Stratford Diner — Restaurant in Stratford

We got home with a pick up order. We ordered from the menu on their website. Mine was supposed to be chicken with mushrooms and artichoke hearts. What came instead was chicken with mushrooms and broccoli. A lot of broccoli. I am not a fan of broccoli. I called to let them know and they said they stopped using artichokes four years ago. He said, I guess now they use broccoli. He said that I had to bring the dish back to the restaurant and they would make me another one. I said I'm not going out again tonight and that I shouldn't be inconvenienced for their mistake. I asked them to deliver a meal to me and I would return the old one. They said they don't deliver. So then I asked for a credit, not a refund, a credit for the next time I eat there. They said that in order to issue a credit, I would still have to bring the food back to the restaurant! Because otherwise, "you'll just sit there and eat it". How petty is that? They would have to throw that meal directly into the trash if I brought it back. And honestly, even if it was something that I liked (which it wasn't), the point is that I ordered one thing, they sent me something else and they should make it right without inconveniencing me. When I asked to speak to the owner that I should call back at 9 AM in the morning. I called and left a message and haven't heard anything back. I was going to wait until I spoke to him to find out if this is his policy or if the employees were acting on their own, but after reading some of these reviews, I realize that nothing will be accomplished by speaking with him. And at this point, I don't want a credit to go back to the restaurant anyway. I don't plan to eat there again. I would want a full refund which I'm absolutely positive I will...

Service was crazy slow and there were flies flying around our booth. It took us an hour to get eggs and bacon!! I could make that at home in ten min!! We got to the diner at 9:15 and were sat immediately. However our order wasn’t taken for at least 15 minutes, ~9:30. Then we didn’t get our food until 10:30!!!

What’s even worse is that there were open tables everywhere so I know they weren’t busy. The overall service was so slow, I recall watching an older woman try and wave down a waitress. She waved for at least 60 seconds! I’ve eaten here once before and I don’t remember it being this bad, maybe covid brought down the staff size? No excuse tho, and the waitress apologizing doesn’t do anything about my time. The couple next to us asked for the check when they got their food. Im assuming they’ve had a similar experience. All this makes me worried about what’s going on in the kitchen.

So I got eggs and bacon with toast and home fries. It was all fine I guess, hard to mess up, except the toast was soaked in butter. I couldn’t even eat it. Pretty disgusting.

Then the worst part was actually paying. The cashier/host asked me how much I wanted to tip!!! Usually tips are given in confidence… or so I thought. I was generous and actually gave 12% tip, I really should’ve give 5% but it was awkward!

I wont be returning here ever again. If I wanna waste my time I’ll go dig a hole in my backyard. Next time I’ll take breakfast at McDonald’s...

We have been going here for YEARS, more than a decade, the food and service is always average, occasionally a dirty fork or cup. But very nice people. HOWEVER, the bathrooms are always a mess. Today, (I just walked out of here). The woman's bathroom is absolutely fking disgusting, its filthy the salls are dirty, pee on the seats and floor, dirt in the corners like it hasn'tbeen cleaned in a week or more, it stinks and is falling apart. They have plywood where tile should be, and it's been like that over a year now. The mens bathroom, according to my husband, was worse! He had to hold his breath the whole time he was in there. It's dirty and smelled like sewage, and like old musty basement. If they can't keep their bathrooms clean, two small rooms, I don't even want to know what their kitchen looks like. The place is in shambles compared to what it used to be. And I hate to leave a bad review because it's our local diner, but you have to get it together. There is no excuse, I am a Pastry Chef i work in the restaurant industry for over 20 yrs I used to be a line cook and waitress. The Sidework should be to clean the bathrooms, or have the dishwasher go in there and clean, if your THAT short staffed, then the owner should take more pride in thier building and roll up thier sleeves if they can't afford a cleaning service. I'm grossed out. I don't think we'll be...