Flamingo Joe's Bar & Eatery — Restaurant in North Island

Let me start by saying the food was fantastic. The service, however was very friendly, was also very sub par. After being seated we waited for 15mins to have our drink order taken and then another 20mins for them to come back to take our food order after eventually flagging them down. Once the food came out one of the mains was the wrong thing which was quickly taken away as it was someone else's meal and the correct food come out quite a while later after all the other meals were finished. We also ordered fries for the table which straight up just never arrived and as at no point did they come back to see if everything was fine/if we wanted more drinks etc (basic hospo practice) we decided we'd just not have them and when paying we mentioned it as we didn't want to be charge for something we never got and were told no fries were ever on the order. A half hour after finishing the meal someone came to clear some empty plates and we asked for desert menus and if we could get some more water, never came back. We eventually asked someone else and got menus and then again after waiting for someone to come back and take our order/clear plates/bring water we had to flag a waitress down again. Its worth mentioning that at this time there were only about three tables of people in the restaurant and many staff just standing behind the counter talking, drinking coffee and some just dawdling back and forth seemingly aimlessly around the empty tables. It was also interesting as we were seated near the kitchen window, seeing how long food sat there after the bell rung before wait staff would get it to take to a table (we only noticed this because there were a plate of fries up there for 10 mins that we thought could have been ours, back when we were still hopeful that we would be getting fries). For a 6.30 res we left just before 9pm which feels like a long turn around time for burgers/tacos and pudding. When the staff did interact with us they were very friendly and I think with just some basic hospitality training this place could be great, the location and food...

Update: Following an amazing and understanding reply from Flamingo Joes we have tried again and the experience was much improved:)

On Tuesday myself and three mates went to Flamingo Joe's for some Christmas drinks and I'm sad to say the service we received was terribly poor.

We got there at 430 and the bar was pretty quiet. We were told to take a seat and there would be table service only. After ordering the first jug of beer it took 15 minutes to arrive.

Following this, no one came to our table again. I finally gave up waiting and went to the bar, there was a guy polishing glasses who completely ignored me and another group waiting to be served. After polishing a few more he finally said hello, and told me it was table service only.

I said that we'd waited so long for someone to come to our table to order more drinks that I gave up and came to the bar. Begrudgingly he took my order and told me to return to the table.

After finishing the second jug, we waited another 20 minutes and were still not seen by anyone. By this point we gave up and left.

On walking out, we saw three of your staff sitting down outside smoking and being served beers by other staff. Not a great look!

We went straight across the road to the Duke of Wellington and spent a further $100 and received bar service immediately.

Just wanted to pass this feedback on as the vibe at Flamingo Joe's is great. But it's being let down by your lack luster staff, and this desire to offer table service but then not actually...

Visiting Wellington with grandson, after a day of sight seeing and feeling pretty hungry we looked for somewhere to eat before heading home via train, come across this place, first to see board displayed at inside entrance displaying chef's special which my husband and I decided upon only later to find out was for the lunch special, why was it even there? So went on to search menu for another option which we ordered beef burgers and chips, linguine with prawns and starters battered prawns, husband went to bar to buy a beer and cocktail and gingerbeer for our grandson 11yrs, while sitting with a lovely view and enjoying a bev, grandson, comments on his drink tastes strange, not only husband discoveres that he has been overcharged for the drinks, goes to enquire and finds out my grandson was given the alcoholic gingerbeer not a straight gingerbeer, was told he should have stated that to the bar lady, we'll I would think if you asked for a gingerbeer they should be asking you! So after half a glass of his drink it was replaced and over payment resolved, a very big mistake guys! Burgers and chips arrh no mise well have gone to mac Donald's! Lanquine was ok, anyway ate and fixed up bill for food, also overcharged but by this time couldn't be bothered to question, honestly have been in hospitality for most of my time, I know it's not an easy industry to be in sometimes, but I feel there is alot of room for improvement here, mathematical skills 1 and some more passion...