Ford's Garage Lakeland — Restaurant in Lakeland

Quite literally a nightmare.

What started as an evening of 6 friends getting together after one of our friends recently had a baby, we decided to go to fords garage in Lakeland to enjoy dinner. We got to our table at approximately 7.

One of our friends was running late and wasn’t at the table but our waitress determined that we could not order drinks or appetizers until she got there which was approximately at 7:15-7:20. Fine, no big deal.

Once our friend settled in it took another 30 minutes to get drinks. After placing our orders, we explicitly said we wanted appetizers while we waited. Appetizers came out with our meals which was approximately at 8:30-8:45. Once again; no big deal, I understand this isn’t McDonald’s and generally a much higher quality. Except during this hour and 25 minute wait we weren’t once checked on. We got no refills and since we made the terrible decision to sit outside we were essentially left outside on our own. Awkward.

We got all our meals. Which were all wrong and missing parts of. The manager ended up coming outside and he was a gentleman with dirty blonde ish hair. Super sweet guy. We told him our complaints and what was missing from our meals and he tried to make the situation better but it just continued to get worse from here.

I’m guessing the manager spoke with the waitress because the rest of the evening was riddled in snarky undertones and weird remarks. Once we got our bills one of my friends spoke up that she had never gotten her sweet potato tots to which the waitress replied “OH REALLY???” In a VERY questionable tone. My friend had opened her to go box which still had most her meal to prove she didn’t receive them, she instead received regular fries, and the waitress still tried bantering with us and presuming we were lying. But wait! It gets better.

After we paid and our cards were charged and we STILL left what was in my opinion a generous tip after a really long and terrible night, as we were standing in the parking lot, several waiters and workers ran out to us as we were hugging and saying our goodbyes and essentially accused us of dining and dashing. Our waitress said we never left our checks with her tip at the table. We had to then go back in only to be told another waiter grabbed the checks and left it at the register.

NO apology for that by the way.

This fords garage sucks. Go to the millers instead or a different location. I’m so utterly disappointed I even left her a tip. Wish I could turn back time like Cher and take it back. Imagine getting a tip and accusing people you left outside for 2 hours they were dining and...

First timer. Great great meals! We both loved our food. Atmosphere is alive, nostalgic and just plain fun! Bathrooms are a must visit. I love fried fish. Their fish w green beans did not disappoint. My wife's burger (i had 3 bites) was A++. Prices are a tad high but the cook was amazing and this store is on our "Let's do that again! list".

Things to improve: put a small sign up showing people how to turn on the bathroom sink water. Improve your ice water to a good taste. Gone are the days when a Florida restaurant can get 5 stars from me and serve poor tasting water. Also, update the staff on how to handle obnoxious, profane customers.

Still, the food is amazing. And whoever was cooking Saturday night--Way to go bro!!!

Just an add-on comment about the 'response from the owner'. The water tastes like tap water. The waitress didn't know if it was filtered. It clearly wasn't. If McDonald's can get good tasting water, surely your store can too. So that's one thing to work on. The other thing was how are difficult customers handled. We actually had to move our table because a few good old boys near us were getting pretty loud and obnoxious. And we were seated four feet away from them. Our waitress was keenly aware of the problem and served them another drink. A gentle, "let's keep the volume down for other customers guys" should have done the trick. But that needs to come from your staff, not from another customer. And then after soaping up my hands I could not figure out how to turn on the water in the bathroom. The ball valve on the side of the sink is the kind we normally use to cut the water off to a faucet. And the gasoline nozzle at the top of the sink where normally a faucet handle is, did nothing. So it was confusing. Just a note that says (try the ball valve on the side of the sink instead of the gasoline faucet) might be a great thing for first time visitors. I hope these additions make it into your staff for you to consider. The big issue though is that in this day and age with all the different ways water can be conditioned and improved, y'all should have great tasting water, not tap water. I hope it would be okay if we brought our own next time if you haven't addressed this problem. Would...

Come by tonight with my 12 year old nephew after a long day at the Sun N Fun air show. We mentioned several times during our meal how delicious the food was. He enjoyed the atmosphere and the hype of a birthday at a table not that far away from us. We got the check and headed out.

On the way out, the host was seemingly enjoying his job laughing and communicating with other staff on their internal communication system and said “have a good night”.

My nephew and I got to the car when the host ran out to get our attention thinking we forgot something at the table, which wasn’t the case.. He said my 12 year old nephew took his picture and he didn’t appreciate it. I asked my nephew if he took his picture. He said no I’ll show you my phone. Then the employee was like no, open Snapchat, go here, scroll there, let’s look here… I’m like okay, no, were not going to sit here and go through a 12 year old boys’ phone. I told the employee he’s accusing him of taking his picture that he can’t prove that he did… the employee was adamant that he, in fact, took his picture and he didn’t appreciate it. He seemed concerned that his picture was on my nephews Snapchat. I asked to speak with a manager because this isn’t ok. What 20+ year old hospitality employee chases down a customer to accuse a 12 year old of taking a photo?! I was very upset. I spoke with the manager and he will follow up with the employee… but… the fact remains, you’re in a hospitality role and people are going to take pictures in your general direction. If you so happen to be in a picture, then, you’re in a picture, who cares. My 12 year old nephew has no reason to specifically single you out and take a picture of any one single employee.

I’m completely shocked this happened. I have full confidence that the onsite manager will handle it internally but I feel it needs to be escalated a little higher than the manager. The manager was great to talk with and wanted to make sure the rest of our experience was perfect,...