Waffle House — Restaurant in Forrest City

So upon originally entering, we really didn't think we'd enjoy having our dinner here...

We waited for a decent amount of time before being told that we had to sign in to be seated. Wasn't sure WHY, we were the only group (4 of us) that WASN'T seated at that time!?!

After "signing up" to be seated, there was a lady who told us it would be a minute until she cleaned a table for us, which she did.

We sat for a moment before someone came to direct us to our table. We were still pretty frustrated at this point because we had been to 3 places prior trying to actually find a place that wasn't SUPER SLOW as we had just finished a long drive and checking into a hotel and just wanted a meal.

Our server/ waitress (Laila) came to the table, provided menus, chatted with us for a moment, then took our drink order - her attitude/ demeanor changed our moods IMMEDIATELY! She was very lighthearted, upbeat, friendly, courteous, helpful, and patient!

She came back with our drinks, gave us another few minutes to figure out what we wanted, then kindly took our order. While waiting for our food, we immediately talked about how sweet she was!

When our food came, she served it to us, and then asked if there was anything else that we needed. Jokingly (but seriously) we told her, "utensils to eat with". She apologized, then proceeded to gather silverware for us all. She tried to set the table properly with the silverware (forks, spoons, knives, etc), and I told her there was no need to do so since we were just going to eat with it immediately anyway. She also attempted to give us each utensil, but couldnt find enough spoons for us all right away. She again apologized, and I told her that we didn't need the spoons for anything anyway, so she didn't need to worry about them and we were fine without them.

She sincerely seemed to be trying to make sure that we were very well taken care of and I feel that she went ABOVE AND BEYOND to accommodate us and give us everything we needed to enjoy our meal!

I can honestly say that Laila made our experience an amazing one to remember! I truly hope that SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE (who actually makes a difference) reads this review and gives this girl the credit she deserves. She is HONESTLY the reason why our experience at this location was so terrific.

The food here was really good, tasted great, and I would HIGHLY recommend stopping here for a meal if you're in the area!

Thank you, Laila, for taking the time to make myself and my family feel welcome! You have a warm personality, were very sweet and kind - even though you didn't have to be. You offered EXCEPTIONAL service and hospitality unlike any I'd received previously and you turned our long, hard day into an enjoyable one. Thanks so much for serving us with a smile - for that i am...

Service is fantastic. Food is reliable yet customizable. Soda mix is strong, bacon isnt too hard. Cinnamon toast is life.

ATTENTION Lost Star Edit Oct 3rd, 2021

Quiet fiasco.

Ordered Hasbrowns, Onion Ham Mushroom 4 eggs over well Large order bacon Raisin Toast

I GOT

Hasbrowns with jalapeños in place of mushrooms 3 eggs over medium Regular order of bacon White bread toast

I then received the proper hasbrown order, despite explicitly asserting I didn't want it ND was fine, and eventually got raison toast. Dry. Raisin toast.

I had to request a drink refill in a to go cup, which was promptly forgotten during the drama of the second wrong carry out, wherein no one could find the ticket for a refund because the waitress who had taken the order was gone with a personal matter.

The waitress had gotten a bit snippy with the cook right in front of me, asserting she said it right and he didn't hear.

I then ate my meal, and in 30 minutes, 2 of the next 3 orders they filled were so wrong people came back for a refund. The latter a case of only 1 person on duty knowing how to make sweet tea, the former a matter of 15 minutes after the order was taken in a building with 3 customers in it, the meal had yet to even be started, and said refund was requested. They had so much trouble finding the receipt I eventually stopped eating to help them look, picking up a pair of them in front me, asking "Is one of these it?" Only to have the same waitress as before stare at both bewildered, and ask ME "Which ones yours?" rubs eyes

Addendum: Phone went unanswered at least 5 times.

Again, never more than 3 customers inside at once.

Took me all I had to not answer it myself. Would have been a bit easier to bear if everyone who wasn't busy but the cook didn't make DIRECT eye contact with the phone while ringing, only to then proceed to actively ignore it.

Now. Having said that.

The hash and bacon were perfectly cooked, and it's to the cooks further credit (whoever was on duty between 4:30 and 5:30 on October 3rd) that not only did he not rise to the berating the waitress tried giving him, but remembered on his OWN that I had ordered raisin toast, and provided that to me on his own initative.

I get it. I've worked food service for over 3 years.

So. Worst experince by far in 20 years of religious waffle house eating, but at least it did give an employee a chance to shine in the face of adversity, which the cook very much did. He deserves credit, raises, and promotions. He is an employee I would be willing to try out as at least a shift manager, if not more.

Also learned jalapeños on Hasbrowns aren't half bad.

Maybe just a new crew. Proceed with mild caution, or a confidence confidence can enjoy the unexpected...

Do not go to this waffle house. I recently walked out after the 3rd time trying to work with them because I have always liked waffle house. The manager created such a scene when a couple was sat in front of us, so we decided to sit at one of the 5 dirty tables and the manager screamed at my 83 year old dad and 15 year old son so I chimed in and the manager did the worst conceivable job you could imagine. I looked him up and he went to a Baptist College, so I invited him to Bible study only for him to speak very poorly of my beliefs and be extremely rude and condescending, so we decided to walk out, as we had to be the bigger person.

I went back to have a waitress tell me she wasn't going to wait on us. She said she had a bad day and when I asked to speak to someone for service I watched two families come and eat before I talked to someone that told me to log my complaint online. I tried this to no avail. The simple solution for waffle house is to reinstitute a phone number again for complaints. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. Right now all you can do is go to their Facebook and send them a message to complainants and all that happens is their AI tells you vague and basic comments without addressing one bit of the problems I had with their establishment.

I went again Tuesday with my wife and father and after being ignored for a while my father asked for some service, as there were 5 people standing around. The girl that came to our table didn't clean, so we did, didn't wipe, so we asked her to, and she came over like a spoiled brat that didn't get her way and wiped with her eyes closed in slow motion less than 10% of the table. My now 84 year old father asked for the towel so he could wipe and she threw it at him.

We then left for the final time. As a matter of fact I'm so upset I will do all in my power to get the waffle house in Forrest city Arkansas closed for good and will be the biggest thorn in their side until someone from corporate gets back to me with a sincere apology and some common courtesy by their manager and employees to our elders, children, and customers who are paying for a service and food, but to be ignored, screamed at, and items thrown at us for doing nothing more than asking for service and food is...