Sterling Café — Restaurant in Lincoln

Something has changed, maybe new owners? We hadn't been here in a while and today we were very disappointed with our service. The food was good but two tables seated after us were served before us and were almost finished by the time we got our food. At one point I needed a refill of water and I looked up at two young men one who was the drink server and the other who was making salads. They were chatting. I made eye contact with the salad guy and waved at him and held up my empty cup he looked straight at me and did nothing. No acknowledgment whatsoever. Didn't let the other guy know that I needed something. The other young man finally turned around and came over. This was after the waitress had said she was going to bring a larger cup of water with more ice and she had never come back with that, although I noticed she found time to goof off and chat for a few minutes with someone in the kitchen. We had been waiting a while for our food and they tried to give us someone else's food. Waitress was very confused and commented several times that our table number was on the ticket. As if we have something to do with that or maybe we were mistaken about what we ordered. When our food finally came (it was actually quite good, eggs were cooked nicely, potatoes were tasty, bacon was meaty) we commented that it had taken a long time and the waitress said "Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I kept looking back there making eye contact with the boss and he didn't like it" What does that even mean? The boss (who was actually her dad also) doesn't like it when you try to make sure food gets out in a timely manner? Kind of lame to blame the kitchen for everything instead of just apologizing. Which come to think of it, she never actually did apologize for how long it took. They definitely need to work on coordinating their efforts and improve their service. Most likely we will...

Went on a slow Sunday morning with 3 adults, two kids and a baby. I won’t comment on the food, but instead on the service. Our server chose to eat her food right next to us instead of actually helping us. Every time we needed something, she never once got up and instead watched as we went back and forth to the front. She only came to our table when we ordered (after we had to ask for a server) and when she brought our food. The gentleman who sat us and brought our drinks was very helpful, even though he wasn’t our server. We thought our server was on break which is why we didn’t want to bother her, but it all made sense when we went up front to pay. There was an automatic 20% gratuity added because we were a “large party” (as a server I’ve never seen higher than an 15% autograt on a non-banquet table so that was a shock). Apparently she knew she had a guaranteed $20 from us without having to actually do anything. We typically tip well over 20% but this truly left a bad taste in our mouth due to the horrendous service, and we left feeling stolen from. Did not see this autograt mentioned in the menu (I went back and checked) or on the door, but perhaps I missed it.

Tl;dr: I would NEVER go here with a party larger than 4 ever again, because I would worry they would again use it as an excuse to steal a 20% tip without actually...

Last year, I rated this place with 4 stars. I am editing my review to give one. I wish I could give 0 stars. Usually I like this restaurant, but the incompetence of Samera just has completely turned me and my family completely off. When she is not working, the atmosphere is completely different in the restaurant. The servers are friendly, the tables are cleaner. When she works, she is very rude, and does the bare minimum. The restaurant was dirty, the table's salt and pepper shakers were covered in ketchup, it's like she doesn't care and it shows. When she came to get our drink order, she took my mom's order, looked at my sister and I and walked away. Came back several minutes later with my mom's drink order, then asks for the other drink orders. My mom gave her a 10% tip. I would have not given her any. I seriously hope that management looks into her because she does this business a disservice when she is working. The other waitress, I do not know her name, but she is blond and very friendly, she needs a raise. She picks up Samera's and everyone else's slack in...