Metro Diner — Restaurant in Florida

New to the area, first time at this location. Fall was in the air, still haven't found "our spot" & we wanted atleast something consistent. Had pleasant experiences at locations back home in KY & Venice weeks prior. Today was not the day. Saturday brunch 10/21. Joined the waitlist online. 15-20 minute wait estimate. Parking is minimal. Expected because of time frame, but navigating & dodging others in the most random of shopping centers to put a busy chain restaurant (something I've seen a lot of down here) in a small retail space doesn't help the hangry setting in. Pass the patio area for outdoor seating, seems like tables are opening, people are standing in the doorway, and no one greets/acknowledges until you have to push through the chaos to hunt for the host stand. Slew of people on a bench waiting in front of carry out counter and apparently all of the local softball leagues decided this was homeplate. Finally get to the hostess with her tablet & as she fumbles with our check in, I ask for first available (outside was clearing up) informing us that it would be another 15 min wait and we'd receive a text. What's the point of online waitlists? Have been in service industry for many years, & recommend most to try at least once, so I'm not being a Karen.

We wait in the car. Text comes through. Again, faced with more chaos at the entrance & I finally make eye contact with a young man, showing my phone & assertively state that we're here for our table, just to get through the aimlessness surrounding.

Seated inside. A couple that walked in behind us are seated next to us in a booth for 8 are immediately greeted and coffee poured. 10 min until our server shows. We order our drinks & the same entrees just to avoid any more delay. She's (no name given) either new, in the weeds, or just no sense of urgency. If it wasn't for the lovely, fun & on-it, pink bandana lady, Sandy, who was helping the table next to us, we'd never get refills.

On top of it all, the communal basket of creamers is covered in syrup with used dripping cups & the windowsill & curtains are gross. I don't know if it was just a bad day/time, but I blame poor management. Only redemption was Sandy & food was decent. Couldn't...

I went to Metro Diner in Port Charlotte over the weekend because I needed lunch and happened to be passing by. I'd heard rave reviews about it since they opened last week, but honestly didn't care if I'd ever get there since I'm not really a "diner person." lol.

When we arrived, the place was busy enough to have a wait to be seated and it was really loud in there. All of that made me initially regret going there, but we stayed because my family needed to eat. I'm glad we stayed because the hostess, our server, the manager, and everyone else we saw buzzing around was friendly and welcoming. We ordered a couple fish & chips- one with a side of mashed potatoes and veggies. The fish and tarter sauce were delicious! Possibly the most flavorful I'd ever had. The fries, mashed potatoes, and veggies were all flavorful, as well. We opted to pack up some of our lunch and share a waffle for dessert because, well, WAFFLES! And we were just as pleased with that treat.

But more than that, we were amazed at how hard EVERYONE was working at Metro Diner, Port Charlotte. E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E. The kitchen staff was working like a well-oiled machine; the manager was involved in all areas of the restaurant to ensure its success; servers were running food for other tables to make sure patrons got their orders while hot and in a timely manner; and the head of the kitchen somehow managed to keep calm while juggling the insane lunch rush with kitchen/food orders for the following week. I used to work in a restaurant so I know how challenging that environment can be, but to do all of the "behind the scenes stuff" in an open kitchen for all patrons to watch brings it to a whole new level. I was seriously impressed with how well they worked together and how the whole place was run (especially for a restaurant that's only been open for 1 week!!). They should all be very proud of their hard work and I wish them tremendous success!

*Note: All pictures are of half-eaten entrees. The portions are...

I want you to know my experience at this location and why I would never ever recommend anyone to go here. Earlier today (4/22) at around 1pm, I ordered a DoorDash at this location for an order over $50. Now this has nothing to do with the dasher but all to do with the employees. My poor dasher was waiting over 30 minutes for my order communicating with me the entire time. She then told me they have been ignoring her and that she saw my order with my name sitting there. I then called the store and asked what was taking so long and the lady over the phone proceeded to argue with me and tell me my dasher hadn’t been waiting there for that long even though I have an app that tracks how long she had been there. She said she would get it together and then hung up on me rudely. My dasher then said that the employees were all laughing at me and talking about it with everyone and then called the door dasher an idiot. Apparently it was the kitchen manager who had came out and said that to her. They had all the employees gang up on her and make fun of her all whilst my paid for food was sitting on there counter. This location is completely run by children and it’s embarrassing how they acted. When DoorDash called them to confirm the incident they lied and said they gave my dasher my order. I just wanted my food and instead of thinking of me they took my money out on the dasher they had an issue with. I’m a manager at the a local fast food chain nearby and I am in disbelief you guys let your employees act like that. They think the dasher was embarrassing but unfortunately they look foolish themselves. I will never go here and will make sure this story is heard because nobody deserves this service. Absolutely awful metro...