"A few minutes later, the cashier/waitress approached us, and we ordered drinks. Since we had two small kids with us, we asked for a kids' menu (a reasonable request, right?). This turned out to be our first red flag when we asked about the kids' chicken strips versus the buttermilk chicken bites. We were quietly advised to avoid the chicken strips, which left us wondering why they were even on the menu! We settled on a 12-piece buttermilk chicken meal, a chicken-fried chicken meal, and a grilled cheese, along with an extra side of mashed potatoes, some root beer, tea, and water. Great, we were excited to eat!
By 7 PM, only one other table was occupied, so we expected our food to arrive quickly, especially since they were closing at 7:30 PM for winter hours. Throughout our meal, the waitress—who I guessed was also the manager—kept mentioning closing time to the kitchen staff. At one point, a couple walked in ready for dinner, but the cashier/waitress told them they couldn't be served because they were closing in 30 minutes. We exchanged puzzled glances, and so did the couple.
When our 12-piece buttermilk chicken meal arrived, we were surprised to find it was a child-sized portion, which we hadn't ordered. When I pointed this out, the waitress casually said it was the kids' order. I told her we wanted the larger size, and she just shrugged and said to let her know if we wanted more chicken. She even mentioned that the larger portion wasn't listed on the kids' menu, suggesting they should add it. I thought she should just bring us the right size, but she walked away, clearly eager to close.
To make matters worse, we didn't receive drink refills, and we barely saw our waitress again. Another family of seven walked in, but once again, the waitress told them they couldn’t be served because they were closing in 20 minutes. So, they left too. Meanwhile, we had already spent about $125, which just walked out the door due to poor service.
We wanted to order dessert, but since the waitress never checked on us again and was focused on closing up, we gave up and paid our tab. We both agreed that while the food was great, the service was extremely disappointing. I suggest management provide more training and be present on-site more often—such service can ruin a good restaurant in a small town.
Update: The owner reached out to me after hearing about this experience and mentioned they would address the staffing issues."
