Wild Rabbit Bistro — Restaurant in Ormond Beach

HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. SERVED ROTTING FOOD. My wife, mother, and son and I went to Wild Rabbit for brunch. We used to love this restaurant for a good, healthy breakfast & lunch spot. Although we have had some issues with service in the past, we have been able to look past that because the food is typically delicious. Well, today was not the case. We had one of the worst experiences we have had at a restaurant in a long time.

We received our food, and my mother realized that the tomatoes on her salad were rotten. It was not just a spot of discoloration, but it was completely molding. We proceeded to bring this to the attention of our server, and we were met with a disgusting look and her hand held out. I placed the tomato in her hand, and with disbelief, the server started to walk away. No acknowledgment, no sorry, no OMG, let me notify the kitchen, no nothing. I then grabbed the plate and handed it to her, and asked her to please remake the dish, as my mom could get really sick. The server grabbed the plate with complete and utter annoyance and walked away. As if this was our fault, and we were making a big deal out of it. This could become a serious outbreak of a foodborne illness, and she didn't seem to care. In about 5 minutes or so, the food was returned by what looked to be the manager. We were a bit confused as the dish came out so quickly, and the quiche that the salad was served with looked to be the same quiche. We asked the manager if this was refired and in disbelief yet again, we were met with confusion and being told "I have no idea what's going on" we asked her to please make sure that it was a remade dish, because there was mold found on the original food. The manager was completely lost for words. We were met with, yet again, no apologies, no words of reassurance, zero hospitality! She then walked away and came back a few moments later to inform us it was indeed remade. We reluctantly took the dish and said, "Okay."

A few minutes late, another woman came out and began to tell us that the dish was, in fact, remade and that someone had ordered the same dish and they replaced it with that order. She was apologetic but still made us feel as though it wasn't a big deal. We asked if she was a manager, and she told us she was the owner. With that said, we wanted to let her know of our experience. After bringing her up to speed and with another moment of disbelief, the owner told us that the manager was overwhelmed and busy with a section on the patio and that is why she was acting the way she was. Never acknowledge the servers' actions and put blame for their poor example of hospitality and serving rotten food at a so-called busy restaurant. We were left speechless.

My wife and I have worked in the service industry for over 40 years combined. We understand that things can get away from you, and food that shouldn't be served can be served. This is a chaotic profession, and during these times, staffing is difficult. But one thing we can not tolerate is the lack of kindness and hospitality. We have a job to do, and that's to create the best dining experience possible for our guests. All we needed was an apology and for the situation to be compassionately rectified, and we could have looked past the rotting food. Instead, we were met with angst, energy that signified blaming, excuses, and attitude. This is not how you should handle things in this business and especially coming from an owner.

We are so sad that this situation was handled like this, and we regret that we will not be returning. My wife's family has lived in Daytona for over 100 years, and we love to support our community but, again, can not tolerate...

Sadly will never come back here. Today when dining at Wild Rabbit a very unfortunate series of events happened.

My mother was servered a salad with tomatos that had actual green mold growing on the side of it. We asked the server to come over. We showed her the mold and asked her to have the dish remade. She didn’t say a word. Very clearly was annoyed by her unpleasant facial expressions. No apology, no attempt to correct the situation, no care about such a serious matter, at all. She just took the dish and turned away. I over see restaurants all over the country as a director of operations and was in utter shock at her response!

I cannot imagine one of my guests showing me MOLD on a dish and being anything but deeply apologetic. I would have immidiately apologized, had the dish re made and ensure we had a great experience. Unfortunately this level of hospitality doesn’t exist at Wild Rabbit.

Next someone who appeared to be a manager within 3 minutes comes back and says this is the re made dish. I immediately said there’s no way they re made it that quick. Of course in fear they only took the tomatoes off and brought it back because it was so quick. My mom is 73 years old and has a compromised immune system. Who knows what could have happened if she digested mold! The person bringing dish back doesn’t acknowledge this incident at all. Again no apology and was planning to just drop the dish off. Her response to me was “well I don’t know what’s going on” and started walking away. Guess what? As a manager you should know what’s going on! You should have asked why was the dish re made and be informed as you approach a table. And as a MANAGER you should display the bare minimum level of respect to guests and apologize when your restaurant makes a mistake. Nope she was to above that. She brings it back later and ensures it was re made. Again NO acknowledgement of their wrong doing.

Then the owner comes out next…she ensures us as well it was remade. After she said she was the owner we shared our experience with her. Her excuse for the manager was she was “busy” serving tables in the back. I’m sorry what? So that is an excuse for her not apologizing, giving us attitude and be a horrible, aloof, not engaged with service, bad attitude joke of a manager? The whole thing was handled so poorly this entire establishment should be ashamed.

Never...

Public service announcement: NO smoothies after 3pm, if you dare ask you will be looked at like you have a second head growing.

Made the mistake of walking by with my husband and baby and thought “ooh I wonder if I can get a smoothie to go.” The girl who greeted us when we walked in gave us a massive glare and attitude when I asked if it was possible to order a smoothie to-go, like I have before. I didn’t realize they had a hard NO WAY rule for after 3pm. Which fine, it’s your restaurant, make stupid rules that make you lose customers and money, your choice. But to the people working there who catch an attitude for a pretty innocuous request, thanks for ruining this place for me. Would have taken you less energy to smile and just say “I’m so sorry we can’t make them after 3pm.”

Ps. Breakfast burritos are MEH and everything there is pretty overpriced. Also, uncomfortable seating. And oh yeah people are rude if you make the insane request of ordering a smoothie from a health restaurant that offers smoothies 😂

**reply to restaurant comment below: you were not closed, I think it it was between 5-6pm yesterday, it was early dinner time and there were a couple people eating inside - when we walked in we were asked how many we were in our party to be sat down. When she realized we just wanted a smoothie to go she seemed pretty pissed off and glared at us and said “we don’t serve those after lunch” so I was like “ohh, okay, dangit what time does that end just so I can put it in my brain?” She seemed even more annoyed at the follow question and begrudgingly said 3pm. We then walked out talking about how unnecessarily rude she was. Hospitality and kindness goes a long way, please teach your...