11E Diner — Restaurant in Jonesborough

I will start this review with the caveat that we were there on Valentine’s Day for dinner and this is a new restaurant still working out kinks and it was very busy. We had reservations for 6pm, got there about 7 minutes early and was told that the table reserved for us was still taken by folks waiting for their dessert. We weren’t in any hurry, so this was no big deal and the staff was so nice and apologetic and we were early. We sat at their bar area where our drink orders were taken. At just a minute or two after 6 we were seated and almost immediately greeted by a very friendly server who again apologized for our wait. I ordered the cheese sticks, chopped steak with mashed potatoes and green beans, and strawberry shortcake for my dessert. My husband had the strawberry salad, the NY strip steak with the same sides as me, and the baked Alaska for dessert. We had about a 15 minutes wait for our appetizers which we both agreed were very good. It was about another 15 minute wait between us finishing our appetizers and getting our entrees. My chopped steak was good, the green beans were very good, but the mashed potatoes were inedible - they were instant potatoes and tasted like they had been sitting for a while and were very gummy. My husband’s steak was paper thin and mostly fat, but he said it was cooked to his specifications and tasty. He agreed with me on the green beans. He didn’t get any mashed potatoes because they were out and making more; when he did get his potatoes, they were better than mine, but definitely instant and a little watery. I actually thought they were pretty good. When dessert came, my husband’s baked Alaska looked delicious and it was, but I was very disappointed in the strawberry shortcake. It was 2 of those little round, spongy type cakes you buy at the grocery story and were stale and the strawberries were in some overly sweet gelatin-type goo. However, despite a few mis-steps, we decided since the staff was so nice and Valentine’s Day probably isn’t the best time to try out a new restaurant, we would go back for lunch one day because we have heard really good things about their burgers. Our bill before tip came to $55 and some change which we felt...

Didn't leave comment as (in the same breath as your comment of generalizing my review ...) your statement of "people use their computer screens...") most restauranteers do not care to know what they could change. (Good that you care - bad that you group everyone together as "Most People"...) We ordered breakfast & a sand... BLT. your server was advised it was a 1st visit. Even after many ??s, she volunteered NO help re: the menu. It was like asking the menu itself. A big part of her job is to inform -- she wouldn't. The BLT was served on a BUN w/SHREDDED lettuce, no mayo - the bacon was not crisp as requested, a white tomato w/cold fries. The soda had no syrup in the mixture and the CO2 was flat. I don't eat shredded lettuce as most of it is bagged and chemically 'cleaned'' ' allergies prevent digestion of this product. BLT was sent back... didn't feel comfortable ordering any other items as questioning what & how it would be fixed. That is all. From a "Most People" customer - who just happened to have spent over 25 very successful years in the restaurant business... - if U send out a sandwich as iconic as a BLT and it is structured COMPLETELY differently from the usual, well known sandwich- TRAIN your staff to advise your guest! They should sell your menu by offering info. Come On - the sandwich was not made per what "Most People" would want - dry, uncooked bacon and shredded lettuce - in the words of my husband... "ooh, I wouldn't want it". Btw - his breakfast was 'ok'. Training your staff & MAKING SURE THEY KNOW & DO THEIR JOB is on the management. It will help save your business from loss and make for satisfied guests. We weren't mad when we left. We felt as though we put in enough effort - that is why only stars were given. Hope this is helpful. We wish U Good luck w/your...

Man, I wanted this place to be good! I love seeing small family owed restaurants succeed. Sadly, it wasn't a good experience even though it seemed like they were trying. My family of 5 visited last night (Friday.) I got the "Chicken dinner" which was supposed to be a chicken breast with mushrooms, bacon and pepper jack cheese. When it came out it was just the chicken and when I mentioned it to my server she took it and brought it back (in about two minutes) with two pieces of chewy bacon and some generic 3-cheese mix that had obviously been microwaved and no mushrooms. The chicken seemed like a precooked piece and when it was heated they way overcooked it, it was very dry and tasteless. The fries were just bulk crinkle cut and not very good, but the cornbread salad was actually very good. My wife got the hamburger steak and said it was dry but the mashed potatoes were decent. The kids got chicken tenders and a porkchop. The chicken tenders were decent but the mac and cheese was cold which the server reheated for them. The porkchop was again overcooked and dry.

I don't know if they don't have AC but it was pretty warm in there and they had fans going which made the white noise really loud. Overall, the food seemed like it was frozen and/or precooked.

I hope the owner takes these reviews to heart and tries to improve the quality of the food. I think the restaurant has potential and I want to see a small...