Barnhill's Steaks and Buffet — Restaurant in Jacksonville

I'm staying at a motel right next door. Honestly, I was just going to go to Walmart to buy some groceries and eat that for dinner. I'm so glad I went to this place. I'm from about 2 hours away and it was like I was on a different planet. The people were nicer, the staff was great and the food on the buffet was actually hot. I felt like I was eating a home cooked meal. I wish I could bring this restaurant and the staff back to where I live. I highly recommend Barnhill's Steak and Buffet restaurant!!!!!! UPDATED.....I'm going back home tomorrow and just had to go to Barnhill's again. I don't think I've ever been excited to go to a specific restaurant but I honestly was today. Well, after I left I was a little less excited. So, I ordered the buffet again, put my receipt on the table and fixed my first plate. As I sat down, a server went right by me. I figured she would come back and bring me silverware and ask me what I'd like to drink. Nope, she bussed and cleaned some tables after those guests left. Apparently, where I was sitting was not her section, I'm guessing that's why she didn't WANT to help me. "Not my section " is a terrible reason not to help customers. My server was likely busy in the back. I honestly don't know for sure. But, when I or anyone has to get up from their table and get their own silverware, it doesn't just reflect poorly on the server of that specific table, it makes the entire business look bad. Teamwork makes the dream work. Servers should "serve" all customers, even if not in their section. Don't have blinders on. Also, on my first plate, I had some sweet potatoes, fish, liver and carrots and chicken and rice. I wasn't expecting there to be a fairly large bone that I nearly choked on. I didn't see any sign warning me of such. So, I asked for a manager just to let them know that I almost choked on a bone and I wasn't sure where it was from. Obviously, I'd expect a bone from a whole piece of chicken or from a porkchop but..... First, the server told me that the manager said "I can't talk to them right now". Maybe better to say, " ok, I'm dealing with another guest right now, but will be right over". Also, when the short blonde haired manager finally decided to come over to my table, she asked me if I ate the chicken/rice, after I told her that I wasn't expecting any bones. She just had the attitude like I should have known that there would be big bones in it and that it happens a lot and offered no apology. Someone is going to get "hurt" if not already, by unexpected bones. As I said earlier, I truly was excited to dine here again, and I complimented the owner after the first time (I wasn't aware he was the owner til during this latest visit). In my opinion, that manager I spoke to about the bone does not have very good customer service skills. Im not sure if she is related to the owner in any way, but she should stay far away from the front of house. And my server had some choice things to say about that manager and about other servers which I found to be very unprofessional and actually made me uncomfortable. Im leaving the 5 stars for everything even after this 2nd visit because although this visit was disappointing, all from the staff that I encountered, the food was once again GREAT. And the fact that most people won't read this very long review but they will see the 5 stars I gave them and will hopefully give Barnhill's a chance, and hopefully they won't encounter the failing...

This is the most disgusting restaurant that I've ever eaten in. The place is incredibly filthy, with floors so sticky you will walk right of your shoes.

Someone had made arrangements for my family to meet there after my stepdad's funeral. I was embarrassed by the filthy floors, tables and chairs. It made me wonder if the food was safe.

Just after paying and as I began walking towards the private dining room, two women who worked there began shouting at each other and tussle. Someone broke up the fight but again, it was just evidence of the kind of place this is.

Save yourself the time and trouble and keep on driving. Anything is better than what you will find here.

RESPONSE In response to the "owner's" comments, there were NO exaggerations here. Perhaps a visit to the restaurant and a comparison to a similar place would help clarify the problems.

It is dirty and post COVID, the need to wipe, sanitize, ensure cleanliness of ALL surfaces is PARAMOUNT for the safety of both customers and employees. Even with foods kept or served at the right temperatures, people can get sick if tables and chairs are not wiped and sanitized.

I am not the first customer to mention that the place was dirty and the floors sticky. This has been ongoing for 7-8 years, with the owner claiming to be "saving up" for new flooring. Just do it already!!!

As for the employee fight, the cashier RAN to break up that fight. Maybe you should check into it.

According to the Pulaski County Health Department, there was a recent complaint, which sparked an inspection. Food safety inspections do NOT look for the condition of the dining room, per se. They are there to make sure food is properly stored before cooking, kept safe from potential rodents or bugs, prepared to the proper temperature and that the food on the buffet is held at the prescribed temperature. There were NO issues found.

I didn't mention the food previously. It was fine, though as I said I wondered about the condition of the kitchen based on the dining room.

This isn't hard to resolve and I'm not trying to "destroy families" and "livelihoods", but your guests are also families, who do not want to be destroyed. CLEAN UP THE DINING ROOM!!!!!!

That poor little thin woman that waited on us in the back dining room worked so hard. The employees do not deserve to be working for someone who only cares about the bottom line. Respect them. Respect your customers. You'll catch...

Went to Barnhill's expecting to have a good meal today but that wasn't the case. I eat there often and usually have a good experience, however the last several times coming here have been sub-par. This particular trip was the worst ever though!!

I came especially for the fried chicken, when I arrived I went straight for it, it really was some of the best around (like home cooked) but I do emphasize WAS. The chicken pan was close to empty with only some rather large looking chicken wings left. So, I proceeded to get some other items and wait for them to put out some fresh chicken. I waited, and waited, and waited and I decided to ask a waitress if they were putting anymore fried chicken out. She came back and said they would. So I waited some more. Finally I gave up and went to see if they had any desert worth getting.

About the time I got back to the table they finally put out some chicken. I was disappointed when I went to get some. All of it was extremely over cooked, and I think there may have been 1 breast, 1 thigh and 2 legs in the whole large pan!!! All the rest of the chicken was those same looking jumbo wings. Something just doesn't look right about those things. They are so big they look like turkey wings or terradactyl wings. No joke these things are huge. But all wings and about 4 other pieces of chicken! Really now! Nobody wants nothing but jumbo wings.

I used to say it was a good deal for your money to eat Barnhill's buffet, but after these last several trips and seeing they are starting to serve mostly strange looking chicken wings for what used to be one of there star items "Home Fried Chicken". (Who doesn't love some good fried chicken.) This was one of the main draws to this place. But this just kills it for me!

Not worth the $31.00 it cost me and my wife to eat here. Not to mention there was a lot of other items sitting empty and the ones that weren't were cold or overcooked, the baked fish was under cooked, and the plates look like they forgot to wash about half of them. Not sure how a place that was so good has taken such a downward spiral. Maybe it's an employee problem. I don't know, but I think we will be in search if somewhere else to spend our hard earned money! It was good while it...