Samantha's Restaurant — Restaurant in Jackson Township

This was my first time here and it was not a good experience at all. I decided to treat my siblings after they got done with their school tests this morning and they were so excited. I picked this place because of the amount of gluten free options that are offered. When we first got there we were seated fairly quick by a nice gentlemen. The kids started looking over the menu and were amazed by everything and couldn’t figure out what sounded good to eat because everything sounded delicious. Our server (I was told her name was Sabrina) didn’t come to our table for quite awhile after being sat which is fine we weren’t in a rush and the kids got to make up their minds on food. When the server finally did come she asked for our drinks and everyone ended up getting hot chocolate, the server at this point seemed okay but in the middle of my sister talking to her she sprinted away. I brushed it off I understand being busy. So we got our drinks and she even brought some waters for us as well, and asked if we wanted refills after seeing everyone’s cup empty. We said yes and she got them and she took our order. This is where things started to get shaky. The kids were so happy to have hot chocolate they said it was delicious and asked me if they could have another refill so we waited for our server and I let her know, at this point she seemed very agitated and almost every interaction from this point was given an attitude or an eye roll just overall aggressive. I was watching to see if it was just us or other tables too and it seemed she was joking and laughing with other tables so I once again tried to just brush it off because it seemed like the kids were still happy and enjoying their time. Our food finally came and the food runner was absolutely wonderful, but the server did put in the wrong food for one meal.. not a big deal mistakes happen we are human I get it. We let her know and she said she put it in wrong but she would have the correct food out asap. This interaction was not bad. We finally got all our food and the server did check on us once to see if the food was good. It was delicious, then she never came back to the table until asking if we wanted boxes. I told her yes and then she asked about the check and she brought it to the table. The kids wanted to take the hot chocolate home so I asked if we could get some cups to take home with us, she seemed not happy with this at all and once again it felt very aggressive and we were greeted with an eye roll. At this point I just wanted to leave so I put my card with the check and waited to pay. I start talking with my siblings and all you hear is SLAM on the table, it’s her grabbing the card from the table and snatching it. The kids looked at me wide eyed as I tried to wrap my head around what was going on. Now the kids are starting to feel bad and also want to get out of there, so I finished with the bill, tipped, and got out of there. As soon as we got in the car the kids just starts profusely apologizing thinking she acted that way because they got hot chocolate. Mind you I had one refill along with my brother and then my sister had two refills. They wished we had just went through a drive through instead. My heart absolutely broke, this was supposed to be a happy visit and it ended with them feeling hurt and upset. I decided to go back in so I could speak with a manager at this point. I was informed there was no manager there. The lady I spoke with was so incredibly sweet and I let her know everything that happened and she took my information down to pass on to a manager. I understand being short staffed and busy but the interactions were uncalled for and very unprofessional by our server. Especially when we can see you interacting with other tables. This made it seem very personal and by the end of our meal we were incredibly uncomfortable. I do not think we would come back here again just based off the experience...

Let's start positive. The food is good. Now, wait time to be seated isn't bad, about 20 min around noon for a party of five on Father's Day Sunday. Then it starts to get questionable. We were seated with breakfast menus, took about 10 min to get a lunch menu in hand. The first three things my dad asks for from the menu are out of stock. Not good. Then, once everyone has ordered, the waitress let's us know that our meal will not be served for at least 35-45 minutes. What? At this point we're already committed so we stay. 40 minutes later our food starts to arrive a few plates at a time. First my Samantha Sandwich (pictured). When it arrives it's just warm not hot. Everyone else's order trickles to the table over the next 5 min. EXCEPT for my dad. We sit, stalled, waiting for his meal to arrive before we dig in. Another 5 minutes go by. We flag the waitress when she's finally spotted. We ask about dad's meatloaf. She gets a little snippy, says they're still working on it. She can bring the broccoli (his side dish). Few more minutes. By this time the restaurant is about half empty and our boys have given in to hunger and have picked at their food to the point that it's almost gone. The meatloaf and brocolli finally arrive, but no potato. Waitress says their working on it. Dad starts to eat, finishes his meatloaf and brocolli before potato makes it to the table. When it does finally get there, it's not fully cooked. At this point dad just eats it. He's hungry and we've been here for what feels like forever. The waitress comps the meatloaf. Now, I can also say that last year for my birthday we had a similar experience, only that time it was my turn to not only be the last to eat, but have everyone served first and then told what I ordered was out of stock. I thought for sure that was a fluke, but today confirms for me that Samantha's suffers from some seriously deficient management. My husband and I love to support local business, but today was the last time they will get any...

This is NOT a restaurant that serves gluten free.

I was told by management only to order from mgt. (I was addressed as if I was an employee and not a customer. The approach was inappropriste.) Then when mgt was busy I was told I could order "simple" food from any server.

There's nothing "simple" about GF food.

Then I was served a hamburger with gluten containing ingredients.

If a server who was there 9 months didnt know to ensure it was GF then the cook should have caught it and have asked for clarification. The entire order was marked gluten free. (I had asked for a specific burger to be slightly modified with different cheese and no aoli. The server ordered a different but similar burger with gluten containing ingredients.)

Later the owner stated that mone of the burgers are GF, and she's neen doing this 22 years as a hefge.

Under the ADA I can ask any food to be modified to be GF if it's reasonable, i.e., leaving out a gluten containing ingredient.

The line and the servers are not properly trained to hanle and produce GF food. I cannot trúst this kitchen.

Additionally, my daughter is allergic to animal products but Samanthas on Portage routinely put my animal containing meal in the same bag as my daughter's food. They put my food on top where it could have leaked and contaminated her food

WHILE SABRINA MEANS WELL, THERE IS NO GF FOOD HERE because there is no overall training, she relies on managers who are too busy to supervise, her servers are not appropriately trained, and Sabrina THINKS rather than KNOWS what it takes to produce GF food.

Sabrina told me when I talked to her that I should educate the Health Dept. They do not enforce GF food in restaurants. Why make that comment when I was trying to keep her restaurant from being sued for a potential personal injury claim?

DO NOT EAT AT SAMANTHAS ON PORTAGE IF YOU NEED GF. IT'S...