J W Halls Steak & Seafood Inn — Restaurant in Hopewell Township

We Had not been to Halls for dinner in about 10 years. I live in Hopewell and decided to give it a try again. Food was good and service was excellent. We decided to go again with another couple tonight. What a disaster. Asked for a draft, (only four drafts available), and after 5 minutes I was informed that my choice was not available. Not sure why, but I ordered a second type of draft and after about two minutes the waitress informed me that this choice was not available and something to the effect that they could not find anyone to change it. Ok, Finally got my third of 4 choices. Ordered a hamburger done medium rare. When the hamburger came it was well done. I sent it back because it was too done to eat. Meanwhile my friend asked if he could have mustard for his burger. He had slowly eaten half of his hamburger when the waitress returned with no mustard, nor my hamburger. Again we asked her for mustard. again she returned with no mustard and my friend had now eaten most of his hamburger. We asked her for the mustard and she had to walk a total of 6 steps to get the mustard. Why didn't she just do this from the beginning. Finally after all of the meals were consumed my hamburger came out and it was of course well done. When I told the waitress she started to say that it wasn't really well done. There was absolutely no pink. There were also no fries with the burger. Finally she said she didn't know what was wrong with the kitchen and that my fires would be out shortly. I ate the hamburger and (very dry, because it was well done) When the waitress returned you can only imagine how I felt when she came without my fries. she said that they would be right up. (yeah right) I told her to simply forget the fries. I just wanted the bill. When the bill came to the table, I was charged for two burgers, while the other couple weren't charged for any. I left a $5 tip on a $70 bill (I usually tip 20% +) I am feeling guilty because I should have left $0. The waitress did not care that the meals were incorrect , nor did she offer to do do anything for all of the aggravation that she had caused. Where was the manager? if you want a good meal go...

I would give 0 if it was a possibility. I've worked in food service for 16+ years and know about food holding temps, something they do not! My party entered the restaurant about 345pm, Sunday and was seated by the salad bar. When I got up to leave over 2 hours later and went to speak to the manager, the salad bar's restock cart had never moved from it's apparent home in the dining room with all the items on the buffet from already sliced vegtables to mixed pasta salad. I would not allow my parent to order the salad bar as those itens need to be kept cool at all times to prevent the food from entering an unsafe temperature causing food poisoning and possibly botulism.  The manager didn't apologize or say she would take care and dispose of the food immediately, and didn't move to do anything until after she saw me standing and taking pictures of the cart in it's nice warm dining room home.

As for my dinner, I order the fish sandwich,  french fries, and a 4oz souffle cup of cole slaw. The fish was as thin as a newspaper with the breading and had absolutely no flavor. The fries were decent frozen fries, and the best part of the meal. I took 1 bite of my cole slaw abd it tasted sour and the food gave me possible food poisoning, at the bare minimum a VERY upset stomach. Their "house" wheat bread also lacked in flavor and was gritty in texture.

As for the service, our waitress should have retired while sge still could remember her name, to which she never told us, however on the receipt was "Lana T". When asked the beers on tap, she couldn't remember those either and had to fumble around in her notebook. When asked the soup of the day,  she said it was cheeseburger and fries, but it "really doesn't have fries in it". Drinks for a party of 7 took about 20 minutes during which time we lost her to go hug and socialize with another table.

Don't waste the time or risk your stomach to eat in this once "classy" if you...

Have been ordering at Halls for a long time sometimes done ordine out but lately since I started chemo we get it Togo alot especially days after treatment. Last 2x we ordered steakl salads both times they were burnt or RAW,RARE well didn't order RAW OR RARE SO I CAllED AND SPOKE TO MGR DONNA AND TOLD HER ABOUT THE STUATION AND SHE TOOK our next ORDER by saying what one word except "whats on this order" and didn't say SORRY NO ONE TIME SO I CANCELED our ORDER AND WILL NEVER GO OR ORDER THERE AGAIN HAROLDS IS OTHER OPTION WITH VERY NICE STAFF AND VERY GOOD FOOD also I HOPE SHE NEVER HAS A HEALTH CONCERN AND HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT SHE CONSUMES. So went to Harolds today very nice staff mrg come over to table and asked how everything was.... also people sitting next to us heard I was in chemo and insisted to buy out lunch I refused and she got waitress without me knowing and paid for my for entire bill, not what i wanted or was looking for at all!!!!! Just sat near wonderful people who are still in this world, may God Bless them for being them!!!!! So after all yes there are nice folks and go to Harolds if you want excellent service and environment cause that's exactly what I got today by not going to JW Halls.Thanks Donna for making my decision to NEVER come back and to think I was going to have a private party there,...