Martha's Place | Buffet and Catering — Restaurant in Montgomery

April 2018 / Wednesday dinner Buffet: I haven't been here since they've moved to larger facility. Started downtown with them and then to 2nd location. Followed d/t delicious hot fresh food, good hometown local service & Martha's story. I was very disappointed in tonight's buffet dinner (Wed nt) after looking up Martha's menu for tonight I was happy to see turkey and dressing sweet potato souffle among other vegetables. When I arrived there was baked chicken pieces dressing that just didn't taste good to myself, and potatoes and cheese instead of sweet potato souffle. I know things can change and you can run out of particular items but it is very disappointing when you go expecting certain things that you enjoy the most or you would have gone to another restaurant otherwise. Spoken to by the guy behind the register who buffet and table, there was loud but not annoying music coming from a separate party room and the crowd was in that room but not in the regular seating dining area so it's hard to say how busy they were as to running out of items. I guess the biggest disappointment to me was when there wasn't any fried chicken (7:40pm) so I ended up asking 3 employees before someone could tell me if anymore chicken would be placed on buffet... the man from kitchen who answered me diffidently could have been much more professional & nicer with his reply. After about 10 mins he brought out a large hot bar pan full really over full with hot Fried Chicken. After looking for a breast piece I finally selected a thigh. At the price of dinner buffet I expected to see at least a few breast pieces cooked each batch. By the time chicken was placed in the warmer the other dishes had been replaced with fresh cooked items. (For last 20+/- mins the food bar held half or 1/4 filled items that had Sat in there since before I arrived. Why would you cook & replace food at 5 till 8 or closing? As soon as the chicken was in place... the staff came past my table to return to food bar with not 1 Togo plate but no less than 2 & several had 3. It was like vultures grabbing up chicken & others items until not a price of chicken was even left for 2 of the kitchen staff who walked out to fill their plates. I found & find this to not only be rude but answers my question of why fresh food was restocked on bar. 2 ladies had 2 Togo containers so packed full of just chicken they couldn't shut it. And went back to get another new plate ... really? This should be done after patrons are gone & door locked for closing. Not before 8pm. I watched as several folks came from the party & individual seating area to get chicken they'd asked about to have to wait behind staff only to find pans scraped empty. Are the employees only paid in food? Looked like it. Needless to say I didn't see the owner anywhere in site when this was going on. She'd been out speaking to folks prior to the frenzy feeding. But regardless of manners, the food was too greasy & just didn't have that delish taste I remember. It's a personal...

Entering the restaurant it's a nice environment ... there was a strange kind of sour smell that I couldn't quite nail down. It may have not been as bad if it were not so hot in there. I don't know if the air conditioning is broke or what but it was uncomfortably warm. After I came thru the door the hostess was on the phone barely acknowledged I Was there .. Asked how many... took my money and told me I can sit where I like. .... Alrighty then hey to you too... Smh .. After finding somewhere to sit I was greeted by my server a young man .. Who was very nice ... So one star of my review is for him .. I don't like having to prepare my food again after its on my plate .. But that's what I would have had to do to enjoy my collards.. They are cooked well and tender but very bland .. But if you are a person who adds extra salt.. Pepper sauce .. Onions and all that to your greens they probably would be fine.. The potato salad was flavorful but entirely TOO sweet for my tastebuds .. But it may be just how some like it. Another star for the fried chicken and okra.. It was fresh crispy and seasoned although chicken seemed to be dark meat only ..which was kind of a disappointment.. Although the online menu said turkey ..none was available .. Another disappointment... The macAroni had a weird after taste and was kind of gritty.. I had one fork full and had to spit it out..just didn't taste fresh at all.. Maybe Wednesday is a bad day to come ... And the third star is for the banana pudding and.watermelon (very sweet delicious) and sweet tea .. .. The other dessert was some type of pink cake. .. I guess strawberry but it was dry and really didn't have much flavor at all. So .. Would I go back? Maybe I will try on a weekend.. Wednesday just seemed like we were given the leftovers they were cleaning out of the fridge before getting ready for the weekend batch...

My mother, aunt and I have eaten here numerous times when in Montgomery. Today was horrible experience and definitely not worth $10,00. First I am handicap with a motorized scooter. I was accommodated with an accessible table but tables were so close together, I had to ask people to move their chairs to get through. It was embarrassing. Then there was not room to get around the buffet because tables were so close to it and people were standing around the tables as well as the people visiting. This including a worker that was visiting in line backing up the traffic. Again unable to maneuver.

All other visits we had a variety of meat entrees. Today had fish, fried chicken and baked chicken. I requested white meat of either fried or baked. No white meat available as well as no type beef or pork. We should have got that information before paying. We tried to have salads. Asked for 1000 island salad dressing. None available. Had Italian and ranch. Settlled for Italian. It was sour salads could not be eaten. Only had cornbread available also. Asked for rolls. None available. Vegetables rice/gravy desserts andtea/coffee were good. We were never offered refills on drinks. We were not asked about our satisfaction with meals. Then as we were leaving,we saw their health department score was 87. I am a retired state employee with 25 years. The grading environmentalist always advise to be cautious eating at restaurants with a score less than 90.

In conclusion it was not a pleasant lunch with my family. I could only apologize for bragging on this business. Will be returning to Martin's restaurant. They are much smaller but accommodate my mechanical needs without embarrassment and the food hasn't been a disappointment. All other visits, the people have tried to accommodate needs as well as check on quality and...