Cora's 471 Grill — Restaurant in Castroville

Food was fantastic, tasted amazing and really defined comfort food... but portions were inconsistent between plates & service was terrible!

My family and I visited yesterday after an event that was held near by. This was an unplanned stop but decided to go in so our daughter could play in their little playground (she'd been eyeing it up during the event). When we first stepped in it was every bit the back street diner I could have imagined. It seemed warm and inviting until we spoke to the girl behind the counter. Firstly we asked if we might sit outside and get food because we wanted to let our little one play. We were told, no table service outside and if we wanted to eat we would have to eat out of takeaway boxes. Okay, so we ordered to go meals. Two chicken fried steak plates. Please tell me why I have to decide if I want potatoes or vegetables on there? Surely this should just come with both as standard instead of asking me if I want a house salad that is included with it? Ordered onion rings too, they were pretty bomb! So after taking my order; and my tipping BEFORE receiving any service, I go outside for a bit then come back in with my family as my little one was done in the playground. We had decided that we wanted to dine in and sat at a table. Instead of offering us plates when the food came out, I was just handed a bag of food. No utensils or napkins were included, just the food. Did they expect us to eat with our hands had we have taken it away? So there we are; Mummy, Daddy and a toddler juggling boxes all over the table we were sat at, trying to get situated without losing items off the side and be able to eat our food, during which one of our iced teas spilled all over the table. Not only was it like pulling teeth to get our utensils in the first place, because the ladies waiting were ignoring us at every opportunity but when the tea spilled on the table NO ONE was interested in helping until my husband insisted he would do it himself. Before I forget to mention it, I also have to question your portion sizes. One of the chicken fried steaks we ordered was massive, while the other one was tiny! I have never in my life experienced an inconsistency in any food place like this.

So to sum this up, food GOOD, service... SHOCKING!

Y'all are a great example of why I hate tipping before I...

We came here with my two kids (6 & 2) because they have a playground — I figured that meant they were family‑friendly.

My toddler started crying when he saw the playground but we were told we had to sit inside. He eventually settled down a bit, but then the booster seat they gave us turned out to be completely unsafe. It was too high, causing his shins to painfully press against the table, and it wasn’t strapped to the chair. The chair itself had no arms, so the whole setup could easily tip. I had no choice but to move him to a highchair — which he hates — and that led to another meltdown.

I was doing my best to manage both kids, in between interactions with the wait staff (who to be fair, were wonderful), when the owner tapped me on the shoulder and, without a hint of empathy, told me: “You need to take him outside until he calms down.”

I want to be clear — the issue wasn’t the request itself. It was the cold, rude way it was delivered (which seems to be the owner's brand if you read some other reviews) and the complete lack of reasonable options. I had another young child at the table who couldn’t be left alone, and the situation could’ve easily been handled with a little compassion.

Had they simply honored my original request to sit outside, or said something like, “We can see he's really upset, can we take your order real quick and you can wait at the playground? We’ll come get you when your food’s ready,” I would’ve been incredibly grateful, and it would have accomplished the same thing, but with empathy that earned them a loyal customer. Instead, I was humiliated — while solo-parenting two small kids, with my husband away on military orders.

Parents: don’t be fooled by the playground. This place may look family‑friendly, but the attitude tells a very different story....

My wife and I were at Cora’s 471 Grill this past Wednesday, and after seeing some of the negative reviews that have been posted since, we felt the need to share our own experience — both as longtime regulars and as people who were actually present during the situation in question.

The child wasn’t just fussy or having a brief moment — they were screaming loudly for quite a while, and it clearly affected the atmosphere for everyone nearby. What surprised us most was that the mother made no visible effort to calm or comfort the child. She stayed seated, disengaged, while the noise continued uninterrupted.

We’ve been coming to Cora’s for over 25 years. It’s a genuinely family-friendly place — we’ve brought our own kids here and seen countless families do the same. Tantrums and toddler moments happen, and the staff at Cora’s has always handled them with patience and understanding. But expecting a restaurant full of people to simply tolerate ongoing, unmanaged disruption is unreasonable.

We also saw the interaction with the owner. Contrary to what’s been suggested, the owner was calm and respectful — simply asking that the child be taken outside until they settled down. It wasn’t harsh or demeaning, just a reasonable request made in the interest of everyone dining there. Unfortunately, the mother responded with rudeness and didn’t seem open to any compromise.

We’re sympathetic to the challenges of parenting, especially solo — but we also believe respect goes both ways. Cora’s has always struck that balance well, and we’ll continue to support them not just because of one good meal, but because they’ve consistently shown care, hospitality, and pride in what they do...