Kelseys Original Roadhouse — Restaurant in Woodstock

I wasn’t sure if I would write this but it’s been a couple days and I’m still not pleased with what happened so here we go. This is long and I’m so sorry.

My husband and I went on a Thursday. The major rush done. Was past dinner We sat outside. At first the sat us in what seemed to be the walkway so when the booth emptied near us we decided we would ASK OUR SERVER if we could move. We had our orders taken about 10 minutes prior (where we asked to keep the menu cause I wanted more drinks and desert) . We waited 10 more minutes (20 total) she had not been around so we asked a different server as people were arriving and I really was uncomfortable in the isle.

The booths do not have high backs you can clearly see everyone sitting at them and we were at a booth 3 feet from our table.

A different server brought our food 10 minutes later. Missing an item we ordered so after 5 minutes we just asked if we could get that to a random server. Still have not seen ours. Then the booth directly attached to ours behind us was sat and our server was theres. Eye to eye contact happened with my husband and her. She took their order. He was gonna ask her for another drink but she rushed off. We didn’t want to be rude so we didn’t yell for her or anything. She came out one more time to this other booth to drop off drinks and take orders. He kinda leaned over to get her attention but she didn’t even look over. Did her thing rushed off. The other server out there was walking by us non stop looking at us but I know the rules don’t step on the other servers territory. We had empty drinks and my food was a sandwich and dry cause the extra sauce didn’t get delivered. Oh well. We just needed drinks at this point lol.

An hour. Our server didn’t arrive at our table for an hour (and stopped going to the table behind us as well) . We had been done eating with empty drinks 25 minutes prior. We sat there. My husband decided to talk to the manager he felt pretty frustrated. He was very polite. Did it privately and was very calm about it. The manager was amazing. She offered to comp our meal which we DID NOT AGREE WITH because we ate our food but she did anyway. We left a large tip because like we said everything but our server was ok and they tip out. We felt calm about the situation while we waited for the machine to tip on 1 cent (only way to leave debit tip) and the server walked to our table.

This is the reason for this review. She loudly started crying and apologizing saying we moved and she couldn’t find us. Had no idea where we were. That her manager told her we her mad at her and she didn’t want us mad at her. And the entire patio was looking at us. And we felt absolutely embarrassed and people were not looking at us nicely. She was causing a scene. it’s the first time we have seen her since taking the other booths order 40 minutes or so prior)

In summary. We complained to the manager because we had no server for an hour. No refills. Not second alcoholic drinks. Couldn’t order desert and didn’t even get so much as a how is everything. Even though she clearly knew we were there. But this review is because she walked to our table and made a huge scene in front of everyone making us look incredibly horrible and that it was our fault when clearly she knew we were thee. She knew we had our food delivered so the ticket still existed. We didn’t run out on our alcohol bill so we were somewhere. I won’t be returning. my anxiety at restaurants is high already and I’m absolutely embarrassed about that. The manager was great the other server was clearly killing it with her tables and the food came out at a decent time frame. So gave 3 stars for that. Picture for reference that she could see us.

Edit: I want to make this clear. The manager was amazing and the other servers were working so gosh darn hard and personally the experience would have been completely different with them. This was not a dig at the establishment. Just the inappropriate behavior...

"Since recently indulging in Kelsey’s woodstocks smash quesadilla, I have been enamored. Enthralled. Perhaps even in awe. This dish is my everything, and I yearn for it as I know that I personally cannot perfect it the way the people in the kitchen of the Kelsey’s Woodstock location, (who are true purveyors of fine foods), can do. The dish is so simple, yet so exquisite. So humble, yet brash. So recognizable, yet unique.

Starting with components as simple as the tortillas, or even the poached smash party itself, the Smash quesadilla "doesn't miss", as the youth these days like to say.

Kelseys takes ingredients so basic and masters their places in the dish, as they dance smoothly en route to tie the entire experience together. While the crunch of the torts and the comforting warmth of the patty with cheese are the two sensations I recognize immediately, the robust taste of the ever-so classic truck sauce (which is basically Big Mac sauce but BETTER) is admittedly the first taste that hits my tongue.

Many people with inexperienced palates call the sauce "overwhelming" or "overrated", but I say nay. Because soon thereafter, the savory dish from a lovely place called kelseys, takes center stage. Hand-in-hand with the added sautéed mushrooms and the perfectly diced pickles, these main components eloquently give you that base that makes you think "this is not only the pinnacle of roadhouse dining but also a substantial meal that will help me start off my day just right".

In the middle, you get a bit of the bite from the lettuce, which gives you reassurance that you eat healthily. Your body is a temple, right?

That's why you only put the finest foods, such as a dash of lettuce with your smash quesadilla, into it each day. Continuing on, towards the tail end of your bite, you get the notes from the American cheddar and the sweet juices from the meat, which close your memory of each bite better than the Lakers and Dodgers both winning titles in their respective leagues brought a very grueling 2020 to a close. Consider it a rather majestic ending that could steer the mood of anyone's day towards more pleasant waters. But wait! That was just one bite! Next thing you know, you must take another.

Then another. Then, before you even know, you are hooked. You can't even stop for a sip of your kicked up Kelsey’s coors lite with a lemon while it's piping hot. It's worthy of me weaseling my way into a slot onto the TLC show, "My Strange Addiction". I have never done drugs of any kind, well hard drugs, but I imagine that the serotonin release from finishing a smash quesadilla on the patio at any Woodstock Kelsey’s location will be tenfold the release you experience from any other activity.

It is my love, it is my passion, and it is one of many reasons why I keep coming back to Kelsey’s Woodstock P.S.: The smash quesadilla also comes with a side of your choice, but I would recommend the loaded mashed potatoes and I’ll let you in on a little secret asked for it the old school way. Just wanted to leave you a heads up.

During my breathe taking experience Angela my server who I must add is as beautiful as the mom cat in the Disney's movie The Aristocats. She took care of my every need and I would go back and request her to be my server in a heartbeat. If you go and don’t her, the rest of the employees are magnificent aswell. But I must. must. must add that if it wasn’t for the fabulous and amazing general manager, Nick who had to help me navigate through the menu I would have never stumbled upon the heavenly...

Went in for Father’s Day dinner. Previous visit was decent. This visit was a top 5 worst restaurant experience. Was not really that busy, was seated promptly, lots of empty seating and they accommodated 6 of us. The evening started with the AC blowing down on us and we we all freezing, my children visibly shacking from being cold, and asked the server if they could turn it down or off since it’s not that warm outside, it’s freezing in here. Was told she would tell the manager. Server never returned to say if anything was being done, not even a bs fluff that they were working on it or they couldn’t adjust it. Didn’t even offer to move us to one of the empty tables. After 20 mins I went out to the car to retrieve some sweatshirts, in June I’m wearing a hoodie to eat inside a restaurant which is ridiculous. The food arrived, I ordered a 10 oz steak, shrimp and loaded baked potato. A $40 meal, with everything the meals cost us $160. The steak and potato were lukewarm at best and the steamed vegetables were ice cold. The constant blowing of cold air also didn’t help the temp of the food as it was blowing directly on my plate. Finally the sever returned to take desert order for my kids, and I asked for the takeout boxes and the bill. They received the dessert, we got the bill but no take out boxes. At this point, I just wanted to leave and no interest in continuing to ask for anything not have my kids eat their sub par food after at home. It was Father’s Day so I decided not to make a fuss and complain as I’m out with my family and they wanted to enjoy a Father’s Day meal. However, if this was just my wife and I, we would have walked out based on the environment and service and I would have sent the steak back and declined to pay for our meals. At this point I have zero interest in returning to this restaurant and my hard earned money is better being spent elsewhere. If I could give zero stars I would. Such a disappointing experience on a...