Village Inn — Restaurant in Florida

I've been going to this VI since it opened years ago for breakfast plates so I've seen the progression of this location over the years. First thing I noticed upon arrival is that the staff now hangs out at a table in the back right next to the kitchen with no apparent management in the building. Why is this an issue? Because when I sat down I noticed the booth had trash, food and black mold in the space between the back cushion and the seat cushion. Looking down the other tables, this condition was the same along the track for the entire booths on my side which I could see. Then I looked up at the yellow-brown stained ceiling tiles, with what appeared to be black mold in every other ceiling tile. Several of the ceiling tiles were drooping down and just hanging on to the frame. The entire ceiling tile system needs to be replaced. When I ordered, the young female waitress was friendly and respectful but had no management to train her as she took my order. The coffee carafe came soaked in water and when I poured my cup of coffee, the first third of my coffee cup filled with water before coffee came out. The water on the carafe soaked my table with coffee water and the waitress left no napkins to clean up this mess. The utensil pack was moist and didn't have a napkin in it. Why was this damp? What is going on here? I should have had a small plate with the coffee for my spoon and napkins when I arrived. As I waited for a napkin and looked at the disgusting ceiling and trash in the booths I began to notice that I could not hear the music being played because the cooks in the kitchen were playing ghetto rap loudly on a radio and it was competing with the 80's music being played through the store speaker system. When I asked the waitress what was going on she said that "different parts of the restaurant are playing different music" and "there is an issue with the wifi system", an obvious fabrication. The cooks had their own radio and you could hear the ghetto rap coming from the back. This is the result when incompetent management is in charge. They were either not there or they did not care. I always request eggs with no runny whites. The plate arrived and the chicken fried steak covered all of the hash browns and half of the eggs. There was no side plate so how do we manage this plate of slop. The eggs were runny and had to be reordered and I needed a plate to pour off the excess (disgusting) white gravy. The small fruit bowl (4" diameter top) was $4.75 and filled with old once frozen fruit. The strawberries looked clear and the opposite of fresh. I don't see how this VI passed the health inspection. The food was disgusting. Ghetto rap is being blasted from the kitchen. The parking lot is almost always empty. This is what happens when effective management is not there. Someone should have been there to tell the employees to clean up the booths and tables and to turn off the music blasting from the kitchen. To wipe off the coffee carafes; to provide a small plate with coffee; to provide napkins with utensils; not to cover the entire plate with chicken friend steak; not to overcook the hash browns; how to cook eggs; to inspect the fruit so a $4.75 small bowl of fruit doesn't show up spoiled; and to inspect the ceiling for yellow stained tiles full of black mold. This is why. Sad that I will probably not go back after all...

I haven't been to this Village Inn in over a decade due to the lackluster food and rancid carpet. However, after the remodel and removal of said rancid carpet, I was pleasantly surprised that the location really kicked it up a notch! The food tasted great and everyone I interacted with were friendly and prompt in service. I was very happy to add Village Inn to my rotation.

Unfortunately, my last visit is going to stay my last visit. I have been getting the strawberries and cream crepes, which on the menu is as a combo. Right underneath the description is a note and price difference on getting just the two crepes al a carte. The prices are approximately $15 and $8.50. I know this specifically because I have ordered both at different times, and because I can read. My last visit, I had made a pick up order over the phone for the al a carte crepes and upon getting to the store was told the full combo price. I figured even though I specified and confirmed the al a carte crepes, that maybe they just thought I wanted the combo, and decided to just go ahead and take the order since it was already made.

Very annoyingly, however, once I got into the bag it was indeed only the crepes. And looking at the receipt, they had put in the combo but took everything else off, which does not lower the price. No hash, no meat, no drink, $15. I had already planned on going for breakfast the next day, so I held onto the proof of the receipt and went in the next day. There, I told my server about the issue and handed her the receipt (she was very nice!) and she went in the back to speak with a manager. Now, I had ordered the V.I.B. combo, and on that you can add extra items for a $2 upcharge. I had ordered one extra crepe. This is where I decided never to go back: my lovely waitress came back to my table with the news that the manager decided to give me that one $2 crepe for free. If my math is correct, the difference between al a carte crepes and the combo is roughly $6. So not only was that frustrating and ridiculous that I didn't get the difference refunded or at least more off my meal, I did pay extra for less food, but from the sound of the way my waitress was talking about it, it sounded like the manager didn't even want to give me the $2. The manager also did not even once come by my table, which I found unprofessional since it was no fault of my own and that I was way overcharged.

The entire experience was just frustrating and insulting, especially since I had been nothing but friendly and polite. And sure, it may only be a $6 difference, but it was the fact that I was blatantly overcharged for way less food and that the prices are right there on the menu. There is an option to get only crepes, not to spend full price on a combo and not get the entire combo. And the way the manager handled it was rude and unprofessional: mistakes happen and maybe the person who had taken my order over the phone did not know. That is ok! But I shouldn't be treated like a nuisance because I want the difference. I will...

My wife and I arrived ahead of our party and told the reception we had a party of five. We were led a spot with two, two-person tables, a bench on one side of them, and two chairs. The receptionist left us five menus - so I am sure she heard us. The waitress was able to accommodate us when I mentioned the problem - she had to clean up the table next to us from which another couple just left. Shifting tables around, we were able to accommodate us - and three friends that unexpectedly join our party. That is the reason I'd give this a one-star review even if zero was an option.

Service was otherwise poor, and food was poorly prepared

One party member ordered eggs, over-easy - they were clearly over-hard when delivered to the table. We had to ask for them to be sent back and remade.

While serving another party member, the waitress commented on how the dish looked disheveled, as if made wrong in the kitchen. She did not offer to address the problem.

Another party member's meal was overloaded with butter. Think cheesy grits, like your teenager might want it. Now imagine that cheese being butter. Both the French Toast and the grits were overloaded with butter to the point of ruining the flavor. Grits left untouched except for the smallest taste - is a sign of a problem most of the time.

Another party member was surprised that his biscuits and gravy dish came with sausage. Although he ordered it at the same time as he ordered the 'Biscuits & Gravy'. He would not have ordered the sausage had he simply been asked, 'Would you like them in addition to the ones that come with the biscuits and gravy?' Sadly, he did not ask for 'extra gravy' - what little there was had been served 'on it' and thus not accommodating differing tastes in quantity.

While drink orders were initially taken, no offer to also bring water was made - and to get refills required being boisterous to get the attention of the waitress. There was never a check back to ask if we wanted a refill.

At no point throughout the meal was there any inquiry as to our satisfaction. It's possible the place was busy before we arrived, but I counted three empty tables in the immediate area when we arrived.

One of our parties took a trip the restroom. Having heard his report of it, at least wo of us avoided the experience. My suggestion is - if you are hungry and stop here - use the restroom first. You may save money if your...