Crave Cafe — Restaurant in Alabama

Boy, this place was close—but just short. There is light at the end for this place I think, however. I come from a 20 year background in culinary environments. #1. The Door. Every single person walks in the door, it should be clean. Especially if it’s glass and surrounded by windows like yours. The handprints make interest disappear immediately. Wash those windows and door glass, I can help you with a professional it you need it. #2. Your floors. Your floors were filthy. Every customer eats seated on your floor. I’m not gonna go into more detail on that, deep clean your floors. #3. The food. For the most part the food is very good! The potato salad has way too much mayonnaise, save yourself money and flavor on that. Also, the fries should be blanched and seasoned if you’re using straight potatoes for a much crispier fry. I can show you how to do that if you need it. The chicken was good I would tell your cook to be more delicate with the Fryer, you want he fry to stay on the chicken! It all fell off. #4 and this is the biggest one because it will DESTROY your business, fights on the floors. I heard loud bickering, fighting, screaming and just a barrage of immaturity from your staff. In between a screaming child who took a fall, girls were literally fighting on the floor. That kills environment and will destroy your investment. This is your investment and one of the few options for the community to have a place to eat clean food. Come on! There is a lot of room for growth here and I hope your restaurant takes advantages of store meetings to discuss how to grow and how everyone can ultimately make more money and serve better food. If you need help please let me know. Hopefully I will have a better experience next time and be able to append this, there will be a next time—in this part of Alabama good...

First time eating there and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My dad and I ordered our food to-go and waited there. The staff was incredibly polite and friendly, chit chatting with us when they could. They were very accommodating if you wanted to change something in your order that wasn't expressly on the menu and even offered us a taste of a sauce/gravy from a dish we expressed interest in trying next time. I ordered the shrimp platter grilled with broccoli for the side. I admit I didn't have very high hopes on the broccoli, I was expecting the typical butter and salt on it you find at most restaurants. However the broccoli was very well seasoned with what maybe have been a cajun type season along with the shrimp which was grilled perfectly. It came with a couple hushpuppies that were also larger then normal and tasted delicious with the shrimp. My dad ordered the fried catfish with fries and coleslaw. He enjoyed the breading and seasoning of it as well. For two meals and one coke it was only about $25 so I find it was decently priced for a home cook style meal. I will be visiting in the future and sharing my recommendations for sure! I hope they...

Experience from 5/2019- 4/2022: Amazing place when they first opened. Quickly down hill. I thought it was a hidden gem after the first 4-5 orders. I typically would give an understanding review, but the last 4 attempts at ordering from there has progressively gotten worse. I once literally went to Foodland next door to buy ingredients that were supposed to be on a meal ordered (The Valley Salad). Hey, let’s try once more (4/21/2022) …second item ordered (country fried steak) …”we’re out”. Geez they have it next door…get it and mark it up? The entire order would have been profitable for sure. I support local businesses at every turn, and I understand inventory and items can change fluidly ; especially now. However, either I have the worst timing or this menu needs to only be on a chalk board outside. Even the FB menu pics are antiquated. I really hope they succeed but, burgers and chicken tenders are available everywhere. “Cafe” can have a limited offering of what they do well, but they have to have the ingredients. I’m long winded but, I loved my initial experiences and hope it can get back to that but...