LongHorn Steakhouse — Restaurant in Gainesville

Several weeks ago I had a not so good experience at this restaurant with a server and took the problem up with the manager on duty that night. She was understanding and kind, and she comped me a meal for the future. Today I went back and had a good experience with a different server, who asked me what happened badly with my last visit. We had an ongoing discussion about it based upon his prompting me with a question about it. At no time did I mention the previous server's name, because I did not know what it was. So this was protective of their anonymity.

As I was exiting the restaurant, the young lady who I had complained about was up at the front of the restaurant shaking her head at me negatively. I looked at her quizzically, and she said, "I heard everything you said. I was your server last time." It was clear she was referring to my answers to the male server who had done such a good job and that she was unhappy with me and thought I had done something wrong. I responded by saying "and everything I said was true." Because it was.

I found this experience again to be disconcerting and disturbing. So I called the restaurant on the way home and spoke to Lydia, the service manager on duty. I explained what had happened. And I told her I thought the girl had an attitude problem. I mentioned that people who serve in her role take on the role of a servant. She interjected that the waitress was a "server" not a "servant." Quite frankly I was aghast that a service manager would correct a customer in this way, especially when both of those words basically come from the same root word. The only difference is the length of time and the ongoing nature of "servant" versus the brevity of server. I went silent in response as i realized that this service manager had the same bad attitude that the female server had.

As I sat silent, the service manager waited 2-3 seconds and then hung up on me. Again, I was startled and astonished at the attitude and actions.

I will not return to this Longhorn. There are attitude problems with the waitresses here and apparently they extend up into some of the management. (Not the original manager who handled things correctly.)

To Lydia , the service manager, I say, you need to re-look at your understanding of the two words. Server and Servant are so close that to make such a distinction and correct a customer who has had another bad experience with the same waitress when they call to complain is not good. You need to take a "do-better pill." And so does your waitress who originally waited on me.

When I go to a restaurant, I want a server who actually pays attention to me and my needs and sincerely tries to meet them and to resolve in good faith any issues that arise.

I can honestly say that at this Longhorn, that did not happen in my first visit. And ironically, Mo, my server today did a great job of patching up the damage the original server did.

But the original server's attitude (which reminded me of the immaturity of a high school gossipy girl) was not good. And it became evident today that it was really bad. If anything was said, it should have been from the original server an apology to me for the bad experience the last time.

In no case should that server have done or said what she did today. Because she lost them a customer in the process. And Lydia, the service manager, cemented the deal by her snippy attitude in correcting me about something that I was not wrong about and by hanging up on me.

I was ASKED by my server today to recount what went wrong last time. I had never intended to even mention it otherwise. So I merely answered the new server's question. No customer should be confronted by a clearly angry waitress for answering the questions of another server. It is completely inappropriate for this to have happened.

Be advised. There are issues with some of the wait staff at this restaurant. And with some of the...

One of the worst experiences Ive ever had eating at a Longhorn restaurant! The waiter took forever to come to my table after I sat down because he was too busy talking and laughing with customers at one table and walked over to another table and proceeded to talk with them for quite a while even after noticing that the hostess had sat me down. He walks by me and says "I'll be with you in a minute" and proceeded to walk into the back area. After a few moments he came to take my drink order which was a water with no lemon. I told him I was also ready to place my order as I always get the same dish when I visit other restaurants which was The Longhorn (Blue Rare), with Mashed Potatoes, and a Caesar Salad. I guess he missed the no lemon part and brought my water back with a lemon in it. After bringing out my food and ensuring my steak was cooked to my liking (mashed potatoes were cold enough a 2yr old could have ate them straight from the plate without mommy blowing on them), I never seen him again until I finished my meal but noticed while I was eating he took the time to mingle with all the other tables talking and laughing. The manager was also walking around and not once spoke after passing by my table twice looking me in the eye. After asking for my check, the waiter totally disappears for 12 minutes (even though Im sitting three tables down from their cash out register). Finally he brings my check and tells me to have a good day!

Again, the poorest service and quality of food I've ever gotten in any of the Longhorn restaurants Ive ever...

The food was not bad and the place had good atmosphere. But. the service was so terrible that is it the first time I have left a zero tip in a long time. We asked our waiter for some information about allergies, and he did not listen to the question but simply referred us to their allergen menu that we had already looked up online before we set foot in the place. The allergen menu does not have the answer to the question, "does the food have any spices such as capsaicin" - a pretty common allergy. The waiter basically knew nothing at all about the food they serve.

Our waiter eventually took our order, brought one alcoholic beverage, but then we never saw him again. Someone else brought our food, a 3rd different person checked on us after quite some time and our meal was done. We asked for a desert with yet another different waitress. Meanwhile, our original waiter was doing a bang up job serving a large group of people at another table. I suppose because the tip was expected to be better. I hope their tip was great enough to exceed the one we were going to leave, usually at least 20%. Oh, and this negative review.

To pay our check, after standing hovering near two servers ( I think maybe one was even the manager ) for several minutes I finally barged in and asked if we could pay so that we could leave. Only 2 people for dinner, 1.5 hours. One burger, one salad.

Steer clear. ...