Panini Kabob Grill - Irvine Park Place — Restaurant in Irvine

My recent visit to Panini Cafe left me utterly disappointed, as the restaurant's abysmal service and cold food managed to ruin what should have been an enjoyable dining experience. I regret to say that my encounter with this establishment was nothing short of a culinary disaster.

From the moment I stepped foot into the restaurant, it was evident that the staff lacked the most basic understanding of customer service. The greeting at the door was lackluster at best, with no attempt to make me feel welcome or valued as a patron. The waitstaff seemed disinterested and detached, paying more attention to their personal conversations than attending to the needs of the diners.

The ordeal worsened when it came to placing my order. The server displayed an utter lack of knowledge about the menu, stumbling over basic questions and struggling to provide recommendations. The incompetence was astounding, and it was clear that proper training had been woefully neglected.

However, the pinnacle of disappointment was reached when the food finally arrived at the table. Not only was it presented in a lackluster manner, but it was also served cold. The temperature of the dishes left me perplexed and dismayed, as I expected nothing short of a piping hot, flavorful meal. The flavors themselves were dull, lacking the freshness and vibrancy that one would anticipate from a reputable establishment.

To add insult to injury, the staff's response to my concerns was nothing short of dismissive. Instead of acknowledging their mistakes and offering a solution, they displayed an astonishing level of apathy, as if they couldn't care less about the quality of their food or the satisfaction of their customers.

It pains me to pen such a scathing review, but it is a disservice to potential diners not to provide an honest account of my experience. It is my hope that the management of Panini Cafe will take this feedback seriously and make the necessary changes to improve their service, train their staff adequately, and ensure the quality of their food.

In conclusion, I strongly advise against dining at Panini Cafe. The combination of abysmal service and cold, lackluster food make it a regrettable choice for anyone seeking a pleasurable dining experience. Spare yourself the disappointment and explore other dining options that prioritize customer satisfaction and...

This is an update to my previous review, 2 years ago. I ordered a Combo kabob and when I went and picked it up and came home, I noticed that I received a chicken kabob, whereas I was already charged for my original order. When I called the store and explained the issue to them, and also mentioned that chicken kabob was burnt, they asked me for some proof (like to taking a picture and email it to them) and call them back. While I was eating what I had received anyway, I felt that was one of the worst food ever: a very dried/over cooked chicken with 1 piece burnt). They called me back to check if I had sent them the pic. Then I asked for the refund. A lady, that was in charge but with no authority, said that has to talk to the manager in order for my refund to be approved!!!!

How cheap! This was the 1st time I was treated like that. After spending so much time talking on the phone and ruining my night by giving me a wrong order, I just gave up. Too much time and effort for little $. It seems Panini is in more need than me. Prices has gone up by 20% but the quality and service has gone down 100% or more. They are dead to me.

After eatinign their Chicken kabob for more than 5 years, today I had my worst experince with them, specially after their recent hike on their prices. My friend got their "family for two" meal and substitude one chicken for Koobideh. 1st thing that disgused me today was the look of the food: uncooked koobideh and it being taken apart. 2nd, was a piece of chicken I couldn't chew and took it off my mouth. Shame! Although their food quality has changed since I started with them and sometimes has gone down, despite their few times price increase, today's experince made me to pause on them for a while and don't eat their food to see what will happen. I started with them when the chicken kabob cost $10 and family for four $30, or family for two w/koobideh substitue for $21. Now they cost $14, $45 and $27 respectively (not talking about eliminating of grilled broccoli from their Koobideh). Aren't these prices high enough for them to keep the quality?!!! Hey panini, you are not one of my few choices any more (where you were the 1st or 2nd for long...

First of all, my lunch was good. I had the chicken wrap. It was tasty and filling with the Greek side salad. This is a full service restaurant vs I had originally thought it was a counter order and they bring it to you kind of spot. I saw some people order the kababs and it was a huge order. They really need a lunch portion option.

Now the negatives: I thought it was weird that I had a side of hummus with this. I’m used to dipping pita into hummus but just spread it randomly on each bite of my wrap. I would have preferred a side of tzatziki.

I ordered the “bottle” of coke and got a can. No explanation why. I can’t believe they don’t offer fountain soda refills at this place. Is this 1985 in this place?

We ate outside on the patio. I am pretty sure this is the noisiest outdoor patio I’ve ever experienced. I could barely hear my friends across the table it was that loud. Not a great experience to meet & catch-up.

We were a table of 3. We all ordered the same thing essentially. With the bill, we asked to just split it 3 ways evenly to make it easy with our credit cards. When we got our slips to sign, the server split the bill in half and then charged all 3 of us the same thing. He tried charging us 50% more than our bill. I brought it to his attention and took a minute for him to figure it out. Then, it took quite a bit of time for him to correct it. All we got was a “sorry”. Considering he just tried to scam us out of more money and tips, he should have done more.

I doubt I will be rushing back to this spot anytime soon. WARNING: Keep an eye on your bills and credit...