Miss Shirley's Cafe, BWI Airport — Restaurant in Ferndale

Ok, full disclosure, this is a review of ONLY their BWI location. I have been to their Inner Harbor location and it was a MUCH better experience. I will say that I had a 4 hour wait at BWI recently, so I decided to head over to Miss Shirley's because I had such a good experience at the Inner Harbor location and was bummed that I was not able to make it their on this last trip. After standing at the front desk, by the sign that said "please wait to be seated" for well over 5 minutes, I was finally greeted and informed there was at least a 45 minute wait. Not an issue, I had 4 hours to kill, I would return in about an hour. When I returned an hour later, again, at least a 5 minute wait to even be greeted or acknowledged, but I was then seated. My favorite thing on the menu is the stuffed french toast. I was excited to see it was on this menu and ready to order it. It took about another 5 to 10 minutes after I was seated to be attended to and have my order taken. After I ordered the stuffed french toast, I was informed they did not have any coconut and that it would be just regular french toast. I asked for the menu back to see what else I might want. After about another 5 minutes, the server made her way back to check on me, I asked for a recommendation and was told the biscuits and grits menu item, which was very quickly recanted as "Oh wait, we are also out of biscuits. Really, anything on the menu is good." I finally, reluctantly, decided to go back and just have the regular french toast. After what was easily close to 15 minutes later, my food came out via another server. My server seemed a bit wrapped up either talking to other servers or attending to 2 other tables. When I received my french toast, I was even more disappointed that there was not banana or strawberries on the plate as the menu says there would be and usually is. I did not even bother bringing this to the attention of the server as I feared I would hear "Oh yeah, we are out of that too." After I finished my french toast, it was easily another 15 to 20 minutes until anyone came to take my plate or even the server to see if I needed anything else. I asked for the check and it took anther 5 to 10 minutes just to bring me a device to pay the bill. Being a former server myself, I never tip anything less than 15%, but let me tell you, I was very tempted to leave much less as the service was terrible and the food was not even complete. Again, I did not bring any of this to their attention as it seemed I was not a concern to them and it didn't seem like they really cared much about anything. I will return to Miss Shirley's, but I doubt I will ever return the the BWI location after this...

Literally one of the worst experiences I have ever had in my life. Traveling through BWI with a group of four (three professional women ages between 42-70 plus a 13 year old young lady who is in military school) with a five hour layover. Found this place next to our gate, and decided to go in for a drink while one of our party needed to hop on a zoom call with her daughter's military school. The place was very empty, several people at the bar, but there was probably 20+ tables that were empty, with about 6 or so occupied. We indicated we were not eating but would like to enjoy a drink while the other one in our group sat a seat or two away (to hear and focus on her zoom call). We were told no problem. Our waitress (Christina) was very pleasant initially and continued to be chatty and friendly as she passed by our table. We ordered our drinks while the one fought the wi-fi issues and connectivity to her zoom call. The rest of us remained quiet at one table while she continued to attempt to participate on her call at a second table. When she was having no luck, she scooted to a different table near the window where she was having a little more luck connecting. Ten minutes or so into our $42 drinks, our waitress (Christina) did a 180, and started flipping out on us that we were taking up four tables and that was unacceptable. We remained calm (yet confused) and offered many suggestions to resolve this. We could not make sense of this as the restaurant WAS EMPTY. Christina aggressively threw our check at us and told us to leave immediately and that security had been called. We immediately paid the check via another rude employee (did not get her name) and did not leave a tip. Christina CONTINUED to harass and threaten us to leave and lie that security was coming. We stated we would happily leave if they would refund us for the drinks that we were not able to finish or enjoy, and they refused. So, we proceeded to try to finish the drinks and await Security's arrival. Twenty minutes later after calling her bluff, security arrived and was told that the staff had JUST called and told them we refused to pay the tab. He laughed and walked away at the ridiculousness of the situation. This was an absolutely awful experience and a horrible way to start...

Airport location. Stood and waited to be seated while 2 servers were just chatting it up, and yes, I was in the line of sight of the one who seated me. Burger was great. That's the end of the 1 star rating. The $14 Julep Collins was very watered down with 1 mint leaf. Had to ask for more of those. Menu said "shoestring fries" for $2 more ($21) to go with my burger. I asked for "shoestring fries" just as the menu listed. I get Wendy's-like fries. When the kitchen server brings them out (thought maybe he grabbed the wrong order), I asked, "Those are shoestring fries?" He replied (twice), "those are the fries we have." If you don't have what is on the menu and what the customer is asking for, you have an obligation to let the customer know before submitting the order (or before it lands on the table) because they are now getting something different. The tab came to $41.76 for the above fare (a little outrageous but was willing to overlook it). I gave her a $50 bill. I get back $8.00. I asked her where the $0.24 was. She counts back the three $1.00 bills and the $5.00 bill to me. I said yes, that's right with $0.24 too. Rolling of eyes, heavy sigh, and being dramatic asking a kitchen co-worker for $0.24 in front of me, she storms off and finally brings me $8.24 and then I was told to have a good night. Needless to say, she did not get a good tip (along with the $0.24 which was such a struggle for her to get me in the first place). Additionally, she did get a note from me explaining the reason and telling Sarah, "I work hard too" and am also a widow so I'm not wealthy. I'm sure the note will end up online somewhere but I don't care. I was returning from a funeral for a dear family member and did not need this issue as well. Another customer got up and left because not being helped for over 5 minutes was more than she wanted to tolerate. You're not the only restaurant in BWI. Having competition may give you the drive to do a good job. They just settle for...