Alice's - A Family Restaurant — Restaurant in Maryland

I have been coming here for several years, and my in-laws even longer. For quite some time, we have been having issues with getting credited for our reward points under their loyalty program. When we came in tonight, we again inquired about the points and were told they would absolutely resolve the issue tonight.

Eventually our food was brought out. My mother-in-law ordered the quesadilla, but said the chicken tasted off as if it had been microwaved. She asked to send it back and replace it for something else, stating she would still pay for the quesadilla and the replacement food.

The owner of the restaurant came out a few moments later asking for an explanation for why the quesadilla was sent back. My mother-in-law told her the same thing she told the waitress, to which the owner replied, "We don't microwave our food". My mother-in-law explained that it's just how it tasted and it didn't taste right. The owner then asked what were they supposed to do, just give her another meal? My mother-in-law reiterated her willingness to still pay for everything, but also stated she didn't appreciate the way the owner had approached her because they were regulars. The owner's response was to state that my mother-in-law was "always" the problem when she came in.

Admittedly I am not with my in-laws every time they go there, but in the countless times I have been there I've never seen my mother-in-law send back food. But at that point the rest of the family asked for boxes because we no longer felt welcomed there. My mother-in-law stated she wouldn't be back, and the owner felt it necessary to follow up by saying they were no longer welcome there. The owner also apparently decided she didn't want our group's money, as our entire check was comped.

This last part is pure hearsay, so take it as you will, but we have previously been told by staff that the owner steals tips from the wait staff. Obviously I cannot verify this information, I can only report what I have been told, so I will simply pass on what I've been told and let the reader decide whether the wait staff should be trusted in their claims.

Goodbye and good...

I had the worse experience ever tonight I got there waited for a server that someone else got our drink order the waitress who’s name on my receipt says Toni took 10 minutes plus then longer for some bread the 3 tables by us people came in after we did every those tables got their food before we did 2 of the tables were almost done eating. Then when she put food on the table behind us and yes she was the waitress for all 3 tables she knew I was very upset by then and said they were waiting on something one of us at my table ordered there was 3 of us . She said oh your food up now 5 minutes later comes out my daughter food was made wrong the food was barely warm fry’s were cold you could clearly see that my husband food had been sitting mine was barely warm so if we were waiting on meatloaf chicken parmigiana sub that came out as a sandwich or my country fried chicken NONE of it was hot I touched mine to feel it and boxed it up did not eat it my daughter left most of hers on her plate and my husband ate a few bites and boxed his up then we had to wait ...wait to get the bill. I know the owner and 2 of the waitress from the other place they worked at and never had any problems EVER I followed them to Alice’s when the Darlene and her brother got it but I will never return there again I’m so disappointed with my service and the quality of my food tonight and the length of the time I sat at my table till I left it took almost 45 minutes to get my food maybe a few minutes longer we will not be going...

Had brunch here with family. Pretty good, and I would recommend it! Service was at a relaxed pace without being too slow, which I appreciate. A lot of places rush you, but I wasn’t rushed here. I like that.

They had a limited but good selection of simple, rustic breakfast dishes. We all ordered different things and it was all fine. Atmosphere was comfortable and clean, notably in a “no-frills” kind of way. The layout was basically just one open room of tables and booths— packed-in but not claustrophobic.

The only thing that really bothered me is that there were grounds all in the coffee. It was kind of sickly and weak too.

Was anything less than excellent? Yeah, I was disappointed by the coffee. ❌

Was anything less than good? Yeah, I was pretty let down about that coffee. ❌

Is the place adversarial to its guests? No, the experience was pleasant and the server, Shannon, was excellent. ✅

Is it worth it? Yes. It’s not an expensive place at all, and it’s a great value for what you pay. ✅

5 - 2 = 3

3/5 overall, plus a soft recommendation. Good spot for...