Jenkins Deli — Restaurant in Cleveland

I've been coming to this place for many years now. I live in Chattanooga and come up to the Ocoee to camp and kayak frequently, and have always like stopping here on the way. The chicken salad is to die for, and the buffalo burger is a personal fave. The atmosphere in the new building is great, although I will say I liked the cozy feeling of the old place. The one knock I have...and it's been this way the last 4-5 times I've been there...the service is absolutely terrible! Hasn't mattered if I'm at the bar or sitting at a table, whether I'm alone or with my kids, the service is ridiculously slow and not very friendly. I stopped there one Sat evening on the way back from Knoxville with my daughters, and the waitress seemed like she was mad the entire time. I went in one weekday afternoon when I was off work just to get some chicken salad for a party. There may have been 10 customers total in the place. I stood by the bar and waited 10 minutes before someone ever came over to ask what I wanted. I went by yesterday to catch the UT game after boating that afternoon. Wasn't crowded at all. After quickly getting a beer and a menu, it was 20 minutes before the bartender ever came back over to ask what I wanted to eat. Wasn't friendly at all, even when I smiled and tried to talk about the game a little. Seems if you're not a local, you re not important. I really want to like this place. It has good food and a good atmosphere. But if the customer service doesn't improve the next time I go in, I won't be back....not even for the...

I was with a group that was meeting for lunch at Jenkins. Due to the rains and length of my drive, my two older grandkids (19-21) arrived 15 minutes late. We found our party but had to be seated a few tables away. We literally sat for 22 minutes with waitresses all around us before anyone came to take our order or even take a drink order. Once our order had been taken it was another 15-20 minute wait which is understandable. I literally had to flag my waitress down after she could see I wished to speak with her and averted her eyes quickly walking away. We were not rude customers nor were we demanding. I did finally get to ask about a dessert menu but she informed me that all she had was two slices of chocolate chess pie left, not once offering a menu or options of other desserts. If the dessert wasn't covered by my party, I would gladly have paid for it. By this time I was angry and disgusted and wanted to leave. Jenkins has wonderful food and atmosphere but the server we had was rude and deliberately so. I might have understood it; or accepted it, had her rudeness been called for. I felt discriminated against (and judged unfairly) because I was with the Caregivers Group. This Group is a blessing to me as I take care of 4 special needs grandchildren and my 2 older grandkids moved in to help me with siblings seeing as I am disabled myself. I look forward to these meetings as they are my only break I get. This one was ruined by very poor and...

This is not the same Jenkins I grew up with. I’ve know the Jenkins family for yrs and there is a reason Kay slightly modified her “original chicken salad “ it was the bomb for the last 15-20 yrs. The new owners say they are taking Jenkins back to the “original” but most people in this town under the age of 60 doesn’t remember the original Jenkins. We have tons of young families spending $ on food in this town. New out of towners coming in. They don’t care about the “original chicken salad” or the original Jenkins in general. These new owners have lost touch with what Cleveland likes. I never see the “usual” Jenkins crowd from yesterday’s any more. The good thing about the new owners, they have eliminated the fri, sat wait to eat times. They are never a wait anymore. Small or large parties, walk right in and sit down. Plenty of tables. Don’t get me started on the good things they took off the menu and added back with standard fair bar food. Not to mention the $3-4 price hike on the food. Don’t say you didn’t, I have a Jenkins menu from 3 yrs ago I will gladly challenge you with or if any one else wants to gander at it. I’ll prove it to you. Bottom line. Yesterday. Half CS sandwich, fries, fried pickles cup of chicken &rice soup and a full chicken salad plate with fries. Two cokes. With auto gratuity bill was...