T.J. Rockwell's — Restaurant in Mount Joy Township

FYI -hostess was very friendly and accommodating on phone while making reservations for a party of 8 and at check in with taking a birthday cake to cooler HOWEVER, our server was awful. Halfway through taking our orders he turned around to another table to talk to them because he overheard something they were saying. They didn't even ask for his attention. We specifically asked for extra lemons for iced tea- received 2 slices total for 2 glasses. Our appetizers were almost finished before he finally brought appetizer plates out for a party of 8, after having to be asked. Appetizer plates should be brought prior to or with appetizer. After having to ask for drink refills, as he dropped off our appetizer plates (an hour after being seated- still waiting for entree to be delivered to table) our server told me we were just going to have to wait. He then proceeds to turn to a table he had become friendly with during our stay and converse with them. Several tables around us that were either seated at the same time or after us have been served, eaten and left before our entrees were even served. Our server then proceeded to enter and exit our area 3 times before we were given drink refills. ( One drink refills was wrong- he gave unsweetened tea for guest that had previously had sweet tea) At this time he asked why we were upset with him- we let him know that it had been over an hour since our appetizers had arrived and we were upset with his slow service. He said there's nothing he can do. Yes, he could have brought a manger out or asked another server to help him with his table to make sure we had basics like refills. When our entrees arrived - one entree DID NOT- a chopped salad without chicken. Something that didn't even have to be cooked. He said he didn't realize that I had ordered it. I informed the server to take it off the bill. Because we had to leave soon and I didn't have time to wait with the previous experience we had with waiting. The server at that point still did not have the manager come. (He did pack the salad in a to go container, but I didn't trust at that point he didn't spit in it) By the time our entrees arrived at 7:30 for a 6pm reservation we didn't have enough time to eat and have the cake we brought to leave by 8pm because we had to pick someone up from work at 8:30. In conclusion, the couple that had been there previous were embarrassed that they suggested such an establishment that had terrible service when they did not experience it before or expect it. The other 6 of us who had never been there prior to our terrible experience will never return. When I began to type my Google review on my phone. The server stood behind me and began to read it until my husband saw him and scolded him and told him to mind his own business. Seriously, if you were worried about a review, you should have provided better service prior to the end of our dinner. The other couple would not allow me to pay the bill which I was planning on doing because they knew I would not tip the server due to the terrible service. I tip based on service and will be known to over tip based on extra attention to a large party. I believe the other couple over tipped our server who felt he was entitled to a large tip due to auto gratuity for a party over 6 and allowed himself to not base his service on work ethic but entitlement based on that fact. Management should take the time and visit all tables or at least tables with parties over 6 just to check and see how everything is going. Many restaurants do this and I believe this helps with miscommunication between guests, servers...

So we wound up going to this location because we were shut down by another restaurant and thought that we had found a "hidden gem". This restaurant got great reviews for the most part and they're parking lot was packed so thought for sure this had to be the local place to go. It did not take that long to seat us however the layout of the restaurant was horrible. They had this huge bar right smack dab in the middle of the whole entire room that you have no choice but to go around and there were aisles of tables. Just silly, not my preference but I didn't make the restaurant and it's not my business to judge. Our waitress was young and had mentioned that she was fairly new. We asked a couple of questions such as how long does the all you can eat seafood go on for she did not have an answer for us but said someone else had asked that question, you would think that she would have gotten the answer so if the question ever came around again she would be able to answer it. Also she gave options for beers to my husband when he placed his order she then said it was no longer an option, you would think she would get that information prior to giving the options. We ordered the wing appetizer which was pretty good could have been fried a little more skin was a little soggy for my preference. We also had the fried pickles the pickles were paper thin to where you could see your finger through it and heavily breaded so you did not even taste the dill of the pickle. Had to be premaid frozen so can't really blame them but they might want to get a different vendor for those. My son had the lobster bisque it was OK nothing to rave about. I had the crab cakes steam broccoli and chose sweet potato fries. Not sure if anyone has ever tried Sam's club crab cakes but they are absolutely delicious and this restaurant should be getting those and serving them because their crab cakes were pure mush undercooked and horrible. Don't know how anybody in their right mind that knows anything about seafood would love them maybe I'm spoiled I'm from Virginia and I know my seafood these people are central Pennsylvania and maybe just don't know any better. My steamed broccoli was mushy and had an aftertaste the only thing with my dinner that was appetizing was the sweet potato fry. It was so bad I got 2 crab cakes only ate a 3rd of one and didn't even touch the other it looked as though there was a fingerprint in it. As for my husband he ordered the fajitas. This was a poor decision on his part. His fajitas had overcooked shrimp and chicken and overcooked steak not even thin slices but huge chunks . This restaurant is not in my opinion any place anyone should spend their money they are overpriced for the quality of food that they provide. Service can be overlooked but then again she probably was not trained very well which would be on the restaurant.. Overall this place does not even deserve one star but had to put something in order to write...

Been going here for almost 30 years and it has gone so far downhill it should definitely be avoided. Food is nothing special, service abysmal and prices astronomical for what you get. And they DO NOT CARE because every negative review ( many of them almost identical) gets the same canned response on here, YET NOTHING IMPROVES because I was in there 3 days ago. This place is NOT fine dining but their prices try to pretend they are. No wonder it was empty on a Friday at lunchtime. Had three of us, all were extremely disappointed. The crab soup ( adv as a “bowl”) was served cold, had abt 2 teeny tiny bits of crab meat and was LOADED with corn trying to pretend to be crabmeat. Paid $7 for cold canned corn, cream and too much seasoning. Portion was abt 6 ounces as the bowls have shrunk to hobbit size. When they brought back a warmer version at my request, it appeared they simply took really hot water and poured it in the bowl as it was much thinner the 2nd time. $17 salad was 90% comprised of only iceberg lettuce, pulled pork (out of a container, made somewhere else, by someone else) sandwich resembled a slider sized version. Got 5 obviously prepackaged, previously frozen small onion rings as a side, that we paid extra for.. Wait staff was inattentive even though the place was empty. She dumped everyones napkins in one spot and we had to ask for drink refills. Were never asked how our food was so I had to wait to even get our server’s attention ( we were at the bar and she was busy chatting)to tell her the soup was cold. Asked for soup to be served when other meals came out. It was served right away. Has gone even further downhill under new owner/management. Quality control is nonexistent.Just because its still there Etown, doesnt mean its the same Rockwells we knew and loved. Save your disappointment and ruined nostalgia and go somewhere new. You could prob even make it better at home for 1/6 the price and not have to pay sales tax or tip a server that, obviously, couldn’t have cared less. Oh, and I forgot to mention the ridiculous unparkable, unmarked,, unpaved parking lot. Always a nightmare! Spend a little of our money, Rockwells, and expand, pave and line...