Granite City Food & Brewery — Restaurant in Davenport

This place used to be great, but it's gone downhill and is struggling. The food is inconsistent. When it's good it's really good, but it can definitely leave much to be desired at times. The portions are also ridiculously large now, leading to jacked up prices. Service used to be great, now it typically sucks. We also had an experience just last night that has us scratching our heads. First off, we arrived for happy hour and ordered drinks, but didn't get the happy hour deal because we didn't order something that was eligible. We ordered beer mugs and double pours of wine, but only pints and single pours were eligible for the special. We learned that after ordering and just before paying. Most places would point that out upon ordering, or offer the happy hour. But the weirder thing is that when we got there, they asked us if we had a reservation, and we didn't. This place used to not need reservations because of how busy it used to be, and has never required them. Then they told us that everyone is busy so it may be a while and service may be slow. But the restaurant was at quarter capacity at most! We asked if they were short staffed and they said no, they just staff to the reservations they get. Then the hostess said she needed to talk to the servers that were working to see if they will take us. She came back and said "only 1 server is willing to take you". It's no wonder this place is struggling, they're letting the servers run the place, and they're making customers feel like burdens for giving them business! Then with a nearly empty restaurant, they tried seating us at the least desirable table in the restaurant, the one right by the bathrooms and walkway to the kitchen. We asked to be moved then had to go to the bar to wait for "something else to open up" in the nearly empty place. And the hostess was right about the service being slow. Our kid with us had an empty soda most of the night, and it took a while and multiple reminders to get more beer and wine. The food came out relatively quickly though. Our server also complained about needing to work until close. The funny thing is, I checked the website to see what it says about reservations. And it actually makes it seem like reservations are less desirable. "They can only take a limited number of reservations, but if none are showing as available that does not mean they can't take you, and due to availability they'll only hold it for 5 minutes while you checkout." My personal take is the servers are content with a slow night, getting tipped out by the owners, and want to close early. We used to recommend this place to out of town guests, but don't anymore. We used to be regulars here and have gradually gone less and less due to mixed experiences. Last night might have been our...

A Chilly Welcome to the Quad Cities

This restaurant turned out to be a surprising introduction to the Quad Cities—not quite the good kind of surprise. I was looking forward to the familiar, consistent quality of a chain I’ve always enjoyed, but this experience left me cold. Literally.

From the moment I stepped into the empty lobby, I was greeted not by a warm smile but by a cold draft that set the tone for the evening. The chilly air persisted inside, where most diners stayed bundled up in their coats. Add to that the overpowering scent of industrial air freshener (hiding a potential sewer problem?)—it was an atmosphere you could say had character, though not the kind you’d hope for during a meal.

My server didn’t arrive for about ten minutes but made up for it with an earnest apology, explaining they were short-staffed. That would be understandable—except staff were buzzing around the half-empty restaurant, rearranging tables and performing what can only be described as interpretive “looking busy” dances.

When it came to service, my waiter was kind but overwhelmed. Midway through taking my order, he darted off to grab silverware for another table, leaving me to wonder if I’d been forgotten. He also struggled to understand my request to space out my appetizers and main course. Again, this felt less like a personal failing and more like a training issue. (Bonus point for effort: He searched high and low to find me a proper dinner napkin.)

Now, about the food: •   The salad? Straight out of a bag with one lonely cherry tomato and a heap of pickled onions. It tasted like it belonged on a footlong sandwich at Subway—not on my plate. Back to the kitchen it went, though to their credit, it was removed from my bill. •   My Coke (or Pepsi?) had gone mysteriously flat, making my Jack and Coke more Jack than joy. •   The French Onion Soup? Surprisingly decent! Hot, cheesy, and satisfying, though the use of packaged croutons instead of bread was an odd shortcut that didn’t go unnoticed.

On a 5-star scale: •   Waiter: ** (Extra points for trying!) •   Restroom Smell Factor: * (Industrial air freshener doesn’t fool anyone.) •   Atmosphere: * (More winter wonderland than welcoming dining room.) •   Food: ** (One star for the soup, one for effort.) •   Drink: ** (Flat soda, but hey, the Jack was fine.)

At $21 (including tip) for a bowl of soup and a Jack and Coke, this was not a value-packed visit.

Here’s the bottom line: This restaurant feels like it’s lost its way. The staff seem busy but aimless, the food misses the mark on basics, and the atmosphere is far from inviting. If you’re in a pinch, it’ll do, but the area is full of better, locally owned spots that take pride in their food and service. Give one of them a try...

Went for Easter "brunch"....hadn't been in awhile but past experience was good with great food, so thought, let's give it a try. In the past we've ordered off menu, ordered 'carry out" and had the weekend brunch...food has always been great. First, son reserved a "table" (well in advance) as opposed to a booth due to my mobility issues.....went to seat us at a booth...had to wait to get "approval" to seat us at one of the 'reserved tables'. After seated, took quite awhile for waitress to come out and take drink orders....3 waters and 1 soft drink...brought 4 waters...after again asking for the soft drink, had obtained and ate a plate of food before it was delivered.....seemed she could only obtain one item at a time (i.e., had to make two trips to bring the soda and extra napkins). Not once during entire meal, did waitress ask anyone if they would like more water....came by table several times and looked at plates piled up but did not remove them...with 4 people at a table, doesn't take long to run out of room. Had she had multiple tables, would have been perfectly understandable, however, she did not, and we noticed the other tables were basically receiving the same poor service while she stood around and talked. Seemed to spend most of her time hiding out back where food was being prepared (but came out empty-handed). With a couple exceptions, buffet was breakfast items. Cold items were not cold. Only one of the many "hot" items was actually hot and the rest were just barely warm, with several being cold. ...including pans that were just brought out....food tasted good, but would have been so much better if actually hot. Being familiar with restaurant business (husband owned one), I am familiar with how difficult some days can be and tend to give the benefit of the doubt, but the service provided was the worst we have seen in years. $153 for four people I expect at least adequate service and food at appropriate...