Surrey's Uptown — Restaurant in New Orleans

I've eaten here before (for breakfast) and it was really good...I can recommend shrimp and grits and the biscuits and gravy is awesome. Both sausage gravy and mushroom gravy knocks it out of the park. I would rate 4 stars for that.

Recently, I was here for lunch and tried the carnitas sandwich, and I gotta say....extremely disappointed. Let's start with the "house baked" bun, which is HUGE!! Way too big for this. I tried eating it like a sandwich and the black beans and inside of the sandwich mostly fell out. Let alone trying to wrangle my mouth to get around the whole thing....impossible. It always makes me wonder if the chef or owner ever tried eating one. Anyway, I used a knife and fork to cut it up, leaving 1/2 the bun uneaten, it was just too much bread. Turns out the other 1/2 was too much bread too. Getting to the carnitas... way too little meat for a $14 sandwich, and totally bland. No seasoning, no flavor. The black beans were good. The menu said there was picó on it (I'm assuming picó de gallo), that was a fail too. Its just diced tomato. Again, no seasoning, no jalapeños, no flavor. I would take this ítem off the menu if this is how it was meant to be served. Its a lot of money for nothing. I said earlier I would give their breakfasts 4 stars, this I would give 1 or 2 stars. So overall I'm going...

First, I have passed by this gem 1000 times and never thought anything of it. That was my folly. From the moment my wife and I arrived the staff was attentive. Upon being seated we were immediately attended for drinks and water. Our server, Mark... the most pleasant person I have ever met in this industry. Super helpful with menu items and immediately identified items needed to maintain our experience. Once it arrived, the food was amazing. My wife enjoyed her meal, the avocado pesto sandwich. I had the special, the creole shrimp omelet, which was phenomenal. Once we were done, Mark ensured that we didnt need anything and brought the check. Deshawn went out of her way and stepped outside where we were sitting and asked if I was military. I said yes and she applied a discount. The attention to detail, atmosphere, food quality, and staff gives this restaurant my highest regard....

We learned of Surrey's from a server at our dinner on Saturday and went on Sunday morning. Food and service was great, coffee refilled continuously and staff very courteous (thank you, Corey!). Returned on Monday and staff was completely different. Food was still excellent but we were ignored despite being the first customers of the day. We were served our initial cup of coffee and then when our meals came, the server saw our empty cups on the edge of the table yet walked away. Another server took a pot of coffee outside and passed by without a refill. Our bill was brought to the table and only then were we asked about a refill, when our meal was basically finished. Water was never refilled. Great place to eat if you pick the right day...