Lakeside Grill — Restaurant in Galloway Township

Another one star review for Lakeside Grill. My 96-year-old mother and I travel 25 minutes to eat at Lakeside Grill in Smithville every week. We eat on various days and infrequent times so virtually all of the staff knows us to some degree. With the exception of James, as I struggle to bring her wheelchair into the small cafe none of the staff ever help hold the door open even when we are the only customers that morning. I would struggle with one hand pushing open the door and the other pulling the wheelchair while they watched.

Today, September 4, 2024, for the first time she ordered crab cake benedict which at $16.99 is probably the most expensive breakfast item. The crab cake was so overcooked that it was crunchy. Of the two eggs she took a bite or two of one or about 25% of the entire meal. The other egg was untouched. She politely explained to the waitress that it "just didn't taste right" (she's had eggs benedict before) and asked for an order of chicken tenders in its place. This is her usual fare.

When the check arrived, we were charged full price for everything: $49.80 for two people. This didn't set well with us. When she complained to the unsympathetic waitress she was basically told, "Well, you ate half of it." After several minutes she was offered 20% off the entire meal or $9.96. She wasn't pleased because most restaurants would give a full refund if you're not satisfied. Another waitress, who seemed to have more seniority, offered to call the owner. After waiting several more minutes, she returned again (lying) that my mother ate "half the meal", and the best the owner could do was offer 50% off the crab cake benedict or now a lower $8.50 refund.

Already disgusted, rather than finish her meal my mother put her food in a to go box, and we left a cash tip on the table and left. The restaurant was getting busy, and a customer helped us with the door. After all of this the waitresses couldn't provide a little additional customer service and hold the door open for us.

Needless to say, Lakeside Grill lost a steady customer who frequently...

I brought my PTSD psychiatric & medical assistance service dog. The staff was extremely rude, embarrassed me in front of all of the entire filled restaurant of customers. They denied me access to let my service dog and me in their restaurant. Originally I was told to just go sit down at their booth where my dog fully trained and laid underneath the booth table at my feet (as he is trained to do). He was out of the way of the entire restaurant since he was directly underneath my table. The wait staff girls were yelling at me to leave. They told the owner doesn’t allow dogs in their restaurant and the owner / manager refused to come out and speak to me. Apprently the owners / managers of the restaurant said they will Not allow me to eat there. They kicked me out of the restaurant because I had a SERVICE DOG. It’s absolutely appalling and discriminating against someone who has invisible disabilities. They refused to serve me because of my service dog and my disability. I’ was discriminated against. They embarrassed me and was extremely hostile with me since I walked in to eat lunch. I have gone to speak with the actual owners of that section in Smithville who are the Fitzgeralds. I would like to know why I was denied and discriminated against for my disabilities. This is absolutely disgusting and unacceptable behavior for someone who served their time. Do not go to this restaurant. They are disgrace to human decency. I hope the actual owners of Smithville make this right. My voice will not...

What I witnessed today was absolutely unacceptable. I was at a restaurant in Smithville when I saw a customer being discriminated against simply for having a service dog. The individual had a fully trained medical and psychiatric assistance dog, clearly there to help manage a disability. The dog was calm, quiet, and laying completely out of the way under the table—as service dogs are trained to do.

Despite this, the staff began speaking to the customer in a rude and aggressive tone. They caused a scene in front of everyone, insisting the person leave because “dogs aren’t allowed.” The customer politely explained it was a service animal, but the staff didn’t want to hear it. They said the owner wouldn’t allow it, and refused to even come out and speak directly.

I watched this person, already trying to keep to themselves, be humiliated and kicked out for simply needing medical support. It was discrimination—plain and simple—against someone living with an invisible disability.

This kind of treatment is disgusting and heartbreaking, especially for someone who has served our country. No one should be denied service or shamed in public for needing a service animal. I truly hope the Fitzgeralds—the owners of that area in Smithville—step in and address this.

We cannot allow this kind of behavior to go unchecked. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity...