We've been to Olde English Restaurant before and had a wonderful experience, which is what makes…read morethis visit so disappointing. This wasn't a restaurant having an off day. This was a complete failure of service from beginning to end.
We arrived for our reservation only to be told that our table had been given away because we had supposedly requested a specific table. We never requested a specific table and couldn't have cared less where we sat. The problem was entirely created by the restaurant.
After being seated, we waited approximately 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged our table. A server eventually noticed that nobody had taken our drink order and did so, but the drinks still never arrived. When the rest of our party joined us, a different server finally asked about drinks and brought them. By that point, we had been seated for roughly half an hour just to receive beverages.
One of the teas arrived cold.
The service only continued to deteriorate. We had five coffees and two teas at our table. When I asked for additional cream, I was actually argued with and told that we shouldn't need more. After waiting half an hour for drinks, being challenged over a request for cream was absurd.
The buffet was repeatedly empty or missing items throughout the meal. Many times there was no food available, and frequently there were no clean plates available at the buffet either. Guests were left standing around waiting for food and waiting for plates.
Meanwhile, our table was completely ignored. No water refills. No coffee refills. No plates cleared. No one checking whether we needed anything. No follow-up whatsoever.
One server, who was actually lovely and had served us during a previous visit, mentioned that they "weren't expecting this many people." That explanation made no sense. When our reserved table was given away, the reservation list was shown to us and it was completely full. If a restaurant fills its reservation book and then acts surprised when those customers show up, that's not an unexpected rush--it's poor planning.
The owner later told us the coffee maker could only work so fast. That explanation made even less sense considering there were repeatedly two full pots of coffee sitting behind the counter while servers stood chatting. While customers were waiting for food, drinks, plates, and service, staff seemed to have plenty of time for conversations and their own beverages.
The final frustration came when it was time to pay. I clearly explained that I was paying for six buffet meals, one coffee, and two teas because part of our group was on a separate bill. Despite clearly explaining this, I was initially charged for four coffees. The charge was eventually corrected, but only after yet another unnecessary discussion. By that point, it felt like every interaction during the meal involved having to argue for something that should have been simple.
Only after all of this did the owner come over to apologize. My father-in-law, who is one of the most easygoing and non-confrontational people you'll ever meet, paid his bill and moved on. The owner later returned with $24 for our table. Frankly, I didn't want the money. I wanted the service we had paid for in the first place. I wanted a cup of coffee. I wanted hot tea. I wanted coffee refills. I wanted a buffet that was stocked. I wanted plates available when I went for food. I wanted someone to clear a plate or ask if we needed anything.
At $21 per person for the buffet before beverages, these are not unreasonable expectations.
What frustrates me most is that there was excuse after excuse for every issue. We weren't expecting this many people. The coffee maker only works so fast. Yet the reservation book was full, there were pots of coffee sitting ready behind the counter, and three servers working in a restaurant with very few tables. The explanations simply didn't match what was happening in front of us.
I have no issue paying for a good meal and good service. What I do have an issue with is paying over $140 to spend an entire meal feeling ignored.
This wasn't one mistake. It wasn't one delayed order. It wasn't one empty tray on the buffet. It was a continuous pattern of poor service from the moment we walked through the door until the moment we paid the bill.
We've had good experiences here before, which is why this visit was so shocking. Unfortunately, this experience was pathetic, and we won't be returning.
