The Cornbread Cafe — Restaurant in Elgin

My mom came home from work and asked were are we going for dinner? My reply after thinking about it I sad how about The Cornbread Cafe in Elgin. Her reply okay so we changed and drove to Elgin. We got there gave our name at the register and waited maybe 15 minutes if that give or take 5 minutes either way. The person that I guess was a waitress not to very cheery. No smile no welcome. So we sat down she got us silverware rolls and menus and took our drink order. A few minutes later another waitress came and took our order. My mother order the fried pork chops with a side of fried okra and a baked sweet potato. The waitress in formed her that they were out of baked sweet potatoes okay not a huge deal would have been nice to know that before she ordered but okay. I Self ordered country fried steak with a sausage, sawmill gravy with sage side of macaroni and cheese, and a side of succotash. We waited maybe 15-20 minutes our food came out. I noticed my mom‘s pork chops, which were there were too were actually boneless loin chops. And then I said, looked at my plate. My country freight steak look like a fried hamburger. So I cut into it and I cut and I cut and took a bite. It was tough. It was dry. It was well done the breading and the outside was almost burnt and it was tough as nails chew. My mother had tried her pork chops and was sorely disappointed because first of all there was no bone. Secondly, it was the loin chop, which is the center of the loin where pork chops come from, and it was tough and dry. The breading hadn’t really stuck on the pork chops. Mind you nobody during this whole time after we got our meals came back to ask how everything was because I would’ve sent mine back There was supposed to be cornbread served with them, which was not. So I ate my macaroni cheese, which was the dry baked macaroni and cheese that everyone loves down here suck was OK. Lima beans weren’t cooked enough. The corn wasn’t really cooked enough garlic salt and pepper, baked potato, baked potato, no sour cream, sour cream, just one pot of butter or fried okra fried okra. so I finished my two sides sheet one of her port half of her pork chop. We brought the other one home she half a baked potato. I don’t think the baked potato was cooked all the way through either she either okra. They finally brought us cornbread, which turned out to be hoe cakes which were fine would be nice if they were warm some kind of butter or honey butter or cinnamon butter would’ve been nice with them. the waitress came back and asked if we were done my mother took it to go container like I said I hit my sides, pushed the rest of my meal out which had my maybe half of it that I ate. It was left on the plate and I told the waitress it was dry, tough and overcooked. Her answer to that was I’m sorry and walked away. She brought back my mothers to go container. My mother went to the restroom. I went up to the register to pay my check. I told the woman at the register that it was dry, overcooked, and tough. She asked me how I ordered it and asked me how I ordered it except I ordered fried and asked me how I wanted to, you can’t do fried steak all they said was I’m sorry and gave me a $40 check They could’ve easily half-price that meal. I’ve been fine with that. I would’ve given him another shot. They could’ve brought the owner up. I would’ve been fine with that and I would explain to them. I’m not trying to, but since I was 17 years old, I have a culinary Green culinary arts and associates degree and baking and pastries. Not trying to my own horn but I think I know it a little bit about cooking never came up manager never came up. I tipped 15% and if they weren’t standing there, I would’ve tipped nothing and you know it may have only been a week or two that they were open, but Now there’s no excuse for that. I’m sorry. I go back again I know my mother won’t me. I don’t know. We’ll see. Needless to say just talk it up chalk it up to another bad experience at a restaurant in the Camden ,Lugoff...

It breaks my heart to write this review. We pass by the corn bread cafe every day to and from work and Tuesday was my birthday and I desperately wanted to try it for my celebration meal. They were closed and that’s ok so I waited until Saturday to pick up food. We got 4 different entrees. The etouffe, the bbq platter, the pork chop dinner, and the blue cheese salad. The pork chop dinner was ok. The blue cheese salad was also ok. The bbq platter was fine- the bbq its self was delicious. Where the problem lies… I was most excited for the etouffe. I had 2 bites and i immediately felt my stomach turn. The grits weren’t flavored well at all and they were very rubbery. My husband had 3 bites. My husband and I were up all night with nausea and vomiting and we know it came from the etouffe. This experience was heartbreaking because we always see the parking lot is full so we thought the food would be fabulous. Maybe it was an off day. Also. Idk why they call it the corn bread cafe when what we received was not cornbread at all. It was a...

We ordered hamburger steak, mac and cheese, and fried okra with a side of succotash to share. The food was fabulous but the service was not. 55 mins from drinks to getting our food. Hostess stood there staring at different things but NEVER scanned the room to see if anyone needed anything. The server was ok at best. She sure wasn't in a hurry. We watched a couple walk out because they had waited over 15 to have an issue resolved. We saw and heard it all and we do not blame them. We know they haven't been open very long and we do intend to give them another chance but they need a front staff that knows how to smile and has some personality. "Sit where ever you want' in a bland tone just doesn't work in a small town restaurant. I hate to imagine what it would have been like if...