Review coco amigos, worst service on planet earth

Couldn't have said it better myself.,I just smile and think to myself "that's why I get 48 to 1",these worthless waitresses should be unemployed,it don't take a college degree or training to see a beer is empty.

 

I beg to disagree with our esteemed reviewer. Whilst Coco's could do a lot to improve service this is by far not the worst review of an establishment I have read about. I would like to indulge readers with a sorry story I heard aboard a dive vessel off Aqaba Jordan some 8 years ago...

A guest on board checked into one of the local Premier Hotels paying approx $340 per night. He was kept waiting for 3 hours as "the room is not ready sir". Said guest was forced to wait in the desert heat outside "as it is policy sir, no uninvited people are allowed on premises. You have not checked in".

3 hours later and 'escorted' by the bell hop to his room the said bell hop handed over the room key and legged it as fast as he could leaving said guest struggling outside his room with his luggage. Upon gaining entry he found that his "premier"room had no furniture. That's right his bed, sofa, wall table and anything else had disappeared. So our intrepid guest returns to the check in desk..."ahh sorry sir, we have obviously made a mistake here, we are pleased to show you to your new room...". The same bell hop 'escorts' this guest to his room in a similar fashion, ie, you carry your own bags I'll struggle with my very heavy room key.

Upon entering his new room our guest is assailed by a terrible smell. The previous occupant has left what can only be described as "a deposit" in the sink (heaven knows why, but it takes all sorts doesn't it?) By now our guest has just about had enough and so returns to the check in desk. Raising the issue with the duty check in clerk the clerk says "one minute sir, all will be well, please wait here" and scoots off. The clerk returns 5 minutes later...with (roll of drums....tish!)...... an air freshener aerosol. Talk about a Basil Fawlty moment

Of course, by now our dive guest is livid and demands to see the manager. The manager arrives and our guest pours out his litany of complaints, doing his best to keep his temper. After all, a long tiring journey to be kept waiting as the room is not ready outside in the heat, missing furniture and finally unusual sewage disposal methods, anyone would have had enough at $340 per night. And the managers response? "You can't complain. You are only a guest."

I kid you not, this really happened. So whilst all might not be so well in the Phils service department (and I have really seen some lax, crazy service here) it is not as bad as all that. Most folks when you draw their attention here to things not going well usually respond with a smile and an apology. At least they don't insult us to boot.

 

I agree the service can be lacking sometimes there. There are points in time I REALLY need something going into my stomach fast. So my strategy with Coco Amigos is to walk up the pastry counter, order a piece of cake, take it with me, sand then site down, and devour it then order my meal and wait.. sometimes long, sometimes short.
In the four years I have been here I have only order two different menu item, although I go there often when down town. When I find something I like then I just keep with it... which is also explains why I change ladies so often. I have ordered the Pork Crepe with Mexican rice every time except once when they were "out of stock". I am not sure if it real mexian food because I have never seen "pork crepe with Mexican rice" in an Mexican environment before. I then ordered the Schnitzel which was good but not as good as La Fiesta. The German potato salad which came with the Schnitzel was great.
I would definitely not go there when they have their anniversary night... funny story... the "imported" help from their hotel was on that night, and it was chaos. When my date got up from the table to use the CR and left her chair empty, one of the bus boys came over and took the chair to another table that needed a chair... WITHOUT EVEN ASKING. I was dumb founded by his rude actions, until I recalled I was in the Philippines. I complained and their excuse is that there were having problems because of the number of people. I told them not to have a celebratory event if they are going to offend their customers. I did not go that night because of the anniversary celebration, as I did not even know it was happening. Obviously the poor bus boys had no training or manners, or respect for customers, but was well versed in doing what he was asked to do, "get a chair" without thinking. The other guys with me, wife got up and the same thing almost happened until we stopped the chair stealing busboy. The food was good, so I gave the restaurant about 6 months probation and did not return until after that time. I still frequent Coco Amigos because of the Pork Crepes, prices are very fair, but will never forget the rude way my date was treated that night, and will avoid it when there is an anniversary night there.

 

I went to Coco Amigos last week for lunch with the wife. The service was okay. We were able to flag down a waitress to get our order in and such. After the meal, we also flagged down a waitress to pay the bill. It really wasn't much of a bother.

The food that we ordered though (chicken enchiladas and some other chicken based dish) were perhaps "influenced" by real Mexican dishes. The Carnitas Nachos were essentially inedible. My chicken enchilada had some sort of beef gravy going on inside of it and essentially looked like a roadkill burrito. Overall I'd have to say that I'll never return to the restaurant due to the food alone.

Oh, the first time I went there, about a month ago. I placed my order, along with my wife (chicken enchiladas and sizzling squid) only to be told about 5 minutes later that they're out of stock of squid and tortillas. We elected to just leave rather than order something else at a Mexican restaurant.

 

Last time there we walked out along with a group of locals after waiting over an hour. The place was quiet also.

My partner whom ate there some time ago says their chicken was best she has ever eaten.

 

Which says something for rehiring every six months? Same problem in many local restaurants

New workers work harder.

 

After 8 years here I have come to the conclusion that the lack of education and training have left most food service "professionals" incapable to correlate between good service and gratuities. They can't grasp that attentiveness, a smile, and a genuine effort to be the best you can be at your job will pay dividends at the end of the shift. I hold 4ner owned places to a higher standard, service, cleanliness and quality of food are paramount to getting my entertainment peso's. When I do not get that time and time again in a 4ner establishment I don't go back..
I would love to have a chance to run that place, put my money where my mouth is (and I would) and show the blvd how a place can/should be run for the betterment of the consumers and the staff. So if the owner is a member here give me a pm and lets have a coffee.

 

Gerry..The owner is Mike Butler (Coco Grove Resort,Apo Island Beach Resort,Coco Grande Hotel,Coco Travel and Tours.. There has not been a Manager at Coco Amigos for over 4 years,there is no staff meetings,training or discipline..Even the OJT's are not trained..

 

I am just wondering how many other business establishments in this town also lack staff meetings, training, or discipline? (I am not defending Coco Amigos, as I have seen the staff do some stuff there that would get them fired in the US in a nano-second.) It really seems like very few are trained or care about their jobs, but many are always asking if I know where there is a job. I personally find it annoying when I have to interrupt a personal conversation, text message or some other personal activity like putting on make-up just to get recognized and a little service. I am not aware of other countries levels of customer service, but in the US, "the customer is king" is usually applied.... hmmmmm here it seems like cellphone is king or any other distraction that can get an employee's eye who is being paid to do a job. Just watch the level of focus the next waitress, waiter, or "bagger" at a retail store has on what they are doing, and how much eye contact and laughs their are having with the fellow employees.... not a complaint as much as trying to get myself to accept this level of service.