Kona Grill - El Paso — Restaurant in El Paso

You may have seen my one star review earlier and a request for me to email Jason. I did, and never heard back. Another reason not to go here. Although apparently, if you have Eric as your waiter your experience is awesome so ask for him to make sure it is better than our large party had when in from out of town. Here is the email that was sent to Jason...

Hi Jason,

I am following up as you requested from my Google review related to your El Paso location to provide more detail.

My party of seven (I think I originally misquoted eight as one from our traveling group did not attend this dinner), dined at your El Paso location on May 19 around 7:15pm for a work trip. We work for a non-profit organization that helps support your El Paso community and others across the state. We are part of the human resources team and had flown in to connect with our local frontline team members that week for open enrollment and updates.

Honestly, I suggested Kona having eaten in the Austin location (prior to their closing), Dallas, and San Antonio having received nothing but fantastic food and service, and thinking since it was a Monday evening there would be little to no wait even for a large party. It was honestly the worst service and dining experience I have ever had, and that makes me really sad to tell you.

Most of the food was overdone.... macadamia crusted chicken, fish on the fish and chips... my salad greens were all wilted... or under done....raw fries with the fish and chips (they literally snapped, they were so raw), burger was red in the center (she asked for well done... and so most food wasn't finished. Three plates actually, one being sent back and after the fry incident. So, after spending over $175 + tip, after the appetizers we received after all our food had come and I mentioned them, had been removed, most of the party was still hungry. And... some of us ate all our food simply because we waited 40 minutes for it to get there and we had traveled all day and were starving.

I am not telling you this because I want anything. I am saying this because you need to know that this location needs support. No one smiled. Especially the hostess. The fish tank was our first clue something was wrong... it had algae so thick in it that you couldn't tell for certain if fish were inside.

I also am telling you this because I felt really bad suggesting this place based on such great experiences, and knowing our organization spend almost $200 to feed us and we left and went through McDonald's and spent more. We only make these trips once a year and we have to watch and account for every dime, and this was truly a waste of our dollars.

I hope you go in and get this place turned around. It is in a great area of El Paso.

Thank you...

Overall it's was tolerable. I think the frustrating part is it could be a high class dining experience with great food. The idea is there but the lack of care and passion is not.

Cleanliness: is ok, the tables are worn down and with nobody really in the resturant the floor still needed to be vacuumed. There are balloons stuck in the ceiling which through off the esthetic.

Decor is nice. Looks upscale and could be an amazing date night hot spot but, the fish tank is empty and needs to be cleaned. Which throws you off when you walk in because everything else looks nice and up scale.

Now the thing that matters. My family and I went during happy hour. So the resturant was empty. The server was awesome! The food not so much. If you spend $100+ you should get your money worth.

Fried rice- seemed out of a bag. The chicken look like it was warmed up with the rice in boil bag and taste the same.

The Chicken And Shrimp lettuce wrap- I would not recommend. Over salted pre made mix that we sent back

Spicy Tuna roll- not in pressed. I would rather have a piece of tuna in the roll instead of a puree mix of tuna and something else. Flavor just was not there.

Shrimp Tacos- was not thrilled. No real flavor but if you like spicy only its ok. The spicey over took the shrimp and the slaw had no flavor.

The Burger for happy hour SPOT ON! came with fried only $6 bucks has seeded Bum great job well worth it.

Also the KIDS BENTO Boxes are good. My kids liked it and the orange for the box was decorated nicely.

Overall not bad just be cautious of what you order to not be upset about the cost vs quality! If you going out with a family of 5 which is easily $100 I think you should get a certain level of hospitality and quality of food to make it worth your money!

Stay Strong and Enjoy...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Kona Grill, and I must say that my experience was elevated to new heights thanks to the impeccable service provided by our waiter, Jonathan. From the moment we were seated until the end of our meal, Jonathan went above and beyond to ensure that we had a memorable dining experience.

Not only was Jonathan extremely knowledgeable about the menu, but he also took the time to provide detailed descriptions of each dish and offer excellent recommendations based on our preferences. His attentiveness and genuine passion for hospitality truly shone through, making us feel valued and well taken care of throughout the evening.

What truly set Jonathan apart was his remarkable ability to anticipate our needs without being intrusive. He maintained the perfect balance of being present when we needed him and allowing us to enjoy our meal in peace. His friendly demeanor and professional attitude added a personal touch to our dining experience, turning a simple meal into a memorable occasion.

It is clear that Jonathan takes great pride in his work and is dedicated to providing top-notch service to every guest. His commitment to excellence and genuine warmth made our visit truly exceptional, and I would not hesitate to return to Kona Grill knowing that we would be in good hands with Jonathan.

In conclusion, I highly recommend Jonathan to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience. His exceptional service and attention to detail are a testament to his professionalism and passion for hospitality. Thank you, Jonathan, for making our evening at Kona Grill...