Bob Evans — Restaurant in Florida

Twice in one week we tried the Bob Evans in Vero Beach. The first time was breakfast for me and 3 out of town visitors. We arrived around 10am, the place was not crowded and we were seated quickly, the waitress took our drink menu right away and our drinks were delivered quickly. We did have to wait 10 minutes for our order to be taken but we had to wait 20-25 minutes for our food....Except my order, my guests received their food but the waitress said my eggs looked overcooked to her so she had the kitchen remake the order, if that was the case, I didn't believe that but, ok. When my order came out, it was brought by a different waitress, the over medium eggs were too runny but we had places to be so I ate what I could. We never saw our waitress again until she brought the check, we all ran out of the ONE drink we got when we arrived. No refills, no checking in with us, it was not a good experience. The 2nd visit was curbside, my wife still does not visit restaurants due to COVID but we were craving Bob Evans. My wife ordered curbside, arrived one minute before the order was to be ready, called...No answer, called again, same. Called a 3rd time and the guy that answered put her on hold for 10 minutes to check the status, he never returned. She went inside, which defeats the social distancing and curbside pickup purpose. She saw our order sitting on the counter, it was cold. The breaded country fried steak was sitting on top of the green beans getting soggy. She asked for different containers to separate the food and they were brought by someone, she asked for the manager and was told by the person, I am the manager. The manager watcher her repackage our food and did not once offer to remake anything or any other solutions. Terrible customer service, terrible food, terrible manager and two bad experiences. Needless to say, we will NEVER go back to the Vero Beach Bob Evans. One star is too...

This location never seems to be on it's game anymore. It was 5 stars and now I only gave it 2 because the food tasted good! (Even though it took 40 minutes to get it!) We used to go there at least once a week, but hadn't been there for over 3 months since the service is horrible and this visit was no better... and not busy at all! We were seated fairly quickly, but then we waiting over 10 minutes for a server, she took our beverage and food order. 10 minutes later, our salads arrived...no beverages & no bread. We got our drinks 5 minutes later. I had to ask again for rolls. When I flagged down our server, she came right over and asked, "did you need anything else?" and was handing us the check. Seriously??? We were half way through our salads and still waiting for the entrees! Needless to say, if you have 2 hours, but all means, stop here for a quick dinner! Update 2/3/19: I can't believe it... it's even worse now. How sad! Only 4 tables dining, 8 guests, 3 servers and still 15 minutes to get a beverage ordered. The waitress forgot our salads, brought out entrees 15 minutes after ordered and then insisted we take our salads (extra charge for those BTW) home for AFTER DINNER??? Yeah...no Thanks! Then after arguing with us about that, insisting the kitchen made that mistake. Ummm... then why did I have to interrupt YOU making the salads another 5 minutes after YOU served our food to tell you to cancel them?? P.S. Pot Roast is 80% fat with a few strings of meat now. It used to be the other way around. They must have changed suppliers. Too bad! It was my go to dinner for the last 20 years of going there. I'll give it a year this time and see if it's gotten...

Dining at Bob Evans left me with a clear understanding of why opinions on this establishment are divided. While the chain carries a reputation for comfort dining, this particular visit revealed a space that felt more tired than welcoming. The servers, though functional, lacked energy and engagement, leaving the atmosphere flat and uninviting. There is a noticeable absence of warmth—both in service and in ambience—that makes the restaurant feel more like a stopover than a destination.

The food itself reflects the same sentiment. Plates arrive adequately prepared but uninspired, missing the seasoning and passion that transform simple dishes into memorable ones. Rather than the hearty flavors one expects from a country-style kitchen, the execution felt perfunctory, as if the love for cooking had slipped away.

To its credit, Bob Evans does offer practical conveniences: plentiful parking, ample seating, a children’s menu, vegan options, and full handicap accessibility. The dining room remains relatively quiet, which may appeal to guests seeking a subdued experience without noisy distractions.

Still, potential lingers here. With more enthusiasm in the service, livelier ambience, and renewed care in the kitchen, Bob Evans could rediscover its spark. For now, it stands as a restaurant that delivers the basics but falls short of creating a meal worth...