Ollie's Restaurant — Restaurant in Edwardsville

It pains me to have to leave this negative review for a restaurant that I have used frequently for over 30 years.. But something has changed, and people have the right to know!

So, I order (or, used to, but no longer will) from Ollie's very frequently.. An average of 2 - 3 times a week, and even twice a day sometimes.. I used to dine in before the pandemic, but nowadays, I use delivery services.

Lately, there have been repeated problems with my orders.. Sometimes my calves liver would be burnt, or my medium rare steaks would arrive well done, or my bagel or rye toast not toasted, ect.. But I try to be understanding about such things.. Cooks can get very busy and sometimes things like this happen..

HOWEVER, the issue that is causing me to end my long-standing patronage is the LITTLEST and MOST RIDICULOUS THING that I COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED!

Ollie's started neglecting to follow the simplest requests for extra jelly for my bagels.. Which I found the need to start making because they started sending only one, or two at the most, of the little jellies that are always on the table for dine in customers for free..

They ignored my requests not just once or twice, but numerous times.. Sending only 1, or 2 at most.. And to make matters worse, THE ONE AND ONLY TIME that THEY DID FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS and sent 3 jellies, instead of the 1 or 2 that had become their norm, which was on September 2, 2023.. They CHARGED ME an EXTRA 99 CENTS FOR A CONDIMENT THAT IS FREE ON THE TABLE TO DINE IN CUSTOMERS! YES.. 99 CENTS FOR ONE EXTRA TEASPOON OF JELLY!

I finally called to complain on that occasion, but the manager was not there. Nor was he there the following day, when I called at the time I was told to call again.. But a very nice young lady saved the day and apologized profusely, understanding why I was upset.. And agreeing that I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED EXTRA FOR JELLY!

LITTLE DID I KNOW, until today, that IT WAS actually THE OWNER who was filling orders and CHARGING EXTRA for FREE CONDIMENTS! Here's how I found out..

Today, I put special instructions with my breakfast order and requested 4 jellies to go with my bagel and cream cheese.. It arrived with just 2.. So, I called.. Low and behold, the manager was actually there this time!

This wonderful paragon of good business practice REFUSED TO CORRECT THE EMPLOYEE that had ignored my request when filling my order. And IN ADDITION, told me that if I wanted my future orders done correctly, I would have to call the restaurant after placing every order to make sure my instructions were followed.. THEN HE HUNG UP ON ME! So, I called back and asked for the name and number of the owner.. And guess what?

THE OWNER HAPPENED TO BE THERE, and she got on the phone with me.. She told me that she was the one who had filled the order and she had made a mistake by not including the extra jellies.. BUT SHE SAID THAT IF SHE HAD, SHE WOULD HAVE CHARGED ME EXTRA FOR IT!

I blew up, realizing that it was likely her that had done that to me last month! I told her that I HAVE BEEN A REGULAR CUSTOMER FOR OVER 30 YEARS, and that I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT JELLY IS FREE ON THE TABLES for dine in customers..

She tried to back peddle on what she had just said about charging me extra for it, if she hadn't made a mistake.. And she did finally acknowledge my point that it was WRONG FOR THE MANAGER to handle it the way he did.. BUT TOO LATE!

I NOW KNOW WHO WAS SO PETTY LAST MONTH AND CHARGED ME SO MUCH EXTRA FOR 1 TEASPOON OF JELLY! Maybe, not surprisingly, business is down under the current management practices, and THEY NEED 99 CENTS MORE THAN THEY NEED A FAITHFUL CUSTOMER!

So, over the matter of a penny or two worth of jelly.. that is given for free at the tables, Ollie's just lost a very regular customer of over 30 years!!! IT'S THE PRINCIPAL OF THE MATTER!

BYE...

I usually don't write these reviews but I just had the worst dining experience of my life and hope to save someone else the hassle.

Sit down and our server walks up to us and asks in the rudest tone possible, "drinks"? We tell her what we want and she walks away without a word. Comes back, slams the drinks on the table and says in a huff that she has to come back with the orange juice we ordered, because that's our fault apparently. She comes back with the orange juice and asks in the most annoyed tone possible "are you ready to order?" We give her our order straight away because we don't want to inconvenience this woman anymore by, god forbid, taking a few minutes to order. She huffs off again and I notice there is no silverware on my side of the table. When she walks by I ask her for it, she huffs off again and comes back to slam it on the table. Gee, thanks. Eventually our food comes and she slams that down on the table too, doesn't say "enjoy" or anything, just "this is yours" and huffs off again.

While we're waiting for our food, one of our servers' "regulars" comes in and is seated directly behind us. She comes right over to them and proceeds to complain about the establishment, about how it's going downhill and how managers do nothing when people complain about their food. She went on to say that her "regulars" don't come in as much anymore and apologize to her about it, saying the food is just too bad anymore. Extremely unprofessional and not the kind of environment I want to be subjected to when I'm just trying to have a nice breakfast.

We finish our food and, naturally, wait an exorbitant amount of time for the check. When we ask our server for one last thing, a box for our food, we get more attitude and are asked rudely "what size?" She comes back and practically throws it in my fiances face.

We had started to come here regularly for breakfast and will not be back. The food is good for the price, but the amount of rudeness we were subjected to today for no reason was unacceptable. I've been treated nicer by complete strangers, let alone people who are being paid to be hospitable. I hope you sort your wait staff out before you lose any more...

We stroll in 45 minutes to close. I've besn a server, I know how frustrating it can be for the night to be ALMOST over then a new table comes in, but they insist it's okay. Didn't stop the employees from glaring at us the whole time, but what can you do. The whole time the employees felt very hostile, but u get how people can get tired.

Our server takes our drink order. I ask him for a certain drink, and a water. He says they don't have that anymore, so I ask him for a different drink, and a water. Drinks come out, no water. Okay, fine, everybody makes mistakes. He takes our order and at the end I ask him again for a water. I did eventually get my water. Food takes forever, finally comes out. It's not what I ordered. They take it back, tell me they'll get me the right thing. Okay, fine.

My mother's food ends up containing something she's very allergic to, so they offer her a different entree. That's nice of them. Though if the waiter had known it contained this, or it was indicated on the menu, we wouldn't have had the problem in the first place.

My replacement food comes. The entree is okay, but the side (fries) are undercooked. Very undercooked. Like some were raw, undercooked. And obvious rush job. My mithemot replacement entree comes, scalding hot, five minutes to close. Everyone else is already done with their meals. In fact, the other two people with us were done with their meals before my replacement had even come, much before my mother's.

All in all, a stressful experience to end an already stressful day. Three stars because the food was serviceable and they gave my mother her replacement entree for free, but only three stars due to the questionable quality of service.

In the end, we were out by ten past closing. We may have been out ten before closing, with dessert, if not for the errors. I understand the servers and kitchen staff had probably had a long day, but if you say you're open to a specific time, there's a reasonable expectation of a continued quality of service until that time.

I'm not saying don't eat here, I'm just say don't expect an amazing...