My Garden Cafe — Restaurant in Modesto

We are routine customers that try to go every weekend due to the great service. However, we decided to go on a weekday on a Tuesday about 2 or 3 weeks ago, and we were very disappointed at our service by Terry. She was not attentive. When we asked for coffee after she did not offer, she poured our coffee and slid the mugs on the table halfway to us as it if it was an inconvenience. It was very rude and inconsiderate as my daughter was in the high chair and she could have easily burned herself because the coffee was close to her or through a spill from Terry throwing the mugs on the table. (Usually all the other waitresses are considerate and pour away from my daughter and set our mugs far from my daughter and close to us.) We asked for creamer and she ignored us. When Terry was serving us, she looked away and never asked if we needed anything throughout our dining. Thankfully, Manuela helped us and stayed more attentive to our needs. My husband and I did notice that this may have been partially discrimination as we are Latino. She served tables around us and was very friendly to the older white folks and super attentive, offering coffee and they did not even have to ask for it like we did. In fact, I noticed that she would demand the cooks in the back what she needed with a rude tone of voice. My husband felt super uncomfortable and did not want to go back on a weekday due to her. My husband and I have always said that a place may have satisfactory food, but if service is unsatisfactory, we won’t go back. We have loved My Garden Cafe’s food and all the other people who have served us weekly. Everyone, but Terry, has treated us well with a lot of love and great service. My Garden Cafe deserves 5 stars (for food and for the rest of the great waitresses), but Terry deserves 0. I strongly think Terry does not deserve to be a waitress if she does not treat all customers equally. No one should feel belittled or discriminated anywhere including when simply trying to enjoy a family meal that one will...

Seated quickly, drink order delivered quickly. Then I waited. Waitress cleans the table in front of me. I waited. Waitresses talking in the well. I waited. Waitresses waited on other tables. I waited. This is all after I've set down my menu and placed it at the edge of the table to signal I'm ready to order. I ordered the cheeseburger and fries. The menu has it listed at $12 so I'm expecting a very good burger. Grill time was ok, not fast, not slow. The first thing I see is that the bun is over cooked to the point of black char being present. I can also see that this was a frozen patty. I get the reasons for using it but you're charging $12 for a burger and fries. ($16 out the door, no appetizers, desserts, extras of any kind, not even a refill) The first bite is very salty as is the next two bites, then the seasoning evens out. Also, pickle spears should not be served with burgers. Pickle spears are for light sandwiches. If I want pickle with my burger, your spear forces me to take a small bite, then bite the pickle. It's not nearly as enjoyable to eat, not to mention I have to display the contents of my open mouth to do this as well. The fries were between cold and warm so they were cooked as part of another order, then sat, waiting on the burger to finish. When I went to pay, the girl asked how everything was, I said "It was ok." She said "Good! I'm glad you liked it." It's OK. It's not great. It's average at best. For $16 cheeseburger, fries and drink, it should be much better. Most people were eating breakfast even though it was noon. Maybe breakfast is their thing. I may come back and try it but I won't come...

My Garden Cafe has updated their menu and added Loco Moco and Chilaquiles and forgot what the third item was. The Loco Moco was okay. I think what would make it stand out would be to swap out the brown gravy with the white gravy. The eggs on top ..even though the tops of the sunny side up eggs were cooked, the yolk in the middle was still runny - just the way I like my yolks.

So, being adventurous and curious which location is the best.....ROAD TRIP. It took over 2 months since I didn't want to eat @ My Garden every weekend. We managed to visit and eat at all the My Garden location. Verdict? Hands down the food (big thank you to the chefs), wait staff - the Standiford location is THE BEST! Let's take a moment to reflect on the other locations. The other locations had in inconsistency with their ranch - some places it had too much buttermilk or too salty. I am sure there is a recipe they're supposed to follow. There are three things that make My Garden on Standiford stand out...the food, the staff and that homemade jam. I love the fact they add new things on the menu like the Crab sandwich and Crab salad. I have had various breakfast and sandwiches and nothing for me to gripe about. Also try their FIREHOUSE BURGER. It's a little spicy thanks to the sliced jalapenos in the burger , but DAMN good! I did wish the Standiford locale had iced coffee drinks like the one off Coffee. Speaking of that, where else can you get breakfast while your car gets a wash and...