McCray's Tavern — Restaurant in Georgia

Good place! Updated review: For the most part it is still a good place, I think, but I dropped it 1 star after the Easter buffet I went to at this location yesterday (4/17). Food was good, but unless you got it right after a new serving pan came out with freshly cooked or heated in an oven in the back, it was luke warm. My biggest disappoint was with our server (don't recall her name, but she was wearing bunny ears). She had to be asked multiple times for items like a 5th set of utinsels at the table, a 5th glass for water bottle left at the table for us to serve from, a glass of ice, and a glass of ice tea. She wasn't serving people food, as we all served ourselves at the buffet....so what was overloading her ability to remember what we needed? Heck, she was the one who mentioned getting us 5th glass before we asked her for it. Then when it came time to pay up, we learned she was automatically getting a 20% tip. Now I tip...but I tip appropriately: at a buffet, unless the servier bring more than a glass of water and/or something else I tip less than 20% as I handled everything else...usually 15-18%. In her case it would defintely been 15%. I also expect servers to give me a heads up on an auto tip charge on the tab...even if it is mentioned in a menu (which we didn't have as it was a buffet). I wonder how many people double tipped Miss Bunny Ears yesterday. She also didn't ask us how we were paying...but she automatically added a credit card charge, that we hadn't noticed on previous visits here (again only 5 of us, and each person's plate was $27 and change before taxes, auto tip, and credit card charge.). She also only charged of for 4 people not 5...and we nicely pointed that out so she wouldn't get in trouble or anything. All we got in reply as "ah, ok, I'll fix it". No "Thanks for catching that and letting me know", etc. I know we have to expect "C", or less, grade servers due to Covid staff shortage reasons, but darn...if a server doesn't feel bad from having Covid, they can give 100% service to their customer, and...

Oh man I hate to leave this review. I have been to McCrays before and was impressed but came on a quiz night and was so disappointed, with everything. Took forever to get a drink order, then took forever for the drinks to come and another 15-20 minutes until the fella came back to take our order. I get that it is busy but if the place is packed out on quiz nights there should be more wait staff on the floor. This was embarrassing. I felt so bad for the ones that were there running among tables and trying to keep up. When the food arrived there was still no silverware on the table, unbelievable. refills were slow. Soda was out on two flavors and the Sprite was flat. When the food did arrive it was less than stellar. A few side items for half of our party were incorrect and had to be brought out again. Still no silverware. All of the food runners were nice and helpful. I get that they are all overworked on such a popular night, but maybe just staff up better on a popular quiz night. Food was so-so. Nothing I would write home about and the fish and chips I got was super sad for costing 21 bucks and when I saw the plating I wish I had just ordered onion rings. Almost everything else on the menu cost less and this was two sad fried fish slabs that reminded me of the Gorton's fisherman in the local Kroger aisle. And for 21 bucks I could have about Six boxes of the Gorton's fish fillets that these resembled. I really wanted to write a good review. The place is probably much better on non-quiz nights. Just make sure if you go, avoid Wednesdays quiz nights and you'll probably be just fine. And don't get the fish and chips. Highlight of the night was the 99 cent scoop of ice cream that my son got and that's a sad highlight. Last last note is on the men's room, it was wet in all areas and the paper towel roll was out on the wet counter. Not good for hygiene or confidence in the cleanliness for the rest of the place. I have written a novel here but it's just because I am so sad. I will probably never...

I'm sadly writing a negative review for what was one of my first and favorite restaurants when moving to East Cobb several years ago. The food and service as McCray's Tavern seems to have unfortunately taken a turn (RIP Taven Dip!). Tonight we ordered the pretzel, tavern salad, and a matador sandwich. From being seated to appetizer on the table was over 45 minutes. A couple that was sat after us received their full order before we received our drinks. The waiter "forgot" our drinks and silverware while we were waiting. The house mustard with the pretzel was either improperly mixed with vinegar or had turned and was inedible. It was so thin it wouldn't stick to the pretzel or a knife. I guess you'd drink it? My wife's salad was ordered with salmon and no tomatoes. It was first delivered with fried chicken, and once it was re delivered with the salmon, it had none of the listed vegetables except the tomatoes. My matador sandwich with fried chicken was bland as if it had been prepared with no seasoning. The manager asked us about our dining experience before our food was served. We asked about the mustard and recieved no confirmation if it had been prepared correctly only a, "ew, yeah..." from his when he saw it. He asked if we were interested in desert, which we declined after the long wait and poor food experience we had had up to this point. Our waiter was quiet and made little comment about the delays. I would say the restaurant was about half full at the time with two large tables that had been served and were paying as we were eating. There was a large party in the bar area that had a buffet setup, but they were finishing up when we arrived. I wouldn't say it was busy when we were there, but at the end of the dinner rush.

Hoping for improvement, but we will be steering clear...