Inconsistent Shenanigans and Chicken Woes
Alright, folks, let me lay it out for you. This review is based on not just one, but two visits to this joint. The first time, back in mid-February, I tried their Steak and Eggs, and this time I brought a few more people along and sampled a couple of different items. Let me tell you, it's been a wild ride.
During my first visit, the customer service was just okay. It felt like the servers were fresh on the job and still finding their groove. Fast forward two months, and it seems like they're still working out the kinks.
Now, let's talk about the food. The first time, the steak and eggs were alright, but the real showstopper was the waffles. Warm, flavorful, and topped with an amazing drizzle. I didn't even need syrup, and I devoured every last bit, even the fruit. It was the highlight of the meal. We went on a weekday, and sadly, they were out of Oxtails. But the rest of the crew settled for other menu items, and everyone left satisfied. The chicken was downright delicious and packed with flavor. Overall, we were pleased and excited to become regulars since the place is conveniently close to where we live.
Fast forward to today's visit. We got seated, but it took an eternity for our server to come over. Another server eventually noticed our plight and had to fetch our assigned server. One person in our group asked for water with no ice, but guess what? Our server brought ice with no water. We placed our orders and had to wait for drink menus because we had no clue what soft drinks were available. Come on, folks, have that info on the main menu!
And the shenanigans continued. We were short on silverware and had to ask for more multiple times. When we finally got some knives, they were dripping wet straight out of the kitchen. I had a vivid image of our server rummaging through a lazy dishwasher, hastily rinsing them, and serving them to us. It took a good 25 to 30 minutes for our food to arrive, and one poor soul in our group didn't get their dish until everyone else had already finished.
Now, let's talk about the French toast brunch sandwich. It was supposed to be topped with warm syrup, but there was nothing warm about it. They even had a syrup-encrusted bottle on the table, just mocking us. However, the fried chicken was still on point! I'd go back just for those juicy wings. Oh, and the fried lobster tail was pretty darn enjoyable too, especially with the tasty accompanying sauce.
But wait, there's more disappointment. They were out of mac & cheese, which meant no seafood mac & cheese either. The online menu on their website was a complete misrepresentation of what they had available. The brisket burger and items like fried green tomato and salmon bites were nowhere to be found on the in-house menu.
To add insult to injury, one person in our group ordered orange chicken and waffles. Lo and behold, it arrived a solid 20+ minutes after everyone else's food. What showed up were some pale wings that looked like they were served straight out of a grease bath. And get this, there was nothing remotely orange about them. Apparently, they were supposed to have some mysterious "orange seasoning." What in the world is that? Thankfully, they were kind enough to replace them with regular wings, and they actually acted quickly for once.
Lastly, let's talk about the drizzle for the waffles. They changed the recipe, and let me tell you, it tasted like pure shortening and light sugar
. It was nothing like the heavenly drizzle from three months ago. No strawberries or blackberries this time either. The new drizzle was waxy and downright gross. I couldn't even bring myself to finish my waffle. Please, please undo whatever change you made to that drizzle!
All in all, this place feels like a hot mess of disorganization. The servers shouldn't have to play a guessing game with the kitchen every time a customer asks for something. This happened on both of my visits. The kitchen staff should communicate with the wait staff to avoid these fiascos.
Oh, and let's not forget the music situation. It was noon, not some crack-of-dawn early morning gig, as they open at 7 am. They need to get their act together with a playlist or a Pandora station and stick to it. We had a middle school graduation happening, and families were there to celebrate. Yet, they decided to blast some hardcore music with explicit lyrics for a few minutes. Not exactly the crowd or the time for that. Also, a smidge less volume during the daytime would allow us to have conversations without shouting.
Now, listen, I might swing by again for those wings, but I can't promise it'll be a regular haunt. The inconsistency and disappointments I experienced on this visit make me question whether they can truly achieve greatness. C'mon, folks, step up your game! read more