Fried Tomato Buffet — Restaurant in Montgomery

I'm not a fan of buffets... so please consider this with my review. The price was high to me & 1 reason I don't care for buffets is because I eat very little & $11 for lunch when I don't even eat a full plate just isn't something I can or desire to do. But I was with a friend & this was their choice... even though I was stuck with paying for hers and I didn't invite. But anyway, buffets all, yes all around here seem to be the same in the fact that nothing they're serving in great or makes u want to come back, bland tasting & seems to all kinda taste the same too. The fried chicken... never found a breast & we were there way longer than I cared to be, only dark meat that was the same that was put out when we arrived & when we left 3.5 hrs later. Only white meat was a wing. The chicken crust was hard from sitting under the heat lamps. Every time I "tried" to ask if fresh chicken or other was going to be coming out... I guess I kept getting the same girl who didn't speak English & didn't seem to understand it or me. The chicken & dumplings were mush, rolls hard, died Lima beans were mush soup & bland, sweet potatoes were not good tasting. I wish they would put food labels out so u knew what the item was supposed to be. Oxtail is not my choice but when you're not sure if it's beef tips, pot pie, casserole & ask ... but no English... it becomes a miserable expensive lunch for 2! Our ... server? Hostess? Was AWESOME! Talked a lot, but I noticed how friendly she was with all the senior adults, handicapp, mentally challenged & those sitting alone & no one to eat & talk with who are regulars there & she gives them the attention that we all need & want in our lives especially when you've become a widow/widower like myself just at a younger age than these who come probably as much to see her as to get this not so great food served on this day. I may've just come on a bad day or menu pick not of my most loved foods. The place is pretty clean. It wasn't busy when we arrived around 1pm. & never noticed a crowd while there. However I do realize that the senior adults tend to eat all their meals earlier than I do, so they may have come & gone & some headed in when we finally left. I'm not saying that this is a awful place to eat. Its just not for me. I love meat & 3 , vegetables, country cooking, just not big buffets. I feel like when u cook this many things you can't focus & make them something special. I can dump green beans, peas etc out of a can at home, I want what I'm paying for... Real mash potatoes not instant, fresh peas, corn, okra etc not out of the big wholesale cans. If so, do something that makes them "yours" something that no other restaurant can make like u do so that folks come there just for the special things u cook. Cut down the variety & improve on a few things you serve. You won't have as much waste either. Folks are overwhelmed with the big selection & just a spoonful of each is too much food for anyone to eat. It might help those who struggle with portion control sizes....

Friday, 10 March 2023

11am open time and I'm with my family ready to eat! We encountered a Terrible server named Sue 45-55 years old (maybe Thai or Viennese). I came with my family, and she wanted to sit us in another location which I refuses nicely but she didn't take kind to that. She came asked me for my receipt in a nasty way, and her attitude was immediately known at this time. I asked her was she okay and she ignored me 3 times and asked me my drink. I asked her again was she okay (not being sure of her and my drinks) she started to speak louder as she explained herself about sitting at the table. I told her in a low tone and told her she doesn't have to be so loud... Her response, "oh, I just talk like that". (Lie, watched her talk super soft to the other customers...) (customers were alerted by her and watched how i calmed the situation down). Then she asked again about the drinks. I said, one moment cause my wife was getting food and she scribbled on the back of the receipt violently within 10 seconds of asking (see photo). I watched her from my seat as she left and fixed the waters with a attitude! She kept looking at me (yes, I'm watching her 👀) and put 1 to 2 pieces of ice in my kids drink! I then requested to speak with a manager. Manager did not come after 10 minutes of sitting and feeling uneasy. Then a manager named Eric came and he didn't seem too concern about the situation, he just wanted to move us to another location. 🙄 ok. We moved location and our server Edith was great 👍 as she asked about situation with some type of concern ❤️. She made the day better!!! Sheeeeshhhhhh! I haven't eaten yet and it's been 30 minutes recalling the event. Still in shock! Now it's time to eat. 🍽

Overall: 2 STAR EXPERIENCE

UPDATE: 29 JAN 2024

I have revisited Fried Tomatoe 3 times now since the incident. Here is what I got for you!

All servers have been great, and the infamous Sue has actually spoken (may not be sincere) and presented herself/company well. Perhaps it was just a bad day... Let's talk about the food!!!

Best on the Buffet Beef Stew Mac and cheese BBQ chicken Mash Potatoes Fried chicken Bake chicken (sometimes) I can't forget that meatloaf... They throwing it down!

The deserts are top notch!

PROS Mrs. Ray is a great server; she has been great for my last two visits Eric the manager was very vigilant of the floor. Talkative with guest and ensuring all cylinders were firing like clockwork. The food is great and kept fresh

Cons Floors 9 (carpets) in the buffet aisle were dirty (traffic) Utensils may not be fully cleaned (due to high t

Overall Impressions: Bring your family and enjoy the food! My first experience wasn't the best and may just be an isolated incident. Nevertheless, each time I come I get what's expected and some. This is the best buffet place in Montgomery, AL. Ill update when Fried Tomatoes takes a loss.

The food is great and kept fresh.

TRUE REVIEW STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE

Hit the like/follow on the way out!...

Was very excited to find a home cooking buffet on our way home from the gulf. Once we got seated we got drinks, our server was so sweet and polite! Always smiling. We go to get food, now I did anticipate there being a lack of stuff on the buffet since it was 2pm, however we ordered anyway. We got to the food bars and they were replenishing things randomly. There was a variety of food and what seemed to be like canned items and or frozen items. There was fried chicken which looked ok, I didn’t get that but my fiance did. The pot roast was one of the best things I had today. Even though the meat wasn’t as tender as I expected. It tasted good. The only issue I had with it was the carrots had not been peeled before cooking.. odd.. but they weren’t. The Mac n cheese had a very off flavor, it was not homemade and you could definitely tell. The gravy’s for the country fried steaks were packaged, the country fried steaks appeared to be from frozen, the broccoli and cheese casserole and squash casserole appeared frozen and baked, the sweet potato casserole was really good and I am not sure it was homemade but nonetheless it was really good. The rolls seemed like from frozen. Green beans, corn, Lima beans, butter beans, mashed potatoes, greens, cabbage and a few other items maybe. Most of which were definitely not homemade. The fried green tomatoes on the bar appeared cut in house and battered and fried but they were soggy and lacked a good green tomato flavor. The salad bar was hardly a salad bar. Lettuce cucumbers and cheese is what my daughter ate for the cost of the buffet today. The black olives on the salad bar were questionable. Let’s talk dessert- or lack thereof! Pre cut brownies. Which were hard and inedible. Tiny cups of banana pudding which was mostly whipped cream. Some peaches in syrup. Orange slices which looked like they had seen better days. I think it was jello in a pan. And some chocolate pudding in a container on the bar. Pretty disappointing seeing as I googled best buffet and that is what showed up. Anywho.. to each their own, if you go I hope you enjoy more...