The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood — Restaurant in Honolulu

We received the worst service here, it’s supposed to be a fine dining establishment. I had to send an email twice to the GM before I received a subpar reply. I can see why the staff here lacks the hospitality skills. Included is my first email, please reconsider having dinner here as it will be a waste of your time and money. Attention: Maria Villanueva, General Manager ** Or whomever is the GM, I was told it was Maria. I’ve been trying to get a response since the 20th of August, due to your staff who answers the phone I keep getting inaccurate information!”

Dear Ms. Villanueva,

I am writing to express my deep disappointment with the service my party and I received at your restaurant on Monday, August 19th, during my birthday celebration. My husband, Dane, booked a private room for 14 guests. While the food was excellent, the service was far from acceptable. Below, I have outlined the issues we encountered:

Excessive Confirmation Contacts : In the seven days leading up to our reservation, we received daily calls and emails reminding us of our reservation and the required minimum to spend. This was unnecessary and felt intrusive.

Inconsistent Dress Code Enforcement : Upon arrival, the hostess informed my husband that he could not wear a hat, even in the private room. However, we looked on your website and nothing stated a no hat policy. Also during all the phone calls, no one also mentioned a no hat policy.

Disregard for Guest Preferences :When my husband requested that the womens’ orders be taken first, the waiter dismissed this and proceeded in taking the men’s order.

Inappropriate Staff Behavior : Several staff members listening to our conversations, with one making a rude comment as he left the room.

Poor Service : We had to request water refills, and the staff rarely approached the women’s side of the table to check if we needed anything. Our guests felt neglected and avoided by the staff.

Table Issues and Spilled Drinks : The tables were uneven, causing a friend’s drink to spill. No staff offered assistance, she had to ask the waiter herself for a new drink.

Unprofessional Waitstaff : One server announced she would be taking over our table, yet never returned. Additionally, when a guest asked a busboy to clear a dish, he said “ Nah I’m going to leave it here” and left.

Food Handling and Boxing Issues : When we asked for some appetizers to be boxed, the busser ignored us, and the food was never returned. Later, we had to box our own food, and when we requested a larger box, the staff appeared confused.

Note from one of our guests: Food was not served from the left nor was bussed from the right After we were done eating, it took 15 minutes to clear the table. The table wasn’t completely cleared before desserts were brought out Service should be impeccable with the amount of money being spent and it felt like employees were avoiding our table

Rude Billing Procedure : When the bill arrived, the waiter stood over my husband as he paid, which was intrusive and uncomfortable. Despite the poor service, my husband still tipped very generously.

Lack of Attention Upon Departure : As we left, I had to repeatedly call out to the hostess for attention to validate our parking.

Overall, the service was far below what we expected, especially given the amount of money spent. Initially, my husband and his friends discussed making regular reservations at your restaurant, but after this experience, we have no intention of returning.

I strongly urge you to address these issues with your staff to ensure all guests receive equal and respectful treatment. Additionally, I recommend implementing etiquette training for your team to prevent future occurrences like...

Signature Prime Steak & Seafood: A Night of Romance with a Side of Minor Mishaps

Perched on the 36th floor of the Ala Moana Hotel, Signature Prime Steak & Seafood boasts a breathtaking panorama of Ala Moana Park, Waikiki Yacht Harbor, and the twinkling downtown skyline. It's a picture-perfect backdrop for a special occasion, which is precisely what brought us here: a sunset wedding proposal.

First Impressions

We had made meticulous arrangements a week in advance, requesting a window table for four to witness the sunset spectacle. Upon arrival, the pre-arranged roses adorned our table, but alas, the coveted window seat remained elusive. Although we still enjoyed a pleasant view, the obstruction of another table slightly dampened the romantic ambiance.

The Culinary Journey Begins

Our initial interaction with the service staff left a mixed impression. The server helper's uncertainty about the type of bottled water offered a touch of awkwardness, while the accidental pouring of tap water into our bottled water glasses raised an eyebrow. However, these minor hiccups were quickly overshadowed by the arrival of our appetizers.

The seafood tower was a visual and culinary delight, showcasing the freshest catches of the ocean. The generously sized shrimp-stuffed mushrooms were bursting with flavor, and the deconstructed avocado strawberry onion salad proved to be a refreshing and innovative twist. The French onion soup, meanwhile, delivered the comforting warmth and rich cheesiness that we craved.

Main Course Magic

As the sun painted the sky with vibrant hues, our entrees arrived: a majestic Tomahawk steak, a succulent Colorado rack of lamb, and a perfectly cooked prime rib eye. The accompanying sides of lobster mac and cheese, mushroom risotto, baked potato, and truffle mashed potatoes were all executed flawlessly, complementing the main attractions with their own unique flavors and textures.

Sweet Ending and a Slight Disappointment

A complimentary crème brûlée provided a sweet and satisfying conclusion to our meal. However, a minor disappointment arose when we discovered that the requested Tomahawk bone for our furry friend at home was missing from our takeaway bag.

Final Verdict

Despite a few minor service hiccups and the forgotten bone, our evening at Signature Prime Steak & Seafood was, overall, a memorable one. The breathtaking views, exceptional cuisine, and the successful proposal made it a night to cherish. The restaurant's culinary prowess shines brightly, and with some fine-tuning in the service department, it could easily earn a full five stars.

Recommendations:

Don't miss the seafood tower and the deconstructed avocado strawberry onion salad – they are simply divine! For the main course, the Tomahawk steak and Colorado rack of lamb are both excellent choices. If you're celebrating a special occasion, be sure to request a window table well in advance. While the service is generally good, there is room for improvement in terms of attentiveness and...

Wow, was I surprised how delicious my dinner was. On my way back from Ko'olina beach I had the urge for a steak. Must of been all the infomercials on TV that put some type of subliminal plug. Anyways, I had many choices by Siri that were nearby but I found trying to get in the right lane to exit always seemed inconvenient around the late commute hours so I decided to ask Siri for a Prime Rib steakhouse near my condo. It gave me instructions and zoom, I pulled up to a hotel. I had thought I missed the restaurant. I asked the valet for directions and I was told the Signature Restaurant was here and on the 36th floor. Woah, ok. Time to valet the car and head up the elevator (which was identified by the red rope around the red carpet named Signature Prime Steak & Seafood. Oh no, I was feeling underdressed wearing my slippers, shorts, Hawaii Island Creation shirt, hat and sunglasses. Doors open and greeted with wonderful Aloha by staff members. Definitely an upper class restaurant and I looked like a door dash biker to pick up an order. Fortunately, they accommodated me and wow! The photo opportunities were forcing my hand to grab my iPhone and stare at the amazing city horizon from the 36th floor. I was there to eat though and I was very hungry despite being distracted by the 360 natural panoramic view and the 20 beautiful women sitting across from me. Nevermind, my stomach was ready for a simple go-to-favorite Prime Rib. That was until I was read the menu. A word unfamiliar to me peaked my interest, do you know what that word was? Wagu. I know my son had always advocated trying it one day but never materialized when he lived with me. Now that I moved to Hawaii, I wanted to partake of this mysterious meat. The water described the mouth watering description of the Wagu Steak and I was screaming in my stomach like the cooke monster "EAT!" A few photos later and my lichee martini slid on the table. Delicious! Several minutes later two waiters greet me with a plate too-hot-to-touch large plate of the Wagu New York Steak before me followed by a cheesy asparagus and bacon, truffle mashed potatoes. Pause, have you ever taken a bite of a steak and suddenly an explosion of deliciousness flavor hit your mouth? Well this did! Wow, I didn't know Wagu New York Steak was delicious! Every bite was savory. I think my tongue was trying to categorize new flavors in my brain in the delicious section. You take a bite, wait, let the flavors fill your mouth and go on to the next bite. Yes, I ate it all. So if you were to ask me today which I prefer to have 1. Prime Rib or 2. Wagu New York Steak? No question, the Wagu Steak Medium Rare. Desert was an Ube Cheesecake, yummy! I would have loved to share this dinner with someone special but my date tonight was my stomach and what a treat I gave myself. Sometimes you have to take care of yourself and be happy. Well, I am happy and you will too. Highly...