Perkins American Food Co. — Restaurant in Gainesville

First, this is not a review about the food quality, nor a complaint about interaction with the one employee with whom I had direct contact during this or any other visit. The food was fine, and the employee was too…

First the details of my check #722 Kitchen line 2, Cashier 14, Gst5, Sept. 29,2025, 10:11AM. 5 meals total

I came in to buy a number of meals for takeout from the over 55 menu and the regular menu, and ended up with 5 including one from the regular menu. When I walked in, I did notice and quick scan the ad announcing “Free Pie Monday”, but really did not think about it when placing my order. I paid for the order, even added a tip, and sat to wait. The young man who took my order came over once to let me know the status of my order, finally coming back with the completed order.

At that point, approximately 10:45, I recalled the Free Pie signage and asked him if 1 or more of my meals qualified for the pie since the sign made the offer known. He was unsure but thought the meal from the main menu clearly did. He asked another employee about it, and returned saying ALL 5 actually did qualify with the 55 & Over meals also included, but I would have to wait until 11:00 as a requirement if the offer. I found that a bit strange (and off-putting), but what’s another 15 minutes or so? I went over to the display and picked out 5 slices. He went back toward the kitchen, I assume to get whatever was needed to contain the pies…

He returned, saying, “My manager said you don’t get the pie because your order was before 11:00.” No, the manager did not decide to come out, just sent the young man back to deliver the policy statement.

That said, my decision to detail my experience is less about not getting pies as advertised in-store, than genuine concern that your staff is clearly untrained as to the specifics of a customer facing offer, boldly placed in-store specifically to drive customer awareness and loyalty. While I did not give your offer a lawyerly reading at first glance, nor return to it for a more thorough reading, I can imagine some hungry, and/or creatively aggressive lawyer seeing a McDonald’s Soft-serve Machine opportunity.

My greatest disappointment is having added a $5 tip to a carry out order in support of your staff in these financially challenging times. Only that young man, placed in uncomfortable position by no act of his own, deserves that $5. As for the invisible manager, shame for poor training and worse accountability… or is that a...

So on our way back from Kissimmee to home we stopped here for breakfast. Food was ok but nothing to write home about. 🥴 Perhaps because their main clients were senior citizens their food is cooked bland to peace people with multiple health issues (no shame on that).

Food: The wife had their breakfast special, 2 eggs (over medium), 2 strips of bacon and 2-3 pancakes, with water. The wife reported nothing exiting about her breakfast. (For the record, the wife is an excellent cook, if she says nothing is exciting, there was nothing else to say.)

My food: I had 2 cajun pork chops, asparagus and a house salad, with coffee and water. The salad was ok (feel really fresh), but the place had no real olive oil, therefore, I had to go with ranch (disappointing but just at the personal level) 🤣. The cajun pork chops lacked a kick 🥊, and the asparagus was overcooked. Very disappointing. Makes me wonder if the kitchen personnel ever eat what they prepare. For these reasons, I gave them 2 stars in the food category.

Service: We got served by a young lady. It is difficult to find experienced people these days. I asked two questions about their menu and she did not know so she had to go and ask other people. The waitresses kept checking on us. So I gave them 4 stars in this area because of her hard work.

Atmosphere: Nothing wrong with the location, free parking (a plus) but there was some kind of assembly or restoration going on there or next door, while we were onsite- somebody was hammering constantly (not a good atmosphere for business) Restrooms and the whole place were clean. Therefore, 2 stars in this area, for an overall of 3 stars.

For the record: We heard this place is also popular for their bakery items, but we did not try any products...

A very, very disappointing stop this morning. I used to come here years earlier for Eggs Benedict. Since I was in town with my wife, I decided to stop in.

Both of us ordered the Eggs Benedict with hash browns and a fruit bowl. The dish is supposed to be composed of eggs with a soft yoke and Canadian Bacon on an English muffin with hollandaise sauce.

The chef burned one side of our ham, which had jagged edges, not consistent with round Canadian Bacon/ham. And it was well burnt.

The small fruit bowl consisted of cantaloupe, honeydew, and grapes. The cantaloupe was not ripe; hard, like an apple. I couldn't eat it. The honeydew and grapes were good.

The waitress, once our food was set down, never came back to see how we were doing or if we needed anything. Didn't see anyone again until the check was dropped off.

The final tab, with only a $5.00 tip, came to $43.76. Let's break this down a little for my wife and I: 4 eggs, 4 slices of whatever burnt ham it was, two English muffins, and hollandaise sauce. Two hash brown potatoes, two small fruit bowls with under ripe cantaloupe, one small apple juice, and one coffee.

I can buy a dozen eggs for around $3.00, a half gallon of apple juice for just over $2.00, a bag of hash brown potatoes for under $3.00, 6-8 English muffins for around $3.00, and so on.

This was a poorly prepared, over priced breakfast with poor table service. I absolutely will not be returning to this restaurant. I might be willing to forgive the burnt ham, under ripe fruit, and our service, but the pricing is outrageous and...