We decided to try Chippers for dinner tonight for the first time since they reopened under new ownership. For the last few years under the previous owners, the quality had really gone down hill. Here is what we found when we stopped in tonight.

It was obvious that the interior had been repainted, pretty much everything else remained the same. We had plenty of time to take it all in as we waited, and waited, and waited, to be seated.

Once seated, we watched as three or four waitress tried to keep up with the mediocre crowd. Keep in mind, many people do the buffet, so the waitresses are mainly just doing drinks and writing up the tickets for the most part.

Speaking of the buffet. The first thing we find is a single stack of dinner plates, my wife takes the top plate, and the second plate is filthy! Not just a little dried on food, filthy! It looked like someone took it off of a table, dumped it in the bus tub, and put it back on the buffet line. It was sickening.

The food appeared to be the exact same spread and poor quality as under the previous owner. Chicken that sat under the light too long. Stuffed peppers that had no flavor, and what appeared to be country fried steak that looked like a door mat. It was bad.

We finished our meal and the one drink each that we got. The waitress never bothered to return to refill our glasses. After receiving our bill for $26.31 (for two terrible buffets, an ice tea, and a water), we stood at the register for about 5 minutes until a gentleman came from the kitchen and rang us up. No "How was your meal?" No "Did you folks enjoy your experience?" No "How was the service?" Nothing! We paid and left. And that will be the last time we inconvenience the staff by coming in for dinner!

I hate to see any business close down or leave Streator, but they should have just left the lights off when they shut it down previously.