J. Pepper's Southern Grille

I have had my last meal at this restaurant. My son and I usually look forward to eating here The prices are kind of high, but the serving sizes are better than usual and the food is fresh and original. However, tonight we went there because another place we eat at was closed due to electrical issues. We went with our normal high expectations not realizing things have changed and not for the better. We had to wait only a few moments which was fine. We were seated and greeted by our waitress. Drinks were delivered correctly and promptly. Because neither of us were terribly hungry, we decided to order an appetizer and an entrée to share thinking this would be plenty. We ordered the pepper ahi tuna (appetizer) and the blackened Mahi Mahi with grits and spinach. We waited quite some time knowing that fresh food takes a bit to cook and they were very busy. The food came and this is where it begins to go terribly wrong. There were about 7 1/4 inch slivers of tuna measuring about 1 inch by 1 1/2 inch with a small cup of some sort of dipping sauce, a dollop of Wasabi, and some sort of garnish for $12. The tuna tasted fine even though it was a bit dry. Next there was literally one small piece of Mahi Mahi (which I'm guessing was less than 4 ounces precooked), maybe 1/4 cup fresh spinach cooked, on a layer of grits (about 1/2 inch thick). The plate both of these were served on was about 2/3 the size of the plates they used to serve on and neither plate was even 50% covered. That dish was $18. There were zero sides such as salad or soup or even a vegetable/potato to accommodate such small servings. We were offered rolls which the waitress forgot to bring out while we were waiting. I have a dietary restriction which I'm not supposed to eat bread for a while. But because there wasn't enough to share, I took a very small nugget of fish, a couple pieces of spinach, and a quarter sized bit of grits and 3 slices of tuna as my meal and ate the roll so that my son would have more to eat. I ate part of a roll only because I was hungry. Don't get me wrong, the food's flavor measured up as usual but the value absolutely wasn't there. I told the waitress that the servings were way less than what they used to be and she offered to talk to Emily (manager). Instead of greeting her guests and discussing the matter, Emily decided to send our waitress back with a message that the servings were smaller but the prices dropped by $6. First of all, Emily, I didn't stay to discuss this with you as you amply showed me how much you really didn't care by sending a waitress to do a manager's job. Secondly, everybody I spoke to apologized both for the serving sizes and the lack of a manager except for...well you the manager. I told the waitress and the cashier two things. 1) I'll never be back and 2) I'd make sure I mention my experience to anyone who listens. You see Emily I might only be one person. What you fail to realize is I blog about any good or bad experience and some people do read them and make decisions based on reviews. What disappoints me the very most about J. Peppers isn't even the ridiculously small portions or the high prices associated with it. What disappoints me the most is the management that doesn't think enough of paying regular guests to come over to my table to even try to make it right. I'm only sorry that I won't get to eat here again based on those decisions you made tonight sealing your fate with me. Finally, I am only too happy to pay for decent food and good service. Service was where you failed miserably tonight. Hope you figure it out at some point while you still have a job in the food and hospitality services industry.