Bigg Daddys Restaurant & Tavern — Restaurant in Helen

This was my second time dining at Bigg Daddys restaurant. The first time I went last Spring (April 2024) we were a party of four. The service was subpar. Against my better judgment I gave them a second chance today and unfortunately the experience was even more underwhelming than our first visit and we were greatly disappointed.

When we arrived we were told the wait would be approximately 35. We were seated within 10 minutes of waiting (that was the only plus) to the whole dining experience. Once we were seated we were told by the young lady who escorted us to our table that she’d be back with menus and utensils. Shortly thereafter, our server, “Matty” came over and took our orders, was very “personable” and “attentive”to our table, asking every few minutes if she could get us anything and if everything was ok. As we waited for our food (which took nearly 45 minutes to arrive, a different young lady came to our table and dropped off plastic utensils (without saying a word). This struck us as “odd” as we observed larger parties than ours (none of which were black with the exception of a bi-racial couple), all being given metal utensils. There was a party of about 11 of a different ethnicity seated behind us who dipped out two by two, who received far less “attention” than we did in the time that we were seated. We patiently and calmly waited for our food to arrive, then asked for the manager to address the issue of the plastic utensils. We informed “Alissa” the “manager” of the issue, and inquired as to why the employee would have delivered those utensils to our table specifically and no other table. She tried to justify it, saying they ran out of metal utensils and that was the reason why plastic was delivered to our table. I quickly corrected her by pointing out all the larger parties all of whom were either Latino or Caucasian, including some who were seated after us all were given metal utensils and I informed her that I couldn’t help but wonder if the fact that our skin is of a darker hue had anything to do with it (I recorded the entire conversation). “Alissa” went on to say she was going to talk to “the boss”. She returned a couple minutes later and said she was heard that the employee had been “let go” and was crying and told the boss that “this wasn’t for her” prior to our “non-interactive” interaction with her (when she dropped off the plastic ware). She then asked us if we wanted to keep the plastic utensils (weird)….and we had to specifically ask for metal. While we were eating, we noticed the servers huddled up by the register and pointing to the table where the “dine and dashers” (party of 11) were seated (before they dashed). It seemed that they realized the problem. When it was time to pay our checks, we decided to pay with cash to avoid the 3.5% “non-cash adjustment fee” that was automatically added to our bill (without us being asked if we would be paying with cash or card). “Matty” was given $60 cash for one part of the bill I gave her $70.00 cash for my portion and immediately Zelled my family member at the same time that amount since I didn’t have cash on me. She asked both of us if we needed change back and we both said yes. A few minutes later she came back to me and insisted that I only gave her $60.00. I insisted that that wasn’t true because I’d counted it before I put it in the bill fold. “Matty” had the audacity to say to me, “it’s ok, I’ll just put in the $10.00 for you but you only gave me $60.00. I let her know that it sounded like she needed the $10.00 way more than I did and I put in an extra $10.00 which my twelve year old gave me because I didn’t have cash on me and was not about to take money out of their ATM after all that. What “Mattty” doesn’t know is that we already realized that the “dashers” skipped out without paying some or all of their bill and she was probably trying to make up for what they failed to pay by trying to pull a fast one on us.

Never, ever again will they...

Came for dinner on a Saturday night, with expectations set high based on how good the rating already was... boy, did they fall short!

Waiting for a table was no issue, but noisy doesn't even begin to cover it. Live music outside clashed with the speaker music inside, can't distinguish between either one. Should have just killed the inside music and propped a door open for the live music on the patio.

The hostess was polite but when we got called to get our table, she had placed the menus on the table and then told us where to go sit instead of walking us to it. Server was there almost immediately to get a drink order and ask if we wanted appetizers.. hadn't even had a chance to look at the menu. No mention of specials or where to find a cocktail menu, all business. Came back to get a food order and then he was gone. My salad came less than 2 minutes later which is great, but then the dinner plates were brought out separately, a few minutes apart, and he never came back to check on the table until the meal had already been eaten. I noticed he had a bunch of bigger tables on the patio and I know that's where he's focused on getting his tips and giving good service but we're paying too...

The food: house salad is typical, crisp greens, fresh tomatoes, onion and cucumbers. The ranch was thick and creamy, so thick I had to scrape it out of the little container with my fork! However my issue came with my steak... ordered medium-well, came out over well done, but he never came back to check so I didn't get much choice but to suck it up and eat it. Flavorless, dry, and looks like it had been cooked earlier and re-warmed. Baked potato was standard, but not soft enough to squish open. Nothing special there.

Atmosphere: looking around there's some unique decor on the walls that look like art projects and then some chalk boards with the beers on tap. But trying to walk around in there is tight fitting. I'm glad I opted not to bring my dad (who is wheelchair bound) because there's no way I'd have gotten his wheelchair from the front door to the bathroom because of the narrow walkway between the booths and occupied barstools. Single person bathrooms, that were banged on by children trying to get in, thank goodness I have the fine dexterity to be able to twist the standard doorknob lock, my dad would have never been able to.

Prices on the menu reflect card-paying prices, cheaper if you use cash but not listed.

All in all, unimpressed and not sure where all the high reviews come from, maybe I just got a bad night but I'd think a Saturday night would be everyone operating their best because it's busy with numerous staff working. Not going to go 2 hours out of my way to return, but I guess if I'm starving in the area at least I know the...

We went to Bigg Daddys based in the great reviews. We arrived around 4pm on a Sunday. The wait was a little over an hour. Once we were finally seated outside on the deck in the most uncomfortable chairs I think I have ever sat on it took about 30 minutes to get drinks. There was live music and the weather was nice so the wait was frustrating but not terrible. We ordered chicken nachos for an appetizer to split. We were never brought plates. We had questions about the menu that our server could not answer. When our food was brought out by someone else other than our server it was just sat down and no one brought napkins, ranch, refills or even asked if we needed anything. I waited about 10 minutes after my family got their food before mine was brought out. It was cold. We attempted to stop two people including our server but no one stopped. Finally after a while my husband got up and went to ask for what we needed. The food... Now, I do expect that tourist spin on a place like this but it is pretty low quality food that is priced like a high end restaurant. My burger was burned, dry and a preformed frozen patty after being told otherwise, my daughters ribs she said tasted like they were basted in ketchup, my husband's Philly cheese steak was burned meat with no recognizable vegetables on it and was not very appetizing with the faint yellow cheese sauce that was dumped on top of the entire sandwich, my other daughters wings were served in a plate of melted butter and the kids meal was chicken bites that were hard as a rock. When we finally did get refills our drinks were all mixed up. The frustration of the wait combined with mediocre food, not very good service was not worth the price. I understand the tourist side of things...they will get the business so none of that matters. We spent 130.00 for three adults and two kids on basic pub food with no alcohol plus a tip. The entrance is terrible too and I cannot say agreeable with fire codes or handicap accessibility. There is one way in and one way out. As we were trying to leave they were bringing in more people to seat through the same door all while an incredibly rude server was pushing through both parties using the same door with plates of food over everyones heads screaming hot plates hot plates. The waiting customers were all gathered around the door and hostess station as well crowding the exit even with an outside waiting area with...