Our family of (4), two kids ages five and twelve arrived around 1130. First time visit, had been hearing great things and wanted to support local business (on Valentine's Day).
We walked into the restaurant where there were maybe (4-5) tables being used. "Sit wherever you want!".....I find that to be very strange, putting the responsibility and choice on the customer. I'm imagining they're thinking something along the lines of choice being a positive thing....it's not. Stop. It's uncomfortable and a poor greeting too. After oddly looking around for a seat, we sat ourselves in a corner booth nearest the fridge. As we wait, I overhear the servers divide who's taking which table...another reason why it's very poor practice. Drinks were prompt by the "busser" gentleman, server was loose, took a knee on the dirty floor to get to eye level. Another, ummmm, uncomfortable and not "professional" look. We get the rationale. Stop. Read the room/table first. Server had dropped a straw for my water, immediately got a new one but left the old one on the floor the entire time. I picked it up off the floor toward the end of our meal. Additionally, In the corner of my eye, I also noticed a metal fork under a lady's table the entire time (even before they were seated). My daughter (12) pointed out others got their meal before us, but I explained our order may be a little more time consuming to put together so all good. The meal arrives, after waiting what seemed to be a lengthy amount of time...We ordered the recommended favorites Henny Penny with the Funnel Cakes, Chicken Fried Steak with Home Fries, Eggs Benedict with Hash Browns, (2) coffees, and orange juice....$87 out the door including a $14 tip, taxes, meal cost and $2 charge for using credit card via the provided app. $4/coffee.
Eggs Benedict.
One of the main components to a great Eggs Benedict is the runny or fudgy egg when you cut into it. Enough so you can stop it all up with English Muffin....right? The dish looked AMAZING, the ham perfectly browned, hollandaise sauce buttery/lemony seasoned well, alongside the most perfect looking hashed browns. I cut into the poached egg......hard yolk. Nearly green yolks. Depressing. I looked around for someone to make eye contact with me but nobody around. I was so hungry I just ate it. The taste was delicious but the mouthfeel was not there. Not fair. Equally as bad were the hash browns....rancid smelling and tasting. Smelled and tasted just like fish, spent oil. I'm talking I could not eat them. Each bite came with that rancid smell.
Chicken Fried Steak with Home Fries.
The chicken fried steak itself was crunchy in a great way, the country gravy was tasty, but underseasoned (nothing some salt couldn't fix), and it was a bit cold. Definitely not hot and nearly room temp. Again, great crunch and yummy gravy (underseasoned). The home fries were the worst. Undercooked, hard, raw potato.....and the thing is they looked incredible. My guess is they par cook them....if they don't, I recommend they do because the inside was not fork tender. It was like tasting a raw potato with a nice seasoned golden brown crust. It was hard to believe because they looked so good. Everyone at the table agreed who had a try. Not even 25% of the potatoes were eaten between the four of us. "Would you like a to go box for the potatoes and hash browns"? Ummmm, No thank you!
Funnel Cakes
Ok these were great, addictive, perfect exterior crunch with soft interior. Similar to a donut consistency (think old fashioned).
The staff was friendly, in particular the lady that was working there that day. The gentleman server we had was friendly, pleasant, loose, acceptable.
Unfortunately, I can not justify treating my family or myself here again. Hard to look past the raw potatoes, rancid hash browns, and (frankly pathetic) overcooked poached eggs. $87? Not fair. The "basics" and the "details" were missed. Don't take a knee while taking an order. Don't ask the customer to choose a table. The biggest problem was the food quality. read more