Peles Other Garden - Restaurants On Lanai Lanai City, Hawaii

Pele's offer sandwiches and pizza for lunch and you'll order your food at the counter and it will be dropped off at whatever you choose to sit at. At night, this turns into a slightly more upscale restaurant and serves various Italian style entrees and pizza and is all table service (though still casual).

We came here for lunch and it was fairly empty when we arrived. We grabbed a menu and the man at the register was waiting to take our order and seemed a bit impatient for whatever reason. So I asked if we could sit anywhere (so we could look over the menu) and he told us we could but that we then needed to come back to the register to order. Hard to explain, but there was just a rude vibe about it all.

We decided to order a BLT wrap (BALT actually as it has avocado in it) and a French dip sandwich along with a side of mozzarella sticks, a large Sierra mist, and a large Coke to drink. We paid with a credit card and I ignored the tipping line as well as the tip jar and I couldn't help feeling as though I offended the man taking our order (who I assume is the owner since his picture is on their website).

A while later he deliver the mozzarella sticks to our table but we had no drinks yet. By the time we had almost finished the sticks (and were seriously thirsty) he brought a single small drink out and left. I tasted it assuming it was my Coke but it was an iced tea. When we later flagged him down we explained that we ordered a Sierra Mist and Coke in large sizes, not a small tea and he looked confused and said "maybe I entered the wrong item" but couldn't help as though feeling he was really thinking "you tourists said iced tea". He took it away and finally brought the correct two drinks we ordered.

Shortly after the sandwiches arrived. The French dip was delicious though maybe a little on the small side and came on great French bread. The BLT wrap was also very good.

At the end I decided to drop a few dollars in the tip jar even though the service probably didn't really call for a tip. At the same time, places like this shouldn't have a tip jar at all. All they are doing is carrying the food to my table after I wait in line to order it. If you need a few extra dollars then charge a bit more for the food. If you must have a tip jar don't expect people to tip before finishing their meal (if they do at all).

There is also an odd sign here that reads something like "If you didn't buy it here you can't eat it here" as they're very strict about you not bringing your own food or drinks here to eat them. This seems like such an unnecessary sign as I can't help but think most people going to a restaurant aren't bringing there own food and those times where a few might, well, deal with it. You don't see signs like this on any other restaurant (anywhere) so why is it necessary here? I guess it sort of sets the tone of the overall attitude here. I just don't understand why you would want to try and offend potential customers the second they're walking into your establishment.

Overall, the food was good and the prices aren't too bad all things considered but the overall rude vibe we got and lackluster service doesn't exactly make me want to run back again.

• Food Types: Burger / Dog / Sandwich	• Food Types: Italian	• Food Types: Pizza	• Payment: $ - Cheap - Under $15	• Meals: Dinner
• Meals: Lunch	• Service Type: Counter / Quick	• Service Type: Table	• Offers: Open Air / Outdoor Seating

Pele's Other Garden