Cotton Patch Cafe — Restaurant in Round Rock

First time here. Last time here.

*Food: WHY SO SALTY!? My entree was the Super Combo Fish & Shrimp (fried fish and shrimp served over fries and hushpuppies) from the "homestyle favorites" menu. Buyer beware: you'd better have your favorite blood pressure medication close by.

Everything tasted the exact same -- greasy salty-salt. I understand that fish-fry batter can be a bit heavy-handed with the ol' sodium shaker but I'm write this feeling like I just finished soaking in the Dead Sea with my mouth open. The look of shock in my partner's face when I, of all people he knows, said the meal was too salty almost made up for what I paid. And how do you cook the shrimp flavor out of shrimp?!

The French fries were wilty and mooshy, but not in that delicious McDonald's sorta way. More of a sadness like when you wake up thinking you have 2 more hours to sleep in but then realize it's Monday.

Redeeming quality -- the fish was crispy on the outside, moist on the outside; the hush puppies had a nice crunchy outside as well.

Side of okra. "Sea" the above description.

Side of cinnamon apples. It was mostly a thick sugar syrup with some paper-thin apple slices thrown in, reminiscent of a dollar store can of apple pie filling.

The rolls and butter were good, so gold star there.

Dessert: a shy bit of blackberry cobbler. If you've never seen someone sh-t on the floor of a truck stop bathroom, drizzle it with corn syrup, and throw a roofing shingle on top you're in for a real treat! I haven't tried the ice cream yet, as it's in the freezer converting back from liquid to solid after being packed in a bag of hot fried food.

*Service: I ordered online to-go, directly from the website. I was the only person on my side of the counter so I wasn't surprised (and was very happy for!) the speedy welcome when I walked in the "To-Go" door. I also arrived very early for my order, which was ready and waiting. The website's "order ready" timing could be improved, especially considering nobody else was there and there were several staff working.

*Atmosphere: It could use a quick slap of paint inside and maybe a balloon or something to cheer it up. I expected a Old Western movie whistle and a tumbleweed to blow by, which I guess would've fit the theme. Lots of points for the heavily tinted windows to keep the sun and heat out, though! It was like sitting in a drug dealer's Mercedes in the middle of Ft Stockton, TX.

My...

This place has had a horrible problem with service for at least 18 months now. They seem to turn over wait staff on a weekly basis, they are always poorly trained and completely incompetent.

They will claim they are short handed, but can't seem to take care of you, even when there are only two other tables in the store and no Togo line.

Every time I am there, I notice: ) They have no dedicated host and none of the waitstaff seem to care if you stand there ten minutes wanting a table. It's usually a manager, expediter or bar person that will seat you. They could at least acknowledge your presence! ) All wait staff let themselves be run. They go to a table, get a request for one thing, go get that single thing, and return, only to get run for one thing again. This is service industry 101... Queue up requests, get them all at once, taking care of multiple tables in parallel. I can serve 8 tables at once, why can't you handle 2?! ) It's 50/50 if you get silverware. Again, a dedicated host who places silverware and makes someone aware you got sat, or even grabbed your drink order, would help. ) You can let your glass sit empty for ten minutes or even the entire meal on 10 out if 12 visits. ) I rarely have anyone check back to see if my food was OK. I've went through a dozen meals here without seeing my wait person again after food was served. You should always check back after the first bite! I had to eat diced tomatoes here with my hands because no one ever checked back!

This is not a one time occurrence. I've given this place dozens of tries. It's the same experience nearly every time.

I have no idea why this particular restaurant can't get it together. Someone somewhere must be making their wait staff not care about their jobs. If they don't get tipped enough you'll have to raise that $2.13 along with training, until a level of service is established again.

Today, I sat at the host stand, made eye contact with 5 employees, and none acknowledged me, while I listened to a man asking his wife if they were ever going to see their waiter again, at a nearby table. I just left. I give up on this place.

I eat out on a daily basis. Covid is not an excuse. Other restaurants in the area manage good service, why can't you? Are you guys getting high in the back or what?!

It's too bad, because the food is pretty good and the prices...

Fri April 13 after 8 pm, I went to dine in at Cotton Patch when they were crowded thinking I was going to get great service like I usually do. But no. Tnte was disappointing. SAMANTHA, a new waitress. Waited on her other tables while I sat there for 15 mins. I watched her. Which I didn't mind too much. Then she comes over to my table says one moment I be w u. I'm very busy. After watching her take drink refills & food to her tables. Now it's been 30 mins. She comes back to my table again & this time takes my order. I tell her politely triple cheeseburger no american cheese, sweet potato fries w honey packets on the side & a sweet tea. She comes round the corner says american cheese, I say no american cheese, then 5 mins ltr, round the corner again , no cheese right, I said no american cheese but I want the other two cheese's, It's been over an hour & 15 mins. I never got my sweet tea not until my burger came out to me by a waiter that's new & he was professional. He asked me can I get u anything? I said, yes, I ordered a sweet tea. He was polite. I wish I had him instead of Samantha who obviously needs to go thru server training again. It doesn't matter how busy u are, if u have tables & another table added to ur section, u make sure ALL YOUR CUSTOMERS HAVE DRINKS !! I don't mind waiting for appetizers or dinner. But, A whole hour & nearly a half sitting there waiting for a glass of sweet tea. Soo this is wat I did to make a point to her. I'm posting a pic.. I had drank my own drink from HEB that I bought to save for later when I got home but instead I ended up having to drink it here while I waited for SAMANTHA my server who was annoying, too many apologies, & rushing me to eat when I finally got my burger & fries. I was very dissatisfied & angry. I'm a big tipper having lived on tips alone myself. I COULDN'T TIP HER. SHE'S TERRIBLE HUMAN BEING. She needs customer service training along with server training in a restaurant. Felt like she didn't care about customers & their meal orders. Unprofessional for business anywhere. Too many mistakes in my order. ANNOYING, Forgetful, dimwit. No...