Virgil's Gullah Kitchen & Bar West Midtown — Restaurant in Atlanta

My family and I are visiting ATL for spring break and after leaving the aquarium we decided to try some southern cuisine. We tend to dine at fine dining restaurants but were craving some home cooked feeling food. Upon arrival, we waited at the front to be seated by the host. 3 staff members (2 women and one male) stared at us before someone came over to seat us. Once seated the staff member who would also be our server (Tyreka) advised us that the were a cashless restaurant and we were allotted 2hrs to dine. No comp water was ever brought to the table and we were never asked what would we like to drink, in order to start service. I took it upon myself to start service by giving our drink & food selection. We ordered the corn muffins & fried green tomatoes for our appetizers. For the entrees, I ordered the salmon that came with corn which I did not want but was told could not be substituted so I ordered an additional side of green beans. My husband and 14yr old ordered chicken wing entrees (sides of Mac & cheese with Collards) and we ordered my 4yr old the wing basket (side of wedges). When I placed my order Tyreka stated I ordered her favorite entree. Since this was our first time dining, to hear that made me feel very optimistic about my choice. After putting in our order a party of two was sat next to us approximately 10mins later. Once our appetizers came out the runner placed them on the table with the party of two. I noticed this as well as our server. Our server told the runner her table (meaning us) had ordered those appetizers, to which the runner replied “they ordered the same thing”. Excuse me! No ma’am! That’s not how that works. We then waited about 6mins for our appetizers to be served to us. The appetizers were delicious not a crumb was left. To add insult to injury, when our entrees were ready, the same runner placed them on the table AGAIN, with the party of two. This time they did not order the same entree and were taken back by the orders placed in front of them. When they advised her of the orders not being theirs she then took them back to the kitchen window (instead of placing them on our table) while yelling for our server. We then waited 5 mins for our server to get the same food that was taken back to the kitchen window to then be served to us. My blood was boiling. I said to our server “why does she keep giving that table our food when we were sat before them?”. To which she replied “I don’t know because I definitely put the order in right”. No apology or anything was done to rectify the ordeal. My salmon entree sits on a bed of rice with a cajun like sauce over the top. The sauce had began to thicken so it was more like a thick gravy, the rice hardened and salmon was overcooked…but the overall taste was good. The green beans had a taste that was similar to freezer burn/ sourness, they were very off putting. To make sure it wasn’t just my tastebuds I asked my 14yr old to try them to which he made a face and said “they did not taste right”. I advised our server of the off putting taste of the green beans and she replied “I never get the green beans I always get collard greens.” Welp that wasn’t the same sentiment from her previous statement when I initially placed my order, smh. She then apologized and went to tell the kitchen. After informing the kitchen she came back to tell me that their green beans are never frozen. Thanks for the information but they are still very much disgusting. Nothing was done to rectify that situation. We weren’t offered to comp them, switch for another side, etc. My husbands and 14yr olds chicken wings were delicious, collards amazing but Mac & Cheese lacked seasoning. While we were eating, my 4yr olds meal never arrived. Our server stated that they were down to one fryer and it would be out shortly. My 4yr old fell asleep while waiting for her food. The entire table had finished eating before her wing basket ever arrived. We boxed up her food and took with us for her...

Service was absolutely deplorable and the atmosphere was chaotic. This horrible experience began when our check was brought to us 45min after we ordered when we had not received our food yet. Yes, that's correct, the check came BEFORE our food. It was freezing on the lower level to where we were shivering as we waited for our food, which came 25 minutes after the check.

We didn't have silverware, so we were left to watch our food get cold because our server never gave us any & had basically disappeared.

We had to ask the hostess to send the manager over, who did not initially come. A busser brought us plasticware packs & stated we could use these until our server brings us silverware. How unprofessional is that. We and the ladies at the table next to us couldn't believe what we just witnessed.

Our server materialized finally & we asked him for the manager to come over. The manager finally materializes & we tell her everything & she apologizes for the slow service from the kitchen, but none of the other infractions, which is dismissive & lacking in accountability. She then asked how she could make things right. We requested our meal to be complementary since we now have to take our food to go, microwave it because we had somewhere else to be. She refused to comp the meal because she didn't like being told that we were not paying for a cold meal & horrible service. The gall & lack of hospitality of this so-called manger shocked us and the patrons at the two tables near us.

All we did was make a reservation, sit down, ordered food & then was mistreated the entire time we were there, yet this so called manger has the nerve to not like being told that we were not going to pay for horrible service & cold food. She clearly doesn't understand cause and effect, nor does she understand that her patrons shouldn't be obligated to be nicer to her than her staff ever was to her patrons.

This clearly unqualified manager then offered a discount & stated that she will no longer discuss our issues with my niece because she didn't like how she explained the myriad of issues we experienced at the hands of her staff.

After asking the two of us that she would talk to, again how to make it right, when we already answered her question & she has already refused. She then says she can't discount the meal instead she'll have it remade, which we all know that means microwaved & brought back out. She also offered the option of free cornbread & dessert. I stood up and told her to keep all that & that we were leaving. My niece told her that there were plenty other black owned establishments we can spend our money with.

This sans-manger states that we couldn't leave because she doesn't know what else is on our ticket. I told her what's on the table was all we had. She called the sever over & he confirmed so we did infact leave & spent $0.00 there & spent our $263 at Breakfast at Barney's.

After speaking with that ridiculously unqualified manger whom clearly needs hospitality refresher training, it was clear that the issues we experienced was a reflection of her leadership qualities, rather the...

Happy Hour with friend As I approached, I noticed there was an open parking lot right next door. From what I understood, parking is free for the first 2 hours for restaurant patrons. I entered and waited for my friend to arrive. I found a few seats available at the bar. I sat there for a while until the bartender finally made an appearance. I asked about the happy hour menu, and she provided a sticky, dirty paper menu that looked a little worn. Then I noticed the bar itself was a little sticky. I reviewed the menu and asked about the happy hour beers. The bartender advised that no beers were available because the taps were not working. After a few minutes of conversation, I finally figured out that I could order a bottle of beer at regular price. I decided to order a Modello. Looking around, the place had a very nice ambiance and decor. From where I was sitting, I could look right into the kitchen. My friend arrived and also asked about the happy hour menu. He was told they had a specialty drink available, a Mango Martini. He ordered that while I was still working on my Modello. We found out the Mango Martini was made with Tequila, Vermouth, Sour Mix, and Mango Juice. That sounded like a strange mixture of stuff, and when it arrived, and he tasted it he said it was “Disgusting”. Also, while we were sitting at the bar, we kept getting a sour smell coming from somewhere behind the bar. We could not pinpoint what it was or where it was coming from. My friend went to the bathroom on the second floor, and when he returned, he advised that there was another bar up there. I finished my Modello, and he left his unfinished drink at the bar. We went upstairs, and the great decor continued. We approached the bar and asked about the happy hour menu. The bartender was a little confused, but eventually got everything clarified. He advised that the craft beer taps were working, and I could get the 16 oz for $2. My friend found out he could get the house vodka mixed with pineapple juice for $2. Win and Win! We enjoyed a few rounds and ordered some wings from the happy hour menu. Our bartender advised that they were whole chicken wings. We started small and ordered four. They arrived pretty quickly. The wings were a good size and had a good crunch. We could tell they were very fresh, but they could have used a little more salt/seasoning. Overall, they were tasty and a perfect after-drinks appetizer. No guarantee you will have the same experience that we did, but upstairs saved the downstairs. It turned this review from a negative to a positive. We will be coming back for happy hour and go right to the second level. They even have some outdoor and balcony seating to enjoy when the weather heats up. Great happy hour deals (once they got it all worked out), good food, great ambiance, super clean bathrooms in this Black Owned...