Kona Grill - Tampa

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1. MD

   MicheleD

   Orlando

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   We absolutely love KonaGrill, last night was another excellent experience with all the amazing food they provide, and both the waiter, Jaden and an individual ‘Red’ helped me retrieve my phone when dropped between booths. They went out of their way to get it from an impossible spot behind a booth. Really appreciate the service, the management and all the great KonaGrill individuals that work at. Will definitely be back!
   

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2. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   New England

   5 reviews

   2.0

   5 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   overall2food2service2ambience4

   Friendly but very slow service..surprising as it was early and the place was fairly empty. Disappointing food. Steak over cooked and the miso mashed potatoes very dry.
   

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3. G

   Gonetatahead

   Milwaukee

   28 reviews

   5.0

   28 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Wonderful first time experience! Happy hour drinks and food are amazing!
   

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4. BA

   BekahA

   Tampa

   5 reviews

   4.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on May 21, 2023

   overall4food4service3ambience4

   Everything was great except it took a while for the food to come out. Like an unusually long time considering we ordered breakfast items. But food was good.
   

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5. M

   Mamasmurf

   Tampa

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on May 20, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Great selections and service! Complimentary valet is a plus since parking options are limited.
   

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6. A

   Andrea

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on May 20, 2023

   overall3food4service1ambience1

   Food was pretty good, and our waiter was very nice, but the overall service at the restaurant was very poor. I'll cut them some slack since they were clearly understaffed, but the hostesses were dismissive, and we had to wait almost 20 minutes for our waiter to come to our table. We made a reservation 8 hours in advance to sit outside, but after 20 minutes waiting to be seated, we were sat inside. All the tables outside were open, so I asked if we could sit outside since that is what we had previously requested, and she said no because they were too busy. Although even when we left almost 2 hours later, all of the tables outside were still open.
   

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7. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   West Palm Beach

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on May 20, 2023

   overall5food4service5ambience3

   Even though this is a franchise, it never ceases to disappoint this location with no exceptions highly recommend
   

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8. C

   Cliff

   Tampa

   27 reviews

   5.0

   27 reviews

   Dined on May 20, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   The food and service were great, and the atmosphere was lively. The only downside was it was busy because of the Ed Sheeran concert that was at Ray Jay.
   

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9. S

   Sarah

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on May 20, 2023

   overall1food2service2ambience2

   3 times in a row that we’ve been disappointed. This time around, we reserved for 5pm and got seated at 5:45pm at a table that was already empty for 15 minutes. Food also came out almost an hour late. Family vibes were awkward because some were upset wanting to go somewhere else and we also had 2 toddlers which was getting us anxious.
   

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10. SM

    SeanM

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 19, 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience5

    Love this restaurant! Service was great but food came out cold this time...it was a busy Friday night. I know that everyone there was working and doing their best to make it a good experience.
    

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11. MD

    MicheleD

    Orlando

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Had the best time at Kona Grill Tampa- we ordered 1 of every food item on the happy hour menu- and had a huge feast for a minimum price. It was the first one My husband and I ever had sushi- and the crab sushi was amazing! Angel the Waiter was great- very helpful and professional. Managers at different times checked in on us, just to make sure we were being taken care of - we had excellent food and excellent service. My husband said his favorite was the ribeye Meatballs, but I actually honk like was the crab sushi! Such a variety of food they offer! We will definitely be going back. Michele
    

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12. S

    Sharon

    Tampa

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on May 18, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    The food was great. The salmon was a little dry but otherwise everything was delicious. They gave a free birthday dessert which was really nice as well. I will come back.
    

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13. DJ

    DanaJoy

    Tampa

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Our server Jadah was amazing. So attentive and kind. Made sure we had everyone we needed and more. We spoke to the manager DeShaun and told him she needs a raise. 😉 The food and drinks were delicious. We had appetizers and sushi with sides. I will definitely be coming back. The most pleasant evening I have had in a long time. Thank you Jadah for your service and your positive energy. You are amazing. If you are looking for a wonderful server request Jadah.
    

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14. KR

    KarenR

    Tampa

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on May 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We had a party of 10 and all of our food turned out great! We had great service.
    

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15. KR

    KyleR

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food4service1ambience3

    "Waiting 90 minutes to get your food is typical" said manager Dashaun Callahan. We had a 5:45 reservation, got seated quickly, ordered a little before 6pm, but didn't get our food until 7:30pm. Server, named Angle, was good and did the best he could given the slow kitchen. Manager was dismissive when we asked what was taking so long and told us "what do you expect?" as he rudely walked away without answering any of our questions. The restaurant was half empty by the time we got our food.
    

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16. RB

    RickB

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food2service3ambience1

    I had a reservation at 5:30pm yesterday and didn't get in until 7:25pm. I get it that it was Mother's Day, but 2 hours WITH A RESERVATION?? That's just unacceptable. After all that, I ordered prime rib and they didn't have it, so I had to get something else.
    

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17. MO

    MikeO

    Tampa

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall2food2service5ambience3

    Had a reservation for 5:30. Did not seated until 6:15. Food came out slow had to return my prime rib twice and just gave up. The waiter was awesome and did everything he could to accommodate us but lack of leadership from the hostess stand to the kitchen to the sushi chefs was completely unacceptable
    

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18. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    5 reviews

    1.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    Mother’s Day. I came in with a reservation and was sat down. Waited for the waitress, to then be told that the food will take about 1 hour or more depending. So we had to leave.
    

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19. MS

    MikeS

    Tampa

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall2food3service1ambience3

    Reception was good. waiting in the bar area was good. once seated, our server was attentive and eager to please. Everything else was a mess; Was out of stock on three different wines, coke syrup, ICE (?), and assorted side dishes. 80 minutes from order to food on the table. Will never dine here again.
    

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20. LS

    LuvSteak

    Tampa

    4 reviews

    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall2food3service2ambience2

    We went for Mother’s Day and in all fairness expected we may run into challenges. What we didn’t anticipate was being seated at a table for eight when we had a reservation for 10. We also did not expect to wait more than 90 minutes for our food to come to the table. We had no special requests and no one dish that should have had a ticket time longer than 20 minutes but for some reason it was 5 times longer. Jason, our waiter was awesome and did everything he could but he could not cover for the failure of the kitchen. The one real disappointment was in the nearly 3 1/2 hours we were there not one time did a manager address our table or the issue. Not a single manager visit. I can only assume on a typical non holiday it is not like this, but I am not inclined to give them a second chance. Disappointed…
    

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21. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Greensboro

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food3service1ambience5

    Very disappointed in this place and the service. Long wait even after having a reservation. Service was poor starting with the hostess. Very very very long wait for food. The server didn’t seem like he want to be there. Food was just okay for the price you pay I expected better.
    

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22. DK

    DebK

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall2food2service3ambience4

    I really wanted to like this restaurant. Mothers day with a limited menu and we waited well over an hour for overpriced salad and pasta. The sushi was okay and was served before other entrees, but also not worth the price. Other poor reviews I've read here are correct unfortunately.
    

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23. A

    Adriana

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    Was not good at all did not even try the food. I booked a reservation for 4:30 on mother’s day, we had arrived at 3:50 which was early so we waited at 4:45 they were able to give us one of the available tables, the hostess was rude when we arrived and was not considerate that we had a reservation and sat a family that came in without a reservation before us, when we sat down and everything was good we had ordered our food and waited, we considered that our food would take time because the kitchen was very over the place since it was mother’s day and we were okay until the time hit 6 we had no food and my mom was very upset because it was ridiculous that we had to wait 2 hours for an appetizer and the rest of the food we had ordered and we were only four people, at 6:30 we decided to leave and eat somewhere else because we were basically starving and our evening was ruined, the waitress was very nice although she kept dodging our table and was very considerate of everyone else but not us. Overall not a good experience was provided and will not come back.
    

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24. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Portland

    2 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience3

    I hate to write a review like this on any restaurant but they are more than well deserved for it. We dined on Mother’s Day and expected delays. We lived in west coast, Northwest, Midwest and south. We visited north east multiple times; we went to eat out side more than thousand time in last five years. THIS IS THE WORST DINING EXPERIENCE IN ANY RESTAURANT. The next worst dining experience is much much better than this. Reservation is at 4: 15 but can’t get in till 4:50pm. Explanation is people are eating slow. We thought people might be having fun. Ordered drinks and appetizers at 4:50. Main course at 5:00 pm because of expected delay. Drinks cam at 5:20 and appetizers about 6:15 after talking to server three times and manager once. Grilled chicken is cold to touch. Waited another 40 minutes and still main course didn’t come. Talked to manager again, food at came at 7:20 . Fried rice is cold to touch. We left fours on trays on the table with less than a bite. Drinks are good. Four three drinks and rest of the food that we didn’t eat , we paid $360 If you want to be at a place food is awful and can’t get a warm grilled food (ignore about hot), this is the Brest place to go
    

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25. NH

    NatashaH

    Raleigh

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    I will never go back to Kona Grill. We had the worst experience for our first visit yesterday and it was Mother’s Day. Myself and my mom, my two young kids 2 and under and my husband and my dad had a 4pm reservation. They tried to sit us outside completely in the sun (with two babies) and we were told we couldn’t move unless we wanted to go back on the hour+ waitlist. Eventually they moved us to a smaller table with an umbrella outside. It was still very uncomfortable as the fans weren’t on and half our table was in the sun. We didn’t actually sit down and order drinks until 435pm. We ordered our food at 445pm and at 6pm still hadn't received any of our food. After complaining, our meals came and they were all COLD! My husbands fried rice was mush, my salmon was tasteless and my potatoes ice cold and my dads sliders were sent back 3 times and cold every time. My kids shared a kids meal and they didn’t even get the order right. We had heard such amazing things about this restaurant and are very disappointed. We won’t be back. They need to fully be prepared on a holiday and if not, don’t take as many reservations. It was completely unacceptable.
    

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26. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    W head a reservation at 4 our food didn’t come till after 6 we were missing food items took an hour and half for appetizer we got some of our appetizers right before our food came out which was even more insane they have other tables discounts but not us there was three moms at our table and yet no one ever offered us a rose which they were giving out to mothers which I though was insane for a table spending 500 dollars
    

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27. MM

    MarioM

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food2service1ambience1

    Absolutely terrible experience. Service was bad. 2 hours and 45 minutes after we sat down, we still hadn't gotten our food. We got up and left. Never again!
    

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28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall2food4service3ambience3

    Even though we expected it to be hectic, my family waited an hour and 15 mins for a table we had a 2:45 pm reservation for. Then the kitchen was so backed up to take more than 2 hours for our food to arrive. We watched families get up and leave because they couldn't wait longer for their food. I felt awful for our waiter because he tried his best in the situation, and we are grateful to him. Overall the experience wasn't enjoyable and made us believe this establishment was not prepare for such a big event.
    

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29. DK

    DKoll

    Tampa

    7 reviews

    2.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience2

    HORRIBLY OVERBOOKED - The GM must be new or inexperienced to allow such a travesty. After waiting almost 45 minutes for our reservation, we took a table at the bar just so we could all eat. When the food came out it was cold because it sat too long. The GM should be fired for this.
    

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30. S

    Suzy

    London

    46 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    46 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience3

    Really our fault for choosing a very busy place to celebrate Mother's Day. I have never waited two hours for a reservation before. It won't change our minds about going back, just not on such a busy day.
    

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31. TH

    TequillaH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Every visit we have had with Kona has been wonderful. Our waiter David was phenomenal and although the food took a while to arrive due to the Mother’s Day crowd, when it did arrive it was fresh and delicious. The sushi and sangria were some of my favorites.
    

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32. HA

    HAds

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall3food4service2ambience3

    We put in a reservation for 145p, and arrived at 130p for Mothers Day lunch. In summary: Don't have a reservation system if having a reservation means NOTHING. Everyone had a reservation, but we were told if you had a reservation, the wait time was 30-45 minutes. Whats the point of a reservation if you still have to wait? People were lined up out the door just to check in for their reservation. The music was very loud, its a restaurant, not a club. After waiting 35 minutes, we settled for a high table near the bar, which we had to ask about (it was not offered to us, we had to approach a host for it). 15 more minutes for soft drinks (not alcohol), and almost 1.5 hour wait for food. The food was pretty good, but that could also be because we were very hungry after waiting so long (without being able to talk much because of the very loud music). I then got an email after we left threatening my OpenTable account because I was a "no show", despite checking in with the hostess and being seated by a different host. No internal communication, I guess. I waited 10 minutes in a line just to CHECK IN at the desk, so I was very annoyed that I received a "no show" email after not being able to eat until almost 2 hours AFTER my RESERVATION. Moral: If it's for a regular dinner, come here for good food, if it's for a special event or holiday, skip this place and go somewhere more organized.
    

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33. JC

    JeffC

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food2service2ambience1

    This is the first terrible review that I am posting EVER. Mother's Day - 1:30pm party of 5 reservation - TOTAL CHAOS - no system or organization at all. Finally, our table is ready @ 2:19pm - great server JADEN he was trying the best he could in the overall situation. Lunch finally served an hour later. Total disaster. Kona Grill management - terrible planning and no systems in place. THE busiest restaurant day of the year and an epic fail.
    

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34. PB

    PaulB

    Tampa

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food2service1ambience1

    Overbooked. Waited 1.5 hours with a reservation. Manager basically said too bad. Once seated, it took over an hour to get food. When we finally got something, we waited another 15 minutes to get silverware. This is not acceptable for a restaurant that charges 20. For a burger and 40. For a steak. The wait staff were seriously overwhelmed. Poorly managed place.
    

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35. TP

    TorinP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Great Mothers day lunch! Crowded but food was good and the waiters/servers were excellent!
    

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36. TR

    TeresaR

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall2food3service2ambience2

    1st off , our mothers day tradition was cut off by Kona because the 20 bottomless Mimosa were gone. We didn't find out till we got there. The mirror above is was filthy with green gunk on it. the drinks were over priced. there was 4 of us mom's and only 2 of us got roses... our waitress was new and kept forgetting everything. We felt not happy at the dirty table and uncaring environment. We felt special last year and the year before but they stopped caring about moms this year I guess. We won't be coming back... I'll spend our 300-400 dollars else where! so disappointed 😞
    

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37. JS

    JenniferS

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food1service4ambience2

    Do not recommend. Made a reservation for seven at 12:30pm. Arrived at Kona Grill at noon. We didn’t get seated at our table until 1:45pm. It took over an hour for our food. Once it arrived it was disappointing. Son’s pancake was burnt and chewy. It was clear several of the meals sat under the heater for a long time. Don’t plan on going back
    

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38. LD

    LindaD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Our server could not have been any better. He provided exceptional guest service and we enjoyed our time there. It was an extremely busy day and he handled it all very well.
    

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39. G

    Gaskarth

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    We went for brunch and didn’t get our order taken until 30 minutes after we sat. Then we didn’t receive our food until 2 hours later. Idk why we even waited that long but when the food finally arrived my eggs were very raw and the bacon was barely cooked. We ended up going to Del Friscos next door and talked to the bartender there. She ended up saying that at least once a week this happens where a customer at Kona comes to them because they didn’t get served properly.
    

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40. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    4 reviews

    1.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall1food1service4ambience3

    We went for Mother’s Day brunch. What a mistake. First we were told right off the bat that they would not make any drinks that were not on the menu but they were making Mimosa. When we asked for a Bloody Mary they said no it is not on the menu. We then pointed out that Mimosas were not on the menu, they said that was a brunch drink and we said so is a Bloody Mary. They made us some which were not good. We ordered off the brunch menu and proceed to wait an hour because the kitchen was so backed up. However, when the food arrived the scrambled eggs looked like they had been under the heat lamp for an hour and were not edible. The crab eggs Benedict, the poached egg were rock hard and cold with a little crab sprinkled on top and almost no Hollandaise scauce. The French toast arrived and they informed us that they ran out of syrup at 12:30. I am not sure who is in charge there but it appeared they were totally unprepared for Mother’s Day. I had been once before and I was not impressed, but after this experience I will not be back. They need to pick if they want to be a high end Resturant that servers authentic Hawaiian food or a Hawaiian Applebees.
    

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