Staks Pancake Kitchen - Auburn — Restaurant in Auburn

We decided to give Staks a go despite the mediocre reviews. After experiencing it I totally get the 3.5 rating.

The operation of the restaurant is as follows:

First, they have a pseudo hostess that assigns you a table before you go to the counter to order. I could see how this prevents people from grabbing tables while others in their party wait in line, so I don't hate it but it's not usual.

Then you order at the counter where they give you your drinks, etc. Water is the only thing self service. If you get there later in the morning this line can be long.

Then you sit at your assigned table and wait. On the tables... We had a larger party so we had our own table, but there were a number of community tables and they looked uncomfortably tight. I'm talking an 8 person table with FOUR table numbers on it for parties of two. If full these things would put the community in community table. I don't mind sharing a table but no one wants to be boxed in shoulder to shoulder on both sides by strangers. I would not be cool if I got stuck in that jam.

Now here's where it gets annoying. Once you sit down there are supposed to be people going around for drink refills, etc. They are there but are stretched super thin, to no fault of their own. The one in our area was super nice but you could tell she was extremely frustrated and overwhelmed. It's a pain to get anything. Need a fork? Gotta flag someone down. Refill? Flag em down. Extra plate? Good Luck. Extra Napkin? Who Dat? There's a reason this weird hybrid model restaurant doesn't exist anywhere else. IF YOU ARE HAVING PEOPLE ORDER AT A COUNTER, JUST MAKE IT ALL SELF SERVICE AND DO EVERYONE A FAVOR.

Food: Pretty good. Lots of food, short stack can easily be shared by two. The biscuits are like the size of a frisbee, tasty and fun but unnecessary. Pancakes were solid. It's Alabama so Conecuh sausage was well represented. Not mind blowing but solid breakfast.

Price: Eh. Not cheap. $85 for 4 adults and two kids. Oh yeah, kids meals are not available on game weekends. Another annoyance but saved us money since we just gave the kids bits of what the adults ordered. Don't fully understand that policy but whatever. Probably trying to avoid having to deal with kids in general 😂

Atmosphere: Good.

Overall: I'd come back if there was no line but not going out of my way for it. The one saving grace for them is that it's basically the only sit down breakfast place walking distance...

EDIT: Went again recently and was disappointed in the service most of all. We encountered two employees who were rude and reluctant to treat us well. The first was the cashier, who responded to a question of my wife's regarding the menu by being condescending. She continued to be unkind to us throughout the rest of the interaction. The other was a staff member on the floor. We grabbed her to ask for extra syrup for our table of 4 and she literally slumped over and rolled her eyes and then left. She did return, but only with one small cup. When we apologized and said we may need more, she huffed and walked away with no other response. We got what we needed, but were definitely made to feel like a burden. This was on a Sunday at 10:30AM or so. It was busy. I understand being stressed during busy times at work, but our experience was ruined by this. Not sure we will be back.

Shared a good lunch with my wife. Quality and knowledgable staff members. Food is pricey but food items are creative and made with care. The pancakes and burrito we had will last for 2 more meals lol. Our portions were huge. Definitely check it out when you have time and consider sharing a menu item next time instead of buying one per person.

For the Staks Team: I think it would be a good idea for you to decrease the portion and price for your meals for a more fitting service. Families may come in for a bite then go walk around and shop for a bit before heading back home. I feel for a smaller breakfast place that closes at 2:30pm, people may stop here first before they shop instead of it being their last stop. The current main item portion sizes would lead a person to be taking left overs out frequently. Having to walk around with those portions may lead to some inconvenience. I also see this fix clearing up some of the other reviews people have left complaining of prices. Consider this change if possible. Also, thank your staff for being so kind and friendly on our first time. We will...

Charming Decor, But Service Model Lacks Appeal.

Visited this breakfast spot on a crisp Sunday morning, lured in by its mid-century charm. The ambiance was quaint, with a host stand that initially suggested a full-service experience. However, it's a self-service affair - order at the counter, find your own seat, and even fetch your own silverware and water refills.

Our party of eight, hoping to split into two groups, faced an unexpected policy. Despite the lack of traditional table service, a 20% gratuity was automatically added for groups of this size. This policy seemed misplaced, considering the self-service nature of the establishment. We ordered at the counter, seated ourselves, and tended to our basic needs without staff assistance.

Speaking of the fare, the coffee didn't hit the mark, and while the biscuits boasted impressive size, they lost points on moisture. The overall dining experience left us questioning the rationale behind the mandatory gratuity, especially given the minimal staff interaction.

The setup of the restaurant, including the host stand, seemed to blur the lines between a full-service and self-service model. It felt like a strategy to minimize overhead by shifting duties onto the patrons. This became more evident with the limited use of available cash registers, despite a long queue and adequate staff.

A small win was their willingness to accommodate our seating preference, though it was met with a certain reluctance. We appreciated the effort to move us away from the noisy center to a quieter spot.

In conclusion, while I understand the evolving landscape of the service industry, this place seems to miss the mark on balancing self-service with customer experience. The automatic gratuity, in particular, felt excessive for the level of service provided. In an era where tipping culture is evolving, it's crucial for establishments to align their service model with customer expectations, ensuring a clear understanding of what we're...