Corner Cafe — Restaurant in Gulfport

Have you ever read the reviews for a restaurant you didn’t enjoy and think that you must be the one who’s crazy? That’s how I feel reading the reviews for Corner Cafe. There’s almost nothing but exclusively five-star reviews. And I honestly just don’t understand it. There are plenty of local places that people love that I don’t like. For example, Dead Bob’s. I’m not a fan, but I totally understand why someone might like it. It’s got a certain dive-bar charm with enough variety on the menu that you can go there for dinner. It’s just not for me.

But there’s honestly nothing I enjoyed about the Corner Cafe. And I’ve gone twice. I went for breakfast back in March 2024 and dinner in August 2024. Both times were disappointing.

For breakfast, I got one of their breakfast skillets. It came with undercooked, raw-inside home fries. I honestly don’t remember much about the food other than that it was under seasoned. But what I mostly remember about that breakfast experience were these ridiculous robot servers. I’ve been to a few robot-server restaurants. I’d say the Buttermilk Eatery in Pinellas Park does it right if you’re looking to experience this wonder of modern technology. But Corner Cafe hasn’t figured it out yet. I remember robots slowly making their way down too-narrow aisle between tables, getting stuck, and best of all an older waitress screaming, literally screaming, at the top of her lungs at two other waitresses to move out of the way for one of the robots. Anyway, bad food and silly robots. I didn’t plan on going back.

But my wife wanted to check it out since it was nearby and she wanted to see the robots. Okay, fine, so we go for dinner. Terrible. First, the restaurant was a ghost town. That’s not really a negative, just an indicator to a bigger issue. There was one human waitress and a cook who wasn’t “the cook” because “the cook” was out sick or something. I got the chicken parmesan which was definitely just a frozen chicken cutlet heated up on top of some bland spaghetti and canned sauce. My wife got a salad where they had clearly washed the lettuce (always a plus) but not spun it or drained it all and it was just a sloppy, soaking-wet mess. To be fair, the waitress did remove the salad from the bill and she was very pleasant and nice. And the “not-cook cook” was grabbing a smoke break as we were leaving (since they had no customers) and was polite and friendly. So, nice staff, always a bonus. But best of all, the robot didn’t work. It tried to get to our table but either malfunctioned or lost power and our waitress had to walk the food the rest of the way.

Also, I just have to also comment on the decor of this place. Again, I feel like I’m going crazy reading these comments about how nice it is inside. The interior design is all over the place. They clearly tried to update and modernize some things but also kept the same booths and tables from the previous diner that occupied this building. So it’s a weird mix of old and outdated and modern aesthetics.

And now we arrive at the price. It’s too expensive for what it is. The food isn’t good, the atmosphere is nonexistent, the theme is confusing, and the robots don’t work well enough to constitute a novelty. But the prices are like something you’d see at a nice downtown St. Pete restaurant just without any of the quality or charm to go with it.

So why go so hard on this review? Because times are tough, that’s why. Things are more expensive than ever and going out is an expense few can afford to make arbitrarily. And while I can go and overpay for subpar food without much concern, there are others who have to be more selective. I’d hate for someone to sacrifice what might be their one dining-out experience for the month (or quarter) on a place they do not enjoy. Am I saying it’s impossible for anyone to enjoy the Corner Cafe? Absolutely not. Look at all the five-star reviews. Clearly people love this place. But for me, it just...

Well I'm new to the area I came here for some takeout I got a chicken pot pie in the split pea soup it was delicious and delightful everyone is finally and I couldn't wait to come back we came Rather late and they close at eight so I was a little upset I don't want to make anyone mad we ordered a burger and turkey with mashed potatoes and dressing and oh my God I never complain I work at a restaurant but the turkey and the stuffing's were oldI didn't want to say any thing to my dining friend I figured it was just the end of the day maybe was just a fluke but then she bit into a burger and told me that it tasted terrible and it was rancidso we proceeded to let the waitress know that we cannot eat her food and we were displeasedThe owner proceeded to argue with my companion and I was just embarrassed I don't want to leave just review but I was just so upset about the way my food tasted that I don't...

Absolutely the worst experience ever I called in my order and then called right back not even a minute later and added some things to my order the Greek cooker he had an attitude by the time I made it there I can hear him because they’re right there he has an attitude because I added on bacon and cheese he was slamming my his little receipt into the my food and just very snappy very upset because I added on extra food over the phone to add on order I will never come back to this restaurant again I will be expressing what happened to the manager then I told the waitress what was happening but she was right thereAnd she tells me what do you expect from a Greek I’ve been working with him for 35 years this is just how he is and I said you are an employee you guys work together your coworkers I am a customer a paying customer that’s not acceptable hey well that’s all I can tell you very...