Waffle House — Restaurant in Sumter

I visited this Waffle House the day after Thanksgiving 2013. They were not very busy as there were only a few customers in the restuarant when I arrived. As for the employees, there was the cook and two servers. My server was a young lady with long blonde/multi-colored hair who appeared to be resposible for the prepping/plating the toast. There was an elderly gentleman who sat directly behind me whom she was also serving. She kept turning her back to us as if she was trying hide whatever it was she kept pulling out of her pocket until I finally realized that it was her cell phone which she appeared to be reading/texting while prepping food for customers. I observed her placing the toast in the toaster with her bare hands and then pulling out her phone, when the toast popped up, she placed her phone on the wooden counter (another food prep area), took the toast out of the toaster (dirty bare hands yet again), buttering the toast (bare handed) and placing on the gentleman's plate (bare handed). She turned and handed him his plate as I sat there disgusted & ready to puke while waiting for her to do the same to me. Sure enough, before the cook could hand her my plate of grits, eggs & bacon for her to add my raisin toast, she had pulled out her cell phone & started reading/texting all over again. Eventually, it was my turn! She was handed my plate. She laid her cell phone down yet again on the food prep area and pulled my toast out of the toaster with her disgusting bare hands that were just fondling her cell phone. She buttered my toast & and handed me my plate. The grits (which are normally delicious) were thick, lumpy and almost dry while the the eggs (normally very good) looked like mush. I'm a regular customer and choose that location because I have always had positive experiences. Needless to say, I handed her the plate back without an explanation and left. The next day (Saturday) I called the restuarant and based on the noise level I could hear that it was business as usual so there should be a manager on duty because it was obvious that one was not there the night I visited. The manager was very nice and understanding. She promised to look into the situation and address it. I'm still a fan of Waffle House but this location needs to "get it together" before there reputation...

Normally, I go to Camden but tonight decided to give Sumter a try with an online order. Should've gone to Camden. The order was supposed to be ready at 12:01. I got there around 12:05 and the order wasn't ready, no biggie cause they were a little busy. My issue is that the waitress didn't acknowledge me at all. I'm used to walking in and having a waitress greet me, ask if a need a menu, or if I'm ready to order. Me and this chick made eye contact as I entered and she kept doing what she was doing. My thing is ok, I see you're eating no problem with that. She could've been on break 🤷🏾‍♂️. Then she goes and talks to the cooks. Ok, cool, yall a little busy working through a bunch of orders. I'm fine with that, but then a guy comes in after me. Which is where I have my issue. Guy comes in and lingers for a bit. Then, he has to flag the waitress gone and flurt a little to get his order put in. Sorry ma'am, didn't know I had to do that to get your attention to pick my order up. Seems like you have enough going on in life I'm not about to flatter you to pick up my food. You want to have a conversation fine but I'm not about to play you for this order. As the guy is flirting and easing in his order, one of the cooks happens to finish cooking my order and looks back to ask if I had an online order, then hands me my food. Another regret was that I tipped when I placed the order online. I would've liked to ensure the lady who gave me my food...

This Waffle House is an absolute gem in the landscape of American dining. From the moment you step through the door, you're greeted with the comforting aroma of waffles sizzling on the grill, the unmistakable sign that you're in for a treat.

The ambiance of this Waffle House is uniquely charming; it's a place where everyone from night shift workers to families on a road trip come together, creating a melting pot of stories and laughter. The 24/7 service ensures that no matter what time your cravings hit, Waffle House is there, ready to serve you with a smile.

The menu is a testament to comfort food done right. Their waffles are the star, of course – golden, crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside, served with an array of sweet and savory options to complement them.

The service at THIS Waffle House is nothing short of exceptional. The staff, often working long hours, manage to keep the energy high and the service personal. They remember your regular order, chat with you about your day, and make you feel like part of the Waffle...