Waffles & Co — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

I don't usually do negative reviews, but feel as though I should warn others.

We were visiting the area and went to Waffles for breakfast. When we entered we were told we could eat quicker with the buffet and told where it was at and she took our drink order. It wasn't until I started making my plate I noticed a handwritten caulk board saying the buffet was $21. I told my mom I wouldn't pay that much for my boys (6&10) and she overheard and let me know kids were $9. At that point we were committed and had limited time to get checked out of our place. We got our drinks and the waitress was nice and attentive asking if we needed anything else. I had made a plate and went I went yo use my fork I noticed it didnt seem clean so wiped it down with my napkin and water. I was hungry, but didn't eat much. The bacon was salty and fatty, the biscuits were dry, sausage and pancakes were burnt. I was hungry so tried a Danish and that was dry as well. So at this point coffee would be my breakfast. Another gentleman came in and sat next to us and he too was told about the buffet and asked for his drink order. That's when he made a comment he didn't want the buffet and she said they had menus. We weren't offered a menu at any point and I assumed it was a buffet. I then got my check, which already had gratuity included. I was fine with that since I always tip at least 20%, but am usually told or they have posted when gratuity is included. Figured they did it since we were a party of 6. She told me if it was cash she would take it, but if card she would meet me at the front register. I went to the front and handed her my check and credit card. She took it and entered it into the machine and turned it for me to sign. She said she hoped we enjoyed everything and I just didn't respond because I'm not one to complain. I went back to the table and looked at my receipt and in addition to the amount on the bill that I was provided there was an additional 4%tax added. I went up and asked why I was taxed twice and she responded that it's a 4% fee to use a card. I had cash and could have paid that way, but was not expecting breakfast to be over $150 so used my card. She then says it's on the machine and turns it around. There is a hand written note taped to it. I responded that she ran my card through the machine and she said it was there for me to see when I signed and that the fee is charged by Clover (the system they use). At this point I'm annoyed and I have wasted almost $165 on a subpar breakfast for 4 adults and 2 kids and I was still hungry. I told her that I was not happy about nothing being disclosed and that the food and whole experience was not good. The gentleman that sat down also decided to leave. The waitress and staff were friendly and pleasant the entire time and although I wasn't happy with my entire experience still would have tipped.

I just want to warn others that it is an overpriced breakfast spot with subpar food and they don't...

I would give this place zero stars if I could, but I had to give them something. We went for my son's birthday breakfast. The restaurant seemed nice enough until we went to the bar to get some food. The biscuits obviously had older biscuits in the front of the pan and newer biscuits in the back of the pan. The older biscuits were covered in mold. Then my kids went to the bathroom and when they came back to the table they pointed to an employee that was stirring all of the food at the bar with the spoons customers use and said that person just left bathroom and did not wash their hands after using the bathroom. While we were all still in the initial shock from this discovery we saw a kid drop the tongs to pick up the pancakes and put the tongs back in the food! I tell the waitress we are ready for our ticket and I had no plans to pay for the food we did not eat. She asked why and I told everything. When I told the employee about another employee not washing their hands after using the bathroom the employee said, "I've been telling management about that, but they still just won't wash their hands." So, now we are thoroughly disgusted. I take our ticket to the register and tell the hostess the same complaints. She says she does not own the restaurant and can give me a 50% discount. I said I absolutely was not paying for the food. I said I would pay for our drinks because we did drink them. So, I paid $17.00 for drinks. Our appetites were all ruined and I was absolutely disgusted. There is another breakfast buffet restaurant on the strip, trust me and visit that one...

I'm rating this eatery for what it is and not in comparison to some place frequented by The Donald. For that reason, it gets 5-stars.

With tax, the breakfast buffet runs $15.60 per adult. There's a menu if you prefer. I've never known their coffee to not be good and hot.

It's a fairly classic, basic country kitchen buffet that includes canned fruit, like peaches and fruit cocktail, danishes, pancakes, waffles, biscuits & gravy, scrambled eggs, over-easy eggs (both soft and hard), bacon (though none crispy), sausage links, turkey links, chicken sausage links, and waffle toppings (butter, syrup, cherries, apples, peaches), grits, oatmeal, fried potatoes, and possibly one or two other items that have slipped my memory.

After the Rock N Roll races, it's a popular stop for runners of all types, from those who eat healthy, to those who simply eat... So, it might not be fat-free or organic, but it's good.

The service is, and always has been, fast and friendly.

I don't think they take credit cards, but there is an ATM, and they might run debit cards.

Is the buffet overpriced? Not really, considering it's Virginia Beach and the traffic through there is probably a bit more heavy on the seasonal side of things. Also, it's a fairly decent selection and they always keep things filled.

If you're the type that would rate this less than 5-stars simply because it's not a "5-star" menu, then you don't know how to review places and you probably shouldn't frequent this eatery.

Finally, restrooms have always been clean and were...