Windy River Cafe — Restaurant in Fries

My wife and I went to the Windy River Cafe this year for our anniversary as we have done for three years because that was the restaurant we went to with our wedding party after our wedding by the river.

The food in the past has always been very good. Unfortunately this time, under new ownership, our meal was just simply terrible.

We both ordered the Smothered Chicken Plate, which the menu described as chicken smothered in mushrooms, pepper Jack cheese and grilled onions. We envisioned a beautiful thick juicy chicken breast with melted cheese running down the side with nicely browned slices of onion laying atop with thick sautéed mushrooms. As a side I ordered mashed potatoes and green beans and Texas Toast. My wife ordered the French fries and slaw as sides.

The food came out fast…maybe too fast. The chicken we were served appeared to have been two frozen chicken tenders before being warmed up in a microwave…not a nice freshly cooked thick chicken breast as we had envisioned. It was dry and tasteless. A cold, unmelted thin square of some sort of flavorless white cheese was laid on top followed by tiny unseasoned and definitely not grilled diced onions. The final thin layer appeared to be small canned mushrooms. We were both very disappointed.

The green beans were fine. The mashed potatoes were clearly unseasoned instant potatoes and were served cold and tasteless. The “Texas Toast” was a single piece of regular white bread that had been toasted and coated with lots of butter…not Texas Toast bread.

My wife’s french fries were not fresh or crispy but the slaw was very good.

As far as service went, we never saw the waitress again after we got our food. I had to flag down another waitress to ask her to warm up my potatoes and my wife’s cup of water went dry with no one checking on us.

So, there it is folks. A very disappointing experience. Sadly we’ll have to find a different restaurant for our anniversary...

Got the pork chops dinner with mashed potatoes, green beans and Texas toast. Worst meal we've had anywhere across the East. Pork chops were 2 pieces of shoe leather about 1/8-1/4", dry, and brown. Potatoes from box w brown gravy, cold, green beans hot but no flavor. Texas toast was about as thin as the pork chop, white bread pressed on a grill? Drive to Galax, save ur $ & don't eat here. The ladies bathrm...don't get me started, TP and towels not on rollers,...

Windy River Cafe Is awesome! Great food and service! Best beef tips I've had from anywhere! Wife loved the hamburger steak! Both very fresh also the mashed potatoes, pintos, and onion rings were very fresh! Absolutely amazing food! Debbie is the best waitress making you feel like you're at home! The beef tips are so good and tender you could eat without teeth!!! We will be back soon!!! Thanks for the amazing food! The pizzas are...