Shoney's - Pearl

I was very disappointed, as this used to be one of my favorite childhood places. When I arrived, several of the servers glanced my way but didn't bother to acknowledge me, not even with a simple "Just a moment" or "I'll be right with you." I had to ask twice about being seated. Once I was finally at my table, I went to get my food and was extremely dissatisfied with what I saw. Nothing was fresh, and some items were actually burnt. When I inquired about whether fresh food would be brought out, I was met with an unpleasant attitude from the manager regarding my question. Needless to say, I decided not to stay any longer.

We were the only customers in the restaurant. The food had clearly been sitting out for a while, but they did make an effort to refresh some items before we left. When we were about to leave, I asked the waitress for a to-go cup for tea. She informed me it would cost $1.00 for the cup. I declined, saying that it didn't seem fair to pay extra for a cup after already purchasing two meals. We had visited two weeks prior and hadn’t been charged for a cup then. I won’t be returning!

I visited for breakfast and left feeling disappointed. There was only one indifferent server and the cook on duty. The buffet was largely depleted and not restocked, which was frustrating. To make matters worse, there was a problem with the steam table that caused the floor to flood, and two pans of water stayed on the floor throughout our entire meal. I can’t help but wonder if the owner knows how poorly the place is being run.

The service at the restaurant was outstanding—both friendly and professional. The staff took health precautions seriously, wearing masks and gloves while serving. However, I was disappointed with the breakfast buffet. The scrambled eggs clearly came from a mix, and the cinnamon toast sticks were unacceptably hard, almost as if they had been overcooked in the microwave. The pancakes had tough edges and a powdery taste, suggesting they weren't properly mixed. On a positive note, the bacon was cooked perfectly, crispy, and quite tasty. While the buffet included a variety of fruits, it lacked condiments like picante sauce and jelly. At $15 for the buffet and juice, I felt it was too pricey considering the overall quality of the food didn't justify the cost.

My first impression was wondering, where are the parents? The service needs significant improvement; the staff appeared confused and uncertain. The food was just average at best—okay for a snack, but definitely not impressive enough for a grand opening. They will need to work harder to make this establishment successful, and I sincerely hope they do.