Cutlass Grille — Restaurant in Chesapeake

I am updating my review. First off, I have been going to the Cutlass Grille for 6 years. Before they moved to their new location, I went there at least once a month. Since they moved, I have not been there much. The food and service there is always very good. However, after my experience today, I will not be going back, as well as warning other people to stay away, until they change their policy.

I went there today for lunch and everything was good, as always. I looked at my bill and immediately noticed it was much higher than I expected. I examined the check. The lunch special cost was correct. The soda nearly $4 (why any restaurant charges more than a 2 liter bottle for something that costs pennies, boggles my mind, but not the issue). Tax was correct, even the additional Chesapeake tax. Then I saw it: a 20% service charge. I flagged the waitress over and said there was a mistake. She said that they put that in 6 months ago because of the reduced number of people coming in because of the pandemic and the servers werent making enough. I said there was no notice of the charge. The waitress said there was a sign up front. I didnt see it when I walked in... I normally tip 15%, so I wasnt going to argue over 5%. So I paid the bill. I walked to the front and looked around thoroughly. There was NO sign notifying of the 20% service charge. I asked the hostess, she looked, no sign. I asked for the manager. He came out and he wasnt rude of combative at all. I said it was illegal to charge more without notice. He said it was legal and that there was a sign. So I asked where, he looked around. He pulled out a sign from behind the counter and said it should have been out. I didnt look at it to see if the notice was there. Even if it was, it was not visible by anyone, hidden away. He offered to remove the charge, but again, not going to argue over 5%.

The restaurant was full and there was no lack of tipping customers. Tipping is the customer's choice, NOT the management's. If they feel their servers arent getting paid enough, then pay them more. You do not get to decide what I tip. They have lost me as a customer until they remove the ridiculous 20%...

I’ve been to this place when it was at a different location - tried the ox tails a few times as well as the jerk chicken. Oxtails were overly salted on the 3 occasions I got them, and the jerk chicken was bland - only the skin seemed to have any flavor.

Figured things improved at this new location. Went to the new location (for to go orders-can’t see myself paying an 18% surcharge just for dining in).

I ordered the white and dark meat Jerk Chicken plates. I got Mac & Cheese, Greens, and peas & rice for sides. For desert, I tried the mango coconut bread pudding, and the carrot cake.

I’ll start with the atmosphere…its nice, colorful and inviting decor is a great improvement from the other location.

The food was ok. The chicken was still pretty bland; the greens and peas & rice were great, but the mac & cheese, any of my 3 kids can blow it out of the water.

Now, the deserts…the carrot cake, there’s no way around it - it’s horrible! It was dry, bland and the icing seemed more cream cheese than anything…not good at all!

The bread pudding tasted “synthetic”…still trying to find the words to describe it! The syrup that it came in tasted like a cross between sweetened plastic (or some sort of artificial sweetener) and some sort of cough suppressant (that still does it no justice in describing it). The “mango” pieces in the bread pudding were a bit rubbery and chewy and tasted like they came from a can. As for the coconut, still trying to figure out where that was…maybe it was it oil, syrup, artificial flavoring, etc…but no sign nor flavor profile that indicated that there was coconut in it.

I’ve honestly given this brand my share of tries…I’m just gonna stick to M&P and Happy Time Food Mart…definitely not as nice, or in as nice of an area…but definitely far more scratch made tasting.

If anything, I thank this place for reaffirming the need and benefits of cooking more and eating out less…and when I do, stick to the tried and...

Yesterday on May 12 for Mother’s Day, I decided to take my mom grandmother uncle and son to this restaurant. Upon arrival, we did not realize that they had a buffet style and not the normal menu (Which was not mentioned on anywhere on their website when we made the reservation), but we were OK to sit down and we decided we were still going to eat. My uncle got his plate first and he couldn’t even eat his food it was no flavor which they did comp and I greatly appreciate it, but my issue is that they did not have things properly labeled on the buffet and because of this from the Rasta pasta my son had a allergic reaction. As soon as we left the restaurant, I noticed that he started to have large hives appear on his body and his throat started to close. We immediately had to go around the corner to the CHKD in Chesapeake, right near the restaurant.! I spent $317.91 and that restaurant just to end up being in the hospital for the rest of the night and early morning! I do not appreciate that you did not have it labeled or at least a breakdown of what’s included into the food and because of that my son who was allergic to seafood, tried the pasta because it did not say that it was a seafood pasta it just had Rasta pasta up there on the sign With no mentioning of seafood being included. My son could’ve lost his life yesterday and it was a very Scary experience For him and also myself because I’m very diligent and making sure that none of his food is ever cross-contamination with seafood so we’ve never had this before! I would like for management to reach out to me as soon as possible. I have reached out to the proper resources about this and again I do not appreciate, especially when I spent my hard earned money with you all! I have time stamps from the receipt and the doctors paperwork that will show that we had to go right to the emergency unit after leaving the restaurant. so it was definitely calls from whatever Was...