1 /5 Alexiz Daniels: I am writing to share feedback regarding my recent dining experience at Toki Restaurant. My family and I visited to celebrate my son’s 18th birthday, a milestone he chose to honor at his favorite restaurant. Unfortunately, our experience fell far below expectations.
Our party of thirteen was assigned to a server named Nina. From the moment she approached the table, her demeanor was noticeably rushed and unusually curt. Before our group had even received drinks, she was already asking my elderly parents to place their food orders, creating a sense of unnecessary urgency.
Throughout the evening, the service continued to decline. Multiple soups and salads were brought to the table despite several individuals not having ordered yet. When we requested drink refills, Nina consistently walked past our table while refilling nearby tables instead, which made the experience feel dismissive and uncomfortable.
The handling of the birthday acknowledgment was especially disappointing. Without preparation or coordination, Nina abruptly announced that we needed to sing to the birthday honoree and immediately began singing. At that moment, the birthday cake was still wrapped and the candle not yet lit, making what should have been a special moment feel awkward and poorly executed.
The situation escalated further when my uncle politely requested his check. Rather than addressing his request directly, Nina instructed that the entire table needed to pay immediately. When I calmly stated that I was not ready to check out, she displayed unprofessional behavior by snatching my cousin’s credit card from her hand and grabbing the ticket from the table.
After that exchange, she did not return to take any additional orders. Ultimately, we had to sit at the table and place a to-go order by phone because service had completely stopped.
What was meant to be a joyful and memorable family celebration quickly became an unfortunate and stressful experience. The level of service we received was far below the standard we expected, especially for a restaurant our family has enjoyed many times before.
I hope this feedback is helpful for training and improvement, as no family should have to endure such service especially during a special occasion.