Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. — Restaurant in Monterey

For the record, I have eaten at this Bubba Gump location several times over the last few years, and this is the only bad experience I have ever had. Usually, the food is consistent, the experience is fun, and the scenery is always excellent. But something was definitely different this time. I ordered a filet mignon steak for lunch today, medium rare. They're doing a surf and turf special right now. The two cocktails and single appetizer we ordered took about 20 minutes and the initial food took about 30. My significant other got up to use the restroom. So when the food got to the table, it was just me, and I told the server I had ordered the steak. The server put my plate on the opposite end of the table and put my SO's in front of me... then he watched me switch the plates around without saying anything. I have no idea what that was about. My SO sat back down, I went for the steak right away, poked it with my fork, and it looked way too squishy. Cut it open, it had about a centimeter or two of cooked edges; that was about as rare as it gets without eating beef tartar. It even had a toothpick in it that said medium rare lol. So the manager happened to walk by and she apologized and took the steak back right away to be fixed. The manager was lovely and did everything in her power to make this right, like giving me a comped Ceasar salad. The meal took 20-25 minutes to recook and then a different manager brought it to me and asked me to cut into the steak so she could make sure it was better than before. It was well done... Jeesh. Made me feel like that cook was pissed that I sent a mooing steak back. The manager, again, was incredibly apologetic and said we would not have to pay for the surf and turf meal. She also said she would speak to the cook. I appreciated the effort, so I tried to brush it off and I told the manager I would eat the steak because I was really hungry by this point. We had already been in the restaurant for an hour. I began to eat and found that I was just really disappointed with everything except my cocktail. That Lava Flow is literally the best slushie-type cocktail I have ever had (as someone who doesn't like the flavor of strong liquor). The stuffed shrimp that came with my meal were also not great. The brocooli has no seasoning at all, but a nice crisp on it. Our actual waitress stopped at the table twice the entire meal. She looked like she was taking care of too many tables for one person to reasonably handle, but she was less than inviting and made absolutely no effort to interact. No standard Forrest Gump trivia or any conversation beyond the bare minimum. I brought up that we travel to all the different Bubba Gump's in CA as a coastal trip tradition (we collect their cups) and that didn't even spark conversation. Once I began boxing up my sad meal, the managers last touch was to send us home with the box of chocolates they sell in the gift shop. I wish this restaurant the best and hope they can figure out whatever issue is going on, because other than the managers being so kind, everything was subpar. They even took like 10 minutes to swipe our dang credit card. We spent at least an hour and a half in there when all was said and done. Lousy birthday meal, unfortunately. Added receipt so restaurant owners can address what happened, as I LOVE Bubba Gump, but I need a better experience next time to...

This review is over due. This happened many months ago and it is still on my mind. Simply because I really hate writing reviews, especially bad ones. I hate sounding like a Karen/Ken as well, but when it comes to my little ones, I can't just ignore it. it's one thing if it happens to me, I can just ignore it and move on, but it's another if it happens to my family. Me and my family went to Bubba Gumps in Monterey fairly early so there was no wait, no line, and a beautiful view. When we went in, only 3-4 tables were sitting down and eating, so we knew that the wait for food wouldn't be long. Our order got taken right away and we were pretty excited because every other time we've eaten here, it was always packed and busy. 15 minutes pass and our food has not come out yet. The only thing that came out was a super small thing of mac and cheese. Another 10 minutes pass and now they have just sat down 10-15 more tables. I decided to just be a little more patient. Imagine my surprise when all these tables that have just sat down already have their food and are eating. I even saw a table next to me that had the same food I ordered 25 minutes ago. I flagged the server and she said it'll be out soon. But how did someone who sat down 10-15 minutes after I did order the same item I did and received it way before me? Now 45 minutes has passed, the entire restaurant is packed and server comes over and say our food is next to come out... The kids were leaning on their chair watching everyone eating, and while I try to teach them the important of patience, this was not one of those times. I saw a server across the restaurant bring an entire tray of food to a table that sat down about 10 minutes ago. So much for being next... This was the final straw for me so I wanted to leave. I flagged a server down and said, "I'll pay for the mac and cheese but can you just cancel everything else, we're leaving. It's been 50 minutes and you guys brought food to the people who ordered 30 minutes after me, and you lied about my food coming out next..." The server agreed and said she'll get the bill. 5 minutes later, all of a sudden 3 different servers come out with our food and just quickly place it on our table and walk away. Imagine the mixed emotions we feel. We already ran out of patience, we're mentally checked out, we even asked for the bill for the food we DID get, so we're mentally not ready to eat anymore. Our mindsets were no longer in the right place, we're PISSED. There were people who sat down after us, ate, and left, all while we still didn't receive our food. The food was good, but it wasn't good enough to sit through such a thing with the kids. I honestly feel like this was a one time thing with them... But I can't figure out an explanation. I don't know why or how this happened. We constantly talked with our server, so it's not like they forgot our order... Either way, no apology, no explanation, nothing. It was such a disappointing experience to the point where we think about that experience everytime we talk about Monterey Bay, aquariums, and seafood. If your order was the first one placed, and you were the last to eat, I'm sure people would have felt the...

We visited tonight. Figured we would get some affordable yet edible food for our last night in monterey.

We visit monterey quite often as we are professional scuba divers.

The wife asked for calamari which i would have immediately opposed to as I'm partial to high quality calamari as you would find in Osteria Al Mare or Old fisherman's Grotto. Fisherman's Grotto holds superiority i fresh fish and clam chouder, and customer service undoubtedly 10 stars, and a head to head fight for 11 stars with Osteria.

When this previously frozen, overly dried and burnt and dehydrated charcoal came to our table i was shocked, each piece of dry detritus fell apart between my fingers. I asked who had ordered this garbage, it turned out that my wife did. As disappointed as i was I accepted it, yet i was saddened that our hard earned dollars were spent in this poor excuse for calories.

Suddenly we found ourselves changing our minds about eating out, and decided to take the rest of the order home. The wife ordered a "boil" wich she enjoyed. I did not taste it but based on everything else i place no confidence on that option . I ordered a simple cheese burger and fries to go. When i got to the hotel 5 minutes later, the greasy cold previously frozen fries where not only flacid and tasteless but rubbery in texture. I found these to be the perfect match for the previously frozen and left over yogurt lid formed burger, and 11 week old cheese that came on the bacon cheese burger. As much as i feel burger king is garbage, burger king has a 100% superior bacon cheese burger. No flavor, no proper sauce to hide the frozen taste. No way to salvage this garbage.

I would have rather spent a quarter of the price for a taco bell soft taco, even if it's made out of questionable proteins, at least it's priced accordingly. At least i know ahead of time that I'm paying for stomach cramps and diarrhea. For this price, the patty should never ever be frozen.

I didn't expect the poor excuse for a basement hospital lunch room cafeteria food, and the attitude spewing manager to be my vacation experience but at least she removed everything but the boil from the bill.

She said that we now owed $50 something.

She literally hung up on me while she adjusted the boiled frozen food price.

Like she was doing me a favor for not charging me for complete garbage.

I just looked this up, and the boil is supposed to be $39. Which i don't agree with since i could do a hell of a better combination of proteins for a lot less. But i won't argue, since the wife enjoyed it.

Either way, this restaurant takes advantage of people by exploiting an amazing location, old and irrelevant movie details and buzz words to push the cheapest of ingredients.

Less money, and more quality go to mission 19. Same money but leaps and bound better go to Osteria al Mare or fisherman's Grotto. That's some actual quality.

For fresh fish and again great quality go to Sea Harvest Restaurant.

Don't mess around with...