Red Rice Restaurant & Catering — Restaurant in Atlanta

Mr.ChimeTime I know that I wrote a lot, but please read. You need to go back to Red Rice and review them again. The first time I went the line was ridiculously long. In fact it was all the way around the gas station to the backside of the gas station, and it was cold as Antarctica outside, but I waited. The food was pretty good. I ordered the turkey wings meal with collard greens w/ smoked meat and Mac and cheese. The second time I went I decided to go 30 minutes before the scheduled opening time to try to cut the long wait, but still ended up waiting over an hour before I could get in the door. I ordered the turkey wings again, but I was told that it was going to be a 30-45 minute wait for the turkey wings. I didn’t have that much time and I had already waited an hour just to get in the door, so I ordered the jerk wings instead. I wasn’t too happy about the jerk wings, but I still didn’t, and wouldn’t give up on them. I went a 3rd time, but this time I went in 1 hour and a half early and parked right in front of the front door. The hours are from 2-7pm however the doors didn’t open until 2:30 so I waited an hour and a half outside only to find out that after the long wait, they again didn’t have the Turkey wings. I was very disappointed at this point, but I needed something to eat, I ordered the jerk wings instead again, but this time I asked them not to put the jerk sauce hoping that I would like them better this time, but I didn’t. And the collard greens had ZERO smoked meat and they were too crunchy with no taste to them. I wanted to support her black owned business, but after she got such a great review from you, she started opening the restaurant on C.P (colored people) time, opening 25 -30 minutes late as if she’s the owner of a barber shop or beauty salon or something. In addition to that, the restaurant being out of advertised items at opening time is very bad for business. The fact that they only have about 4 parking spaces is a huge deterrent in itself. You can’t wait inside your car because If you don’t stand outside at the door before they open you won’t be first to enter even though you were there first. I don’t know if you know but once you finally get inside, you’re looking to stand inside for another 30 minutes. The first time that you went, you probably didn’t have to stand outside for over an hour to get your food because she wanted you to come there and give her a good review. After your outstanding review, she was unheard of. After your review she went to slacking. I’m almost positive that if you had to wait as long as people are waiting now and on top of that not being able to order what you want from the menu, being told that there is going to be a 30-45 minute wait for an item, you probably wouldn’t have given them such a great review. I really hope that you didn’t give them that great review because you got paid or because they’re your relatives that would not only be bad for her but to you as well. I’ve watched your reviews and you are pretty hard critic and that’s why people trusted your reviews. Go back again and this time show up at opening time 2 o’clock. Keep your camera rolling the whole time you’re in line and until you receive your food. Also film when they tell you they don’t have an item and that it’s gonna be 30 to 45 minutes. That’s the kind of review we need to see. Hell, wear a body camera. So before we go to a restaurant we can have a better understanding about the restaurant. By you sitting in your car eating piping hot food and saying how good it is, is not a clear indication of how good or bad a restaurant is. Tell your followers what time you got there and how long it took for you to get your food? Let us see what happened before you got your food, the wait, outside and the inside, the look of the restaurant. I jokingly said to myself did he get his food from the back door? If she doesn’t make some drastic changes soon, that restaurant is going to start to lose money. Once a customer is lost, they will not be back. ...

This comment was 3 months ago…

Let me say I have been to the restaurant four times now and have patiently waited in a long line for 3-4 hours. The food I have tasted is delicious! Each time I go I spend a minimum of $80. However, there are several reasons for the four stars.

1-The times I have come early, way before the restaurant is scheduled to open, it has never opened on time so that adds to your wait time. The times I have arrived later, there is a line and patron say they have been waiting for some hours because the restaurant opened several hours late. I hope the owner brainstorms a plan for winter and rainy days.

2-Running out of food early/Not preparing food- I have been trying to get oxtails, Rasta pasta and seafood salad but each time I come, the owner tells me she didn’t prepare any. Please remove the items you don’t prepare regularly. I was told recently that Rasta pasta is only on Saturdays and oxtails are only Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. So yesterday (Sunday), I patronized the restaurant looking for oxtails and seafood salad. I got in the long line about 3:30pm but around 4pm a couple of ladies who came out with their food told some people in the back of the line the restaurant just opened around 3pm. I believe it was supposed to open at noon. After standing in line for two hours, I made it to the front of the building. I along with other patrons noticed a lady ordering oxtails as we peeked in the window. I felt lucky! But when it was my turn to order about 40 minutes later, they had completely sold out of oxtails. The cashier said the lady we saw ordering the oxtails, received the last order. I advised the owner out of the four times I have been there, the first three times she said she didn’t prepare any oxtails and this time they are sold out. She also said she didn’t prepare seafood salad again. The owner proceeded to tell me to try to come earlier from now on. My thought was even if I was earlier today, your establishment did not open on time so food shouldn’t run out that quick. I have been there where orders were limited because the owner felt obligated to feed the large crowds surrounding the restaurant. The amount of food prepared daily needs to step up to start to mitigate the problem of running out of food. It also appears to be difficult to prepare all the foods advertised on the menu on a daily basis. Suggestion: Maybe have certain days to prepare certain foods but make sure enough food is prepared to meet the demand. Sometimes you may have a small waste but you keep your customers happy for their long wait. I think it is fair to let people know while in line what their choices are for the day. It is not fair to hear certain foods were not prepared after waiting.

3-Yesterday I ordered the Swai fish dinner (extra crispy), a Turkey wing dinner and a lamb chop dinner. This was my third time ordering the fish dinner but this time the fish was awful. I heard the owner telling her daughter she had a fish to fry twice. The owner also seemed a little frustrated because she said, my daughter back there trying to wash dishes, let me go back and tell her again to cook that fish. When I received my plates, I got in my car only to see these 2 pieces of very lightly cooked fish. I tried a piece and it was very wet/undone tasting and disappointing. It was as if the cook threw it in the grease and as soon as she saw a pale brown removed them to plate. Remember I asked for extra crispy- this was nowhere near crispy. My turkey plate sides were supposed to be macaroni and cheese and collard greens. Instead I got home and I was given macaroni and cheese and yams. This visit was disappointing, however, I will return.

UPDATE: I went back 3/9/25 and the restaurant opened on time. I was 6th in line. I ordered the oxtails and the oxtail Rasta pasta and the turkey wing. This was my first time ordering the oxtails and the Rasta pasta. Talking bout Delicious and plentiful!!!! That is my new go to spot...

Very disappointed for what we were expecting. Idk what Mr. ChimeTime tasted, but the food is just okay, not all that great at all. The attitudes of the staff & owner match. We arrived early bc there is always a line. Got there at 1:30pm, got out to at 1:58pm to be first in line as many cars were pulling up. The owner had just come swerving around the corner at 1:50pm. Her staff was already inside as we peeked in to see if there was a more up-to-date menu posted bc the one online is inaccurate with pricing & some items. They didn’t open the door until 2:07pm, a few ppl had already left, complaining about the wait & “CP” time. No greeting or similes to customers, just looking at us trickle in. No apology for the wait, they didn’t even acknowledge to say “Hey, yall give us a few more mins,” nothing. Ordered at 2:11pm; two meals: (1) smothered turkey wing, red rice, yams, collards & (2) fried fish, red rice, mac & cheese, collards, and a peach sweet tea. I was told to wait in my car (fish cooked to order) due to 10 person capacity & they would text when the food was ready. After waiting well over 20 mins with no text, I went back inside at 2:35pm. The cashier didn’t even attempt to address my concern about the order, just said “Go to that register & ask him.” The young man packing the food finally turned around to acknowledge me, then asked if I’m sure I didn’t get a text. I reassured that I’m positive I didn’t get a text that’s why I’m back in here to check on my order. When he checked the bags, my food had been sitting on the counter so long the steam in both boxes had the fish soft, soggy & greasy like it hadn’t been drained. The tea was sitting out so long it was lukewarm. I was TF annoyed. I didn’t ask for it to be refried bc I was already pissed, tired of waiting & ready TF to go. Still, no apology for their error. We drove way too far, waited way too mf long for soggy ass, overcooked fried fish. I asked for it to be crispy & it was dark brown like it was cooked in old grease or cooked too long. The rice is bland & tastes like tomato sauce in the can, the mac & cheese & collards both taste like water. The only salt in the mac seemed to be from the cheese itself. My mom said her turkey wing was a tad salty, but kinda helped out the rice (eating it together with the gravy) & the yams were the best tasting thing on her plate. The tea had no “peach” flavor at all & tastes exactly like that powdered Lipton tea in the can. Highly disappointed! The portions overall are quite hefty. For the restaurant’s name to be “Red Rice,” the staple item should at least be served in an appropriate portion for people to actually taste. They give one lil ass spoonful of rice that the girl was literally shaking around to try & fill the small bottom section of the plate. It don’t even come up an inch high. That’s barely enough rice for the damn turkey wing. Lol Never again! Oh, and by the time I received the text that the food was actually ready, I was far down 285 headed home at 2:52pm. Pissed me clean TF off. We won’t be back, but try it...