SOULed OUT Kota Kinabalu — Restaurant in Borneo

I have gone to this location of SOULed OUT several times. As a foreigner who recently splits their time between Taiwan, and KK I have started to frequent this restaurant on every return to KK as it's in close proximity to my home.

I ALWAYS have high hopes for my experience, and it always falls short. The food is good and the atmosphere is great. The music is nice, and the decor and decorations are always lovely. The price is a bit on the higher end, but I can accept this. However, what I can't accept is the lack of attention the employees pay their guest.

On EVERY occasion, i have had the same bartender pour my beer and make my cocktails (since starting to go in June of 2023). I am sure he is very familiar with me as I sit in the same seat almost every time. You would think that after seeing and serving someone so many times, you would offer up a warm hello, smile, or warm interaction. I feel like for such a cool spot, the employees make no effort to be friendly to their guest...it's solely about the exchange of business. To me, this is a real shame.

I was fortunate enough to have a friendlier bartender last night (shorter guy with short black hair) who introduced the happy hour menu to me, as well as made eye contact and had a warm attitude. Unfortunately,he was moved elsewhere, and my normal server returned with the same nonchalant aloof attitude.

I would like to note that I definitely would have stayed longer had the other bartender stayed.

It is surely disappointing because as someone who is willing to accept paying a higher price for food and drinks and the extra % added on at the end, I can not accept the lack of friendliness from the staff..especially toward a guest that frequents often and spends well.

I can definitely say that unless changes are made, I most certainly will not be back.

Update: After going back, I am pleased with the changes made. Thank you to SOULed OUT for being so attentive to detail and the goal to...

Good food & good atmosphere.

BAD SERVICE !!! We arrived at 5.30pm and we saw only 30% of tables with customers. 70% are reserved. The worst is those reserved are booked 8pm and 9pm at night. The lady staff discussed with a MALE waiter for minutes, then the lady staff invite us to a reserved long table. Come on... I come here 5.30pm, I don't think I need to eat here for more than 2 hours. (we finish our dinner at 6.30pm).

Below bad experience just particular to 1 MALE waiter only (bald head, taller, beard, wear crew black color uniform, middle aged, look like body guard) yes is u!

I raise hand want to place order to a lady staff who holding cuatomer's drinks, so the lady staff signal HIM to take order, he ignore. After a while the lady staff passby and see nobody take order, she get another young waiter take order with us. Good job lady.

When we almost done eating, my wife went to washroom, he come over our table just to adjust my wife chair back to original place before customer sit in. He do the same when I go washroom. Hey man, we are still having our dinner at your restaurant. What? U want me to leave faster?

When we paid and leave our table, he come in second to clean our table.

Really need that rush while I still saw many empty tables in this...

Great place to have short or long chit chats since the distance between the tables are widespread, also an awesome place to hang out, to help throw a birthday party for a friend, or to celebrate any anniversary, fantastic atmosphere for relaxing which are accompanied by music mostly from the live band, but also music and melodies. Drinks were served and tasted well, where the drinks mostly are composed of alcohols, but there is also the juice and skyjuice options for those who did not wanted to have alcohols. Waiters and bartenders were very friendly. The menu also contains a wide variety of choices, mostly from western foods, which covers steaks, grills, and for the small eaters, there's also some small eateries such as french fries, mashed potato, and many more. In addition, they also decorate the place whenever there's an event coming soon such as the Lunar Chinese New Year, Christmas, and many more. Overall, this place will make you felt relaxed and very comfortable to spend your time at. (Additionally, also a great place for guys who need to wait for their other half in which their other half often shop for a long day inside the...