Laycoff's Tavern — Restaurant in Fort Wayne

I had the strangest experience here. I’ve loved going to Laycoff’s the other times I’ve been, but I guess we went to the Twilight Zone version tonight. The food here is usually great, but god forbid you happen to have an issue with your food. You’ll be met with awkward defensiveness.

The issue we had was relating to their sauced wings. We’ve always got the naked wings in the past, which are delicious, but someone in my party got sauced wings this time and was presented with burnt wings - the things had scorch marks all over ‘em. Naturally, it wasn’t very appetizing and was definitely not expected. The other members in our party had perfectly cook naked wings. So, we get the attention of a woman who was running out food and such to explain that my friend really couldn’t eat them because they tasted burnt. Her response was that the wings are just cooked like that. They’re supposed to be burnt and that she could get the kitchen to put more sauce on them. Now, maybe it’s just me but that struck me as a cuckoo land response. Sauce won’t fix burnt. People aren’t gonna eat burnt mashed potatoes if you put some gravy on ‘em and my friend doesn’t want burnt wings - but wetter.

Here’s the thing - I’m your standard fare bleeding heart millennial. I’d rather eat those burnt wings than disrespect a service worker. So, I try to ask why the other wings we ordered weren’t burnt and why her response to this complaint was to just add sauce, but was met with bristly defensiveness, which confused and flustered me. So, I try to rephrase and she throws up even more defensiveness. I’m confused, so I explain that I’m not trying to be aggressive or anything, and she turns her back and says I am being so while walking off. I really am pretty mild mannered. I just don’t get it at all. Like, how is that the response?

Next comes what I’m assuming is the owner or manager. Again, no apology or anything approaching decent service. He’s defensive too. They’re “known for” their burnt wings. They can put some sauce on them, etc. Again, I find myself trying to explain the obvious which is we did not expect that, had no reason to expect burnt food, and that sauce won’t fix burnt. At his obvious exasperation point, he finally agreed to give my friend new non burnt wings. It was just so so so strange having to pull what’s pretty common/standard out of him. And, while I don’t normally expect this, I feel the hostility we were met with should have resulted in those wings being comped - which of course they weren’t.

Needless to say, I will not...

If we dine out when back home in Fort Wayne, from Indianapolis, Laycoff's is our first choice as the best place for a SAUSAGE ROLL fix or other pub-style comfort foods.

I've never found sausage rolls (at least nothing quite like the Fort Wayne-style roll) on a menu outside of a 30-mile radius of Fort Wayne. When I was at IU Bloomington in the early 80s, I inquired about them at (and described them to) several of the popular pizza joints in Bloomington; and have checked menus for them at lots of places (that would likely have them if they knew what they were) across the country; but have never found them anywhere outside NE Indiana.

Sausage rolls may be what Laycoff's is best known for, but it's not the only reason we like the place. Their pizzas, tenderloin sandwich, burgers, fries and onion rings are really good, too.

Beer selection is a little limited, but they seem to keep a small variety of decent bottled craft beers to supplement limited draft choices.

It's a family owned place that hasn't changed much in the past 40 or 50 years or so. It's an old but clean, well-maintained, simple, friendly, good-food-and-drink neighborhood-style tavern/sports bar with a family dining area.

The interior and exterior have been updated & well-maintained while preserving the mid-century neighborhood bar-'n-grill atmosphere.

Regular longstanding staff / owners are friendly and provide good customer service. Occasionally we've experienced not-so-great service from servers who don't seem to be regulars; but most of the time it's good.

It's a friendly bar/pub/tavern so don't go in expecting fine-dining type of attention, service, and atmosphere – relax and enjoy the place, its good food, cold drinks, and welcoming personality...

Today way busy and I understand there's a lot of things to juggle on busy days.

But the service here was just baffling tonight. We sat down to get some pizza and wings and we were promptly served our drinks which was great. It took quite a while for someone to take our food order which is also fine considering how busy it was.

What irked me is the how much of an inconvenience everyone made me feel like I was. They brought out food and instantly walked away so we had to ask for plates. When plates came there wasn't enough for the table so we had to ask for more plates. After the plates got here our server left immediately again while we were in the middle of asking for parmesean and red chili flakes.

Later in the night I went to the restroom and tried to politely stop a nearby server to let them know the paper towel dispenser wasn't dispensing towels so I had no way to dry my hands. I was immediately blown off yet again by the staff.

Needless to say I was pretty disappointed...