws) my son asked again and was promptly given a straw. We are now at the 45 minute point into visit when the waitress returned stating our food should be out soon and started the Gump mandated trivia. At the 1 hour mark, we were finally given our food and the waitress explained that our check was "lost" and the food had to be made on the fly. We quickly ate our food and asked for our check. I was happy to see that there was no discount, comp, or even apology on our check for our hour wait and watching multiple tables arrive, eat, and leave before being served.

The ineptitude of the serving staff was shocking, even for a themed novilty eatery. We were lied to at least once (out of straws? Seriously) left to wait, and not even offered any form of apology for the treatment. It's clear this chain depends entirely on first visit gimicks and could care less for return business.