Golden Bear Grill — Restaurant in Florida

My girlfriend and I were looking for breakfast to eat prior to our flight out of Fort Lauderdale early in the morning. As we waited to get seated, one of the servers spoke to us from across the resteraunt instead of approaching us and asked if we were a party of two. We said yes, and he pointed to a table without saying a word and continued doing what he was doing. Right away, horrible first impressions.

After we were seated, it took our server over 5 minutes to approach us and ask what we would like to drink. I asked for a breakfast mimosa, and denied my request and said that alcohol can't be served until lunch. That was not implied anywhere on the menu. So I asked for an orange juice and my girlfriend asked for a coffee and water. The waiter took over 10 minutes to deliver just the ice water in a plastic cup and my orange juice, still in the Minute Maid plastic bottle. Did not offer a cup for me to put it in. And I do understand that airport dining is more expensive, but I do find it absurd that my orange juice - still in the manufacturer's bottle - still costed me nearly $5. Least that could have been done was to put it in a cup.

After we were given our drinks, we attempted to place our order. We wanted to get items off the lunch menu, but our server told us that they are only doing breakfast at that time. Again, this was never implied on the menu or by our server until we were denied. The menu did say that breakfast was served until 10:30, but we thought that was the cut-off time for serving breakfast items. It was not indicated that lunch and breakfast menus could only be served at certain times. My girlfriend does not like eggs, and nearly everything on the breakfast menu included eggs. Very inconvenient! So she settled for 3 sausage patties and I had a breakfast platter. And the food was not great!

My toast was rock hard, almost had texture like a dried-up sponge. How do you mess up toast? Was it not stored correctly? How else is everything stored if that's the case? My eggs were not seasoned or tasted like it was mixed with much of anything, but still managed to be very wet. The sausage patties were barely passable. Not great, and a little harder to chew and cut than expected. The breakfast potatoes were also passable. Still no seasoning, very bland, but tasted alright for the most part.

Along with delivering our food, my girlfriend was given her coffee. The coffee was SCALDING hot, and was not drinkable until after we finished what we could of our meal. And after taking our first sip, we realized that the coffee was brewed horribly. I'm a man who prefers his coffee black, and this coffee desperately needed creamer and/or sugar to be palatable. It tasted very ground-y, and just awful. Hard to describe just how bland and unfiltered it tasted.

Aside from our personal experience, we noticed a lot of unprofessionalism in this resteraunt. Some people were given plastic silverware and some were given metal. Food was ready to be delivered in the pick-up shelf, but was left for a few minutes by the servers. Workers were loudly talking to each other from across the dining area. A lot of socializing between the workers was done as opposed to legitimate service or work.

On top of everything, we received our check and noticed an automatic 18% gratuity for the servers was tacked on to our bill. On top of all that, they had the audacity to ask for another additional tip when you sign the check. Service was horrible, our server did not once ask if everything was okay or if he could get anything else for us - only stopped by when needed - and the food was awful. If I could revoke the 18% gratuity, I would. The automatic gratuity ensures that the servers do not care about the quality of their service.

I will never visit one of these resteraunts again, and I implore everyone else...

Probably the rudest server I’ve ever encountered at any restaurant—and I truly wish that were hyperbole.

After we waited at the host stand for a few minutes, the server finally walked up and said, “Yes?”—not a greeting, not a welcome, just “Yes?” Honestly, we probably should’ve walked away right then.

She sat us at a visibly dirty table and walked away without a word. A minute later she returned, wiped it down silently, then walked off again. Eventually, she returned and handed us a single menu for the two of us to share and muttered, “Menu.”

When she came back, she asked flatly, “What do you want to drink?” I asked for an iced tea. She stared at me and said, “We don’t have that. It’s in a bottle if you want it.” (Note: it’s literally listed on the menu as iced tea.) I pivoted and asked for a Diet Coke—we each got one. They arrived warm, straight from the bottle.

Eventually, she brought ice in a solo cup and asked, “Anything from the kitchen?” My husband asked for a side of fries with ranch. Her reply? “Don’t have that. It’s either BBQ or honey mustard.” No polite tone, no explanation, just robotic indifference.

Meanwhile, three male staff were standing around—one aimlessly walking in and out, and one who finally started helping halfway through. The food, for what it’s worth, was fine.

She never checked on us after the food came. We had to flag her down for the check, which she responded to with a disinterested “Yeah” while continuing to walk past. The bill came with an 18% gratuity automatically included—for a table of two.

When we said “thank you” as she dropped it off, she didn’t make eye contact and just muttered, “Mmhmm.”

I assume the automatic gratuity explains why she couldn’t be bothered to offer even basic decency—no incentive to care when the tip’s guaranteed.

I wasn’t expecting gourmet—it’s a burger-and-fries spot at an airport. But I was expecting to be treated like a human being. Just...

The staff is unresponsive to your service needs . I have never been refused service as impolitely as this place. Empty seats. Staff is standing around without customers.they asked if I needed a table. I said yes I'm having coffee. Three people all at once, as they are sitting on their butts replied . No . You have to go somewhere else to get coffee. We cannot serve you unless you order a complete meal. I replied. I have been traveling for 20 hours. This is rude. And I said to them. You are rude. I have never seen this behaviour before. Incredibly the 3 were Latin. I live in a Latin country. And Latin culture is not like this. If I order a beer do I have to order a meal.? I think not. I read the reviews. Over all. People post negative reviews. They will not have the privilege of serving me . And the hard working waitress will not receive the fruit of my generosity. Jack... I hope you are reading this. It's an embarrassment to your name. This needs to change. You should stop pretending to be a haven for tired travelers. You certainly are not! After a while I decided to go back and speak to the staff. I spoke to a Latin waitress that was focused on me as they were refusing me service. She was clearly disturbed by what she witnessed. And Imdeatly came to greet me and offer me a seat. She apologized and offered me a seat and a coffee on the house. I graciously accepted. I tipped her 20 dollars and thanked her. They should make her the manager. They have forgotten that I don't have to spend my money there. Service is the art of humbly delivering at the highest level possible . Jacinta Alverez is the waitress that invited me back and apologized for the previous behaviour of the staff. Ask for her. She will treat you very good. Thank you Jacinta. Muchos...