Waffle House — Restaurant in Jacksonville

In January 30, 2024 around 11AM, I went to the Waffle House that is located at 7652 Merrill Road Jacksonville, FL 32277. This is store #2044. When I arrived, I was seated in the section of Mirissa, who was lovely and is not who this complaint is about. She was prompt with greeting us and getting our orders. Important notes for this complaint would be that Mirissa is a woman of color and that the people seated in her section (including me) were mainly black. This complaint is about the other staff at this location. Ashley was the cook at this location and had clear animosity towards Mirissa. When Mirissa would tell Ashley orders from her section, Ashley refused to make them and would stand by the grill acting like she did not hear anything that was said. If a different server were to tell Ashley their order, Ashley made it with no qualm. It was disheartening to see that black customers were not being tended to while the (white) servers who had mainly white patrons were having their orders made and brought out in a timely manner. Rhonda was definitely not some help at all. She blatantly ignored any customer that came into the restaurant that was not white. This was easy to see as Ashley had still refused to begin making our food. The manager Harry did eventually come out to defuse the situation but was hardly a help as Ashley was not corrected for her behavior and continued to ignore Mirissa who was trying to put in another order for a different table (that has black patrons). I witnessed Ashley ignore the order of the black couple THREE times as it was called out to her but start the order of a server who had white patrons right away. To top things off, when I finally got my waffle (after an embarrassingly long wait), Ashely threw my waffle on the counter for Mirissa to bring out to me. This was absolutely terrible to witness as a customer and should not be tolerated at a restaurant where the cooks are seen by patrons. As my visit went on, I witnessed many black patrons being ignored by Rhonda as they walked in, allowing another server, Heather, (who I did not see act in such a crass manner) tend to them instead. I came to eat with a co-worker (who is not black) and while Heather was able to help me close out my bill, even though Rhonda was right there just a minute before I came up to the counter, Rhonda was conveniently able to assist my co-worker. This is a shame that Waffle House would allow discrimination of any kind from its workers and not do anything to reprimand them. These ladies, Rhonda and Ashley should be ashamed of themselves for acting as if they have no decorum. I am not the only black customer who saw this blatant discrimination as others were complaining about...

I have only been a cook for a week, showed up on time and leave after time faithfully even when I wasnt scheduled at all I still came in. Even on mother's day. Since I got there I thought I felt welcomed until training started and I didn't really play their type of games. I GO THROUGH ENOUGH! sad that I have to put my person docs on here but CORPORATE WILL SEE. A disabled being that's done their best and still been mistreated! Sexually harassed, made uncomfortable! Everytime I start the morning shift with these veteran managers(MULTIPLE) and very mean servers ! They all talk behind your back slammed me with a bunch of orders back to back the store wasn't even CLEAN AT ALLLLLLLL but want to yell "Corporate will show up at anytime today" that's fine I need them to come ! I was excited 😊! But wondered why the kitchen and grill wasn't cleaned at all prior to the shift started... I may be labeled with mental illness but I won't be taken advantage of like you all done me . I worked 6 days for a check of $259 . Even had several employees look at my physical check before I did !! I am beyond stressed thinking I found a safe place to work 😞 hopefully this reach to the world!!! I've been silenced too long I WILL file for lawsuit. Contacting corporate is...

4/7/21: Myself and a friend Came in this evening to find that this location was only doing to go orders. We wanted to dine in but we decided to place a to go order instead. When we finished placing our order, the person who took it told us the cook was not going to prepare our order and walked away. I asked him why can’t our order be made and we were told “I’m not in charge the cook is”. Okay? Then, I asked at first we couldn’t be sat, then we couldn’t get out to go order? The cook told us he would make our order but he needed to go to the store and it was already past midnight and that he would cook it when he returned. We said thank you, but we will leave and we left. How disappointing when looking at the reviews for this location, especially when visiting from outer state.

Update 8/15: gave this place another shot since I was visiting in the same area again this year. At 3:55pm, we were told they’re only doing Togo orders. There wasn’t anybody there except for me and my friend. Nobody in the parking lot while the chef was smoking. I asked why they are not doing dine in the server said “I don’t know, I’m only doing what my manager told me”. This Waffle House has established a habit of not wanting to do dine in...