JJ Twigs Pizza & Pub — Restaurant in Lake Ozark

I came to Lake Ozark for a family vacation this week. Heard from a reputable source about Twigs being a good place, so we gave it a try.

We chose to have pizza delivered to where we are staying, mainly because the online menu advertised $5 off ANY large pizza.

So here is how it went: We called using the number posted on the website. It took awhile for someone to pick up. Whoever answered sounded like an annoyed mumbling teenager. Couldn't understand if I had the right place, as they didn't speak clearly. I should of hung up then, as things went down hill after that...

Me: $5 off any large pizza?

Order taker: yeah.

Me: I'd like to order two large Chicago Deep Dish.

Order taker: Not on those.

Me: uh... ok. Online menu says ANY large.

Order taker: yeah... not on those.

Me: So it doesn't apply to deep dish... what does it apply to?

Order taker: Just thin crust pizza.

Me: so not ANY large pizza?

Order taker: so what would like?

*at this point my family was hungry. I wasn't going to haggle. I ordered 2 Deeps and 2 thins. Order taker mumbled something about it being at least an hour for delivery, which I was fine with. An hour and 40 mins later I tried calling to get an order update but there was no answer. Tried calling a few times but couldn't get through. We are approaching 2 hours at this point. So, I'm assuming something has gone awry with the order and decided to drive to the restaurant. Just b4 I pulled into the parking lot, my phone rings and its the delivery driver saying they were on their way. I told them to stay put. Explained that I had ordered almost 2 hours ago... tried calling several times but no answer, so I would come in an pick them up. Delivery driver says, "oh that was you who was calling?" I was speechless.

Turns out the delivery driver had already left at this point and she was almost to our place. So she stayed there and we drove back.

She so very nice and felt bad about the situation and had the authority to give me 20% off. She also apologized for not answering the phone, however there is a policy they have to not answer the phone when they are busy. I'm not making this up. She knew I was livid. She gave me the owner's # and encouraged me to call. After some thought, I didn't see the point. Other than a full refund, I wasn't interested in anything else, as I'm not going to order from there again.

Anyway, on to the food quality. The deep dish pizzas weren't good at all. One was dry, maybe over cooked. The other was soggy and watery. The two thin crust pizzas we ordered were very good.

Hope my experience was a fluke. If not, the future of this place...

Our server wasn't rude, but wasn't real friendly either. The manager wasn't either to say the least. We were a party of 9 and knew it would probably take a little bit longer for our food. Our group is only in this area once a year and we went there last year, had a great time, great food, and service so we thought we would go again (big mistake). The food took well over an hour and it wasn't even busy. There were maybe 5 tables. A friend and I wanted to share a Chicago style pizza and we were told it would take 45 minutes ish so we decided on the regular pizza (we should have just got the Chicago because it was over an hour wait for the food anyway). The pizza was ok and was at least hot compared to everyone else's food. Everyone else had ordered sandwiches/burgers with fries or sweet potato fries. The sandwiches and burgers were just warm and the fries and sweet potato fries were cold and greasy (like disgustingly cold and greasy). I squeezed a sweet potato fry and greasy was literally dripping out of it. Also, if you get the French sandwich, beware that you get charged for Au Jus even if you didnt want it or ask for it. Also, the Au Jus looks like dirty brown dishwater (I'm not exaggerating). Also, it $ 3 for a soda, but $ 2 for a beer. Let's be serious, why would soda cost more than beer? Anyway, we told the server about the issues, she seemed irritated that were would even say anything and only took off $1 for each person who had fries. She added gratuity when it honestly was not even close to being 18% worth of service. We were charged $2.50 for pepperoni for our pizza (medium was $ 16.99 already). We could have just got the Chicago, which is what we wanted but we're told it would take a long time (which our food ended up taking well over an hour anyway) for a straight $16.99. I gave 1 star because the pizza was at least decent, but as for the rest of the food, YUCK, YUCK, YUCK! My recommendation is that the owners need to come in and re-train or clean house. Make it clear customers are a # 1 priority. If the service and food is excellent, you won't have to worry about losing money by constantly comping food and never having customers come back. Therefore, the restaurant stays busy and the employees are much happier when making money. Letting customers leave unhappy is horrible for business and after reading some of the other reviews, this has been happening for quite sometime. At this rate, this business may not even be open come next year (not that I would...

So there was a lot of not so good reviews for this place.... Then I saw one saying they wernt sure why such bad reviews... So being in thevresturant business, I know sometimes its a tough night, no we didnt get to the restrooms after every person to clean it....

The place was cool. I liked the inside not what I was expecting... Ive never been to a Twiggs location before or even heard of it. It was about 3:30 typical down time and it was. They offered a salad bar for one visit for $3.50. A soda is $$3.00 even for kids....NO KIDS CUPS, but they do have lids if you need one (we would have gotten water...we have 5 kids)

FOOD.... Great!! Had the nachos minus the sausage. Wish I had gotten it for only myself and not shared with my kids, lol. They fry their chips and personally as a nacho lover I prefer theserupture chips over bagged.... Big chunks of juicy chicken...black beans and a chipotle sauce....again I say, YUMM!! I had their cuban, not bad...could of used more mustard and pickle but meat was good and cibatta bread. Their fries we're good streak fries. Bone-in wings w buffalo were great... They have an award winning sauce also...though we didn't try that.... My son had their cheeseburger pizza... He liked it other than the pickles which we're more like cooked on cucumber.... Kids had grilled cheese, hot dog (comes on poppy seed bun), chicken fingers...2 pcs... Large, but flat....

Read a lot about the restrooms and of course I have 5 kids so I had no choice, but to visit them... I mean its the normal unflushed toilet and a piece of toilet paper on the floor... I didn't come to eat in the bathroom though so...who cares really people. My only bathroom complaint... The regular stalls and a very snug fit...and im not a wide woman so if you are dont embarrass yourself or have an uncomfortable poo, just choose the handicap stall... Plus side told my girls their was no room for them with me lol.

Overall TRY IT FOR YOURSELF. REALLY NOT HORRID AS DESCRIBED. AND REMEMBER TO BE KIND TO YOUR WAIT STAFF... in this business we make less...