Ruby Tuesday — Restaurant in East Ellijay

So after a long day on the road, we stopped here since I have not seen one of these in quite a while. They've been going out of business in the areas I frequent. But, it had a more modern sign than I had ever seen, so we stopped to get a bite before continuing our journey home.

We went in and were seated. I was pleased to see the salad bar, and we sat and got our menus. And its a much more modern menu, so again, I was encouraged. I got one of their new cheesesteaks, and got the salad bar added on.

Well, the salad bar was a mistake. I was so excited to see it, that I didnt do the fly-by first to check it out. Most of the lettuce was BROWN and dead, so I had very little on my plate. And it was just messy. Worst, it looked like someone had used the wrong scoop for about EVERY SINGLE dressing, and then put it back in the wrong place. ALL 12ish dressings were contaminated. I ended up with tomatoes, cucumbers, and egg as my salad, with some thousand island. Not worth the $6 addon.

Then my food came. The waitress had agreed that they could extra steam my broccoli, and it would come out tender. I had said ill just get a different side, but she said it would be fine. Well, it wasnt. But I couldnt tell her this because she has perfected that thing that servers do when they not coming to your table where they never even glance your way so they dont have to come over. My broccoli was definitely not extra steamed, and was REALLY crunchy. The only crunchy broccoli i want is raw with ranch, not on a plate next to a cheesesteak.

Oh, and lets talk about that cheesesteak. The meat was BURNED and CRUNCHY. I didnt even finish half of it, because when eating a cheesesteak it should not be CRUNCHY! It looks like they burned it, then smothered it in cheese so you couldnt tell.

So, when the waitress finally comes, she sees my whole plate, practically untouched, and just gives us the remote device to pay, and WALKS AWAY. So I pay, figuring she will come back, and I can tell her about the issues with my food. I was NOT looking for a discount, but that sort of food paints a bad picture for them and I thought I should say something to her, so some attention could be given in the right direction.

So, for time context here, she had just taken the order of a party of 6 seated a few tables away, and brought them their drinks when she dropped off the little pay gadget. We waited, and waited, and waited for her to come back. She vanished, she was gone. We didnt know if we were done, and were waiting for a receipt or something. The next time we saw her she was delivering the MEALS to the party of 6. IT was like 20+ mins later. She made like 4 trips to their table, bringing food, drink refills, extra napkins, the whole time using that "I refuse to look in that direction" skill.

Finally, I stand up and flag her down. She comes over, looks at my plate, and says "do you need a togo container?" and I said no, but I did have some problems with this id like to tell you about. At which point she PICKED UP THE PAY THING AND SAYS "THATS NICE, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT" and walked away from my daughter and I, leaving us both with open mouths. Made me wish I didnt leave her as good of a tip as i did.

There was no traditional "how was your meal", or "was that broccoli cooked alright"? Or anything. ITs like she KNEW our stuff was messed up, and didnt care. She left us sitting there waiting for a receipt or something (which she never did offer). We could have been on the road home 30 mins earlier if she had told us "use this to pay and then you can be on your way" or ANYTHING.

All of this being said, I wont be returning to this restaurant, even tho I will be in the...

I recently visited this restaurant for dinner with my husband and our two young kids, and I genuinely feel embarrassed for the staff. Coming from a hospitality background myself, I tend to have a lot of patience and understanding, but our experience was just… sad.

It was a busy night, and my husband called ahead to check on the wait time. The woman who answered said, “There’s no wait right now, but we’re filling up quickly.” Just two minutes later, we arrived — only to be told by the host that there would be a 20-minute wait. She kindly suggested we wait in the car since we had two small children and said she’d call when our table was ready.

30 minutes went by, and we still hadn’t received a call. My husband phoned again, and we could actually see the woman answering the call from the bar. He explained that we’d been waiting outside, and she responded (with a noticeably different tone), “Like I said before, there’s no wait right now.” Confused, my husband went inside, and the host immediately apologized, admitting she had forgotten about us. She sat us right away and started to take our drink order.

She was clearly sorry and trying to make us comfortable, which I appreciated. When I asked for an alcoholic drink, she said, “I’m 16, so I’d have to ask your server for that.” As a mom, a woman, and someone in hospitality, I wish she had phrased it differently — something like, “I’ll have your server take care of that for you,” rather than disclosing her age. It would protect her and sound more professional.

While taking our drink order, what I assume was the general manager came over and pulled her aside. It was quite clear something was upsetting him. He didn’t greet or acknowledge us at all — not even a quick “Excuse me.” When she returned, she brought two of our four drinks and said she’d be right back with juice for the kids. She never came back.

Our server eventually arrived and apologized, explaining that things were chaotic and that the general manager tends to become difficult when the restaurant gets busy — a huge red flag. She took our order but seemed frazzled, asking the same questions multiple times and instructing me to grab grapes for my kids from the salad bar myself. Moments later, we saw her walk past us in tears toward the restroom. That’s when my husband and I decided to leave.

I want to be clear — this review isn’t to criticize the host or the server. They were clearly trying their best in a stressful environment but need more training and support. The real issue lies in management.

To the general manager: your restaurant needs help. It needs cleaning — especially the salad bar, which is the first thing guests see when they walk in. There’s no reason the glass should have a layer of dust and fingerprints. More importantly, as a leader, your team reflects your energy. When you’re stressed, they become overwhelmed — and that’s exactly what we witnessed.

Your staff needs guidance, encouragement, and a calm presence to follow. Eye contact and a simple acknowledgment go a long way. Even if you need to pull a team member aside, take a moment to thank your guests for being there. I understand how demanding a busy service can be, but leadership shows most when things get hard. Please, do better, for your team and and...

From the moment you walk into Ruby Tuesday in Ellijay, you can tell this place wants you to have a good time—great food, friendly faces, and a warm atmosphere. I’ve eaten here a few times now, and every visit confirms that it’s one of the more dependable spots in town.

What’s great:

The food is what you expect and want from a place like this. Their burgers are delectable, the Hickory Bourbon Chicken/Salmon is flavorful without being overwhelming, and the endless salad bar is a standout that never disappoints. Fresh, varied, and clean—lots of choices, well maintained.

Ambience & value hit a good balance. It’s casual, welcoming, and not overpriced. Whether you’re stopping in with family, friends, or solo, it’s comfortable and accessible.

Attention to customer needs generally is very good. Wait times aren’t bad, the staff is attentive, and you feel like they genuinely care that your order is correct and that you’ve got what you need.

Harmony — the star of the show

I want to put a special spotlight on Harmony, one of their servers. Her service elevates the entire experience. Here are a few things that really stood out:

Attentiveness without being intrusive — Harmony checks in just the right amount, noticing when drinks need refilling, making sure everyone at the table is OK. She doesn’t hover, but you always feel taken care of.

Grace under pressure — On one visit, there was another table nearby acting difficult, and still, Harmony handled her own—poised, polite, professional. She made sure our table wasn't impacted, smoothly managed everything, and maintained a calm, welcoming presence.

Warmth and friendliness — You can tell she’s not just going through the motions. She listens, responds with a smile, engages, and seems sincerely happy to help. It makes the difference between “just okay dinner out” and “that was a good night.”

Detail-oriented — Little things: remembering to bring extra napkins, making sure any mix-ups are corrected immediately, offering suggestions, making sure our kids had what they needed. She really tunes into what makes a dining experience nicer.

Could anything be better?

Sometimes the salad bar gets sparse during busy times; refills can lag.

A few dishes are hit-or-miss depending on timing (as with many places), but never so bad that I regret coming.

Maybe boost staffing on peak evenings so that servers (like Harmony!) can be less stretched.

Final verdict:

Ruby Tuesday in Ellijay is a solid choice, especially if you want a relaxed meal with good food and attentive service. And if you are lucky enough to be served by Harmony, that alone may tip the scale—her professionalism, kindness, and attentiveness make a big difference. I’ll keep returning—mostly in hope of getting...