BonaireTalk Discussion Group
Dining: LION'S DEN a DOWNER
Bonaire Talk: Dining: Archives: Archives 2008: Archives - 2008-01-01 to 2008-02-29: LION'S DEN a DOWNER
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scubachic (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Sunday, January 13, 2008 - 8:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I realize the whole I'm on island time thing, however........ While on the island we thought we'd mosey over to The Lion's Den for dinner. We were some of the first diners of the evening to get there and about 3 hours later, the last to leave. While I will say the food was tasty and fairly priced, the service was some of the lousiest of my life. My friends never had their cocktails refreshed, I however, did have my water filled. The service was slow, slow, slow. The server very NON-attentive and obviously new. Does management realize that busy dinner hours are not a good time to train inexperienced waitstaff? While travelling with a party of over 10, the 5 of us certainly did NOT recommend this place to the rest of our group. Too bad for them. They could have made quite a bit more money.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John th'oldun (BonaireTalker - Post #21) on Sunday, January 13, 2008 - 9:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Unfortunately, many of the restaurants here do not have a good "service ethic" I have always had good service at "It Rains Fishes", Papagayo, Tipsy Seaguill, City Cafe, La Guernica. I have always (yes really) had bad service at a particular group of restaurants on the sea front that I won't name otherwise the thought police (moderators) will kill this posting

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kobi in Virginia *** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3907) on Sunday, January 13, 2008 - 9:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Chic,
Sorry you didn't have a good dining experience at Lion's. I wish that you had! I have to say that every single time we go (which is several times during each annual week) we have great service and food. We have known the owner since his earlier days with the Green Parrot.
We almost always have the same wait person as well.
Again, sorry you didn't fare well. This is always a MUST EAT place for us.
I hope the rest of your trip was good?!

John,
Sorry you have had bad experiences too. I am sure we have all had that less then perfect meal/waitperson/drink at a restaurant on island before. In 16 consecutive trips I know we have but nothing worth mentioning so I don't.

If those places, you won't mention, always give you bad service at least they are consistent and have you coming back? :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Antony Bond (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #225) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 6:34 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kirk (the owner)will be very unhappy that you did not get the service that you hoped, and, from what you say, there is a chance that maybe it was his night off. One thing that Kirk is good at is customer service.

My Wife and I have eaten there many times including Christmas day 2006 and have always been very happy with everything.

Staff turnover is always a problem on the island and there isn't the huge pool of resources to pick from like in Europe of the USA.

I would hope that you give Lions Den another chance. Book a table when Kirk is on and relay your complaint to him and I am sure that he will do all he can to make sure that you have a good dining experience.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3032) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 6:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

As the island expands, a hotel training school may be in order.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2833) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 8:07 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kirk is recovering from surgery and I imagine his absence had something to do with it. Annie, we do have a hotel/training school and have for years...looks like it could be doing a better job.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Antony Bond (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #227) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 8:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Michael.

Sorry to hear about Kirk, please relay my best wishes should you see him.

I heard that a major Horica training college was being considered somewhere in the region of Caribbean Club, any news on that?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim McPeak (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1237) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 9:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ann, funny you said that. My Kathi has always said that there should be a school on Bonaire for people wanting to go into this industry. It really is the simple things that can really make a difference in service. It is a shame that the reputation of an establishment can be made or destroyed by people who really don't know what they are doing.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Antony Bond (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #228) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 11:52 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Before people start generalising, there are many locals who work in hospitality who do a great job.

Culturally, Bonaire is worlds apart from the USA and Europe and for the indigenous people to adapt from their ways to suit Westerners is not always easy.

Let us remember that in a relatively poor country with basic education, the local who is serving you is probably speaking Papiamentu to their colleagues, Dutch to the owner and English to the customers.

Maybe a little give and take on both sides and a reminder that we are on holiday and supposed to be relaxing.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #9493) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 11:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well said Antony!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scubachic (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 12:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Antony, I certainly agree with you and was in fact probably the most compassionate of my group. I guess the thing that upset most of my group was that when we did complain to the management about it, the man took an "oh well" attitude about it. I, myself "try" to conform to others customs, but I guess when you are tired and hungry it is difficult. But as I originally said, the food "WAS" good.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By YucatanPat (Sand$-A3) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #105) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 2:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I recently ate at the Lion's Den with my wife. Wonderful view, food and service. Only one problem that ruined the evening was the table of four drunk divers seated next to us that were very loud. They were Buddy Dive guests, had just completed a night dive, hit the bar and now wanted something to eat. I know quite a bit more about this group after listening for an hour. Place was packed or I would have asked to be moved away, and I could tell the waiter was embarrassed. Many things go into a good meal, and some you just can't control. YES, we will go back to the Den again.

Patrick

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #985) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 2:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well put Antony.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jorgensen (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #105) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 3:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

One further note about the Lion's Den and hospitality.... When Carol and I arrived on the island the evening of December 27th, our flight out of San Juan (AA) had been delayed an hour. By the time we got to Buddy Dive to check in and get our room and drop our stuff, it was after 10 PM and we were HUNGRY. Only the bar was open in the Bella Vista at Buddy Dive (kitchen closed), so we scooted quickly over to the Lion's Den because we saw lights and a few heads moving around. We were greeted by Kirk, and obviously they were packing up and closing down the kitchen. We told him that our AA flight was delayed an hour, and that we were famished. Just as we were about to give that "aw, gee..." look and turn to leave, Kirk says, "No problem." He pulled out a menu and said, "...you can have any of the salads, sandwiches, or burgers..." He drew a couple of draft beers (can't remember the name of it, but it was a great beer made in Curacao that they feature at the Den). We noted that the kitchen was closing down, but he had the cooks fire up the grill and we had two wonderful burgers and fries to go with the beers -- the only people in the place! The cooks probably were not happy with US! Kirk said that he "... didn't want us to start our dive vacation by going hungry."

Kudos to Kirk and his staff. They went the extra mile for us, and we appreciated it SO MUCH! Yum!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lloyd Haskell (BonaireTalker - Post #41) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 3:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Right on Steve! Its nice to hear so many good comments compared to the odd negative , We are very lucky to have this site to share the storys. when a report of poor service comes down it actually helps the establishments correct the situation . Burger , Draft , Jetlag , you gotta love it!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6600) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 4:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We love going to Lion's Den and Kirk is a gracious host as his staff when we have dined there. We will be there again this coming trip. We have always been treated right and the food is excellent.

Scubachic, I hope you will consider giving them a second chance next trip. You gotta meet Kirk, he's a sweetheart!

Michael, give Kurt our best for a speedy recovery next time you see him. I do hope he is on the mend. Looking forward to seeing him in February. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Timmmy (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4802) on Monday, January 14, 2008 - 10:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Lions Den was one of the best, if not the best meal of my 10 day trip.... think it was our last night so by then I had gotten used to the slower "Island Time" service.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scubadobadoo (BonaireTalker - Post #28) on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 1:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have eaten at Lion's Den 5 times now. Three times excellent, one time so so, and one time dreadfully slow and down right bad. That said, the atmosphere is always lovely. Welcome to Bonaire, lol. This seems to be par for the course in Bonaire IMHO. Eateries seem to be anything but consistent for many various reasons.

 


Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites


Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration