Shorty’s Diner - Williamsburg — Restaurant in Williamsburg

Just a background on the choice of this restaurant, we were headed to Shenandoah for a camping trip and we like to get breakfast before getting to the mountains and we I seen Shorty's. Diner style restaurant with a 4.6 rating, I didn't think to read the reviews because there's not too many non corporate breakfast spots on the way.

When first walking, in the person who is supposed to be seating us just kind of stared at me bewildered on what he's supposed to do, which I'm putting on the restaurant for training because he did look new.

The server was nice, basically no complaints on her.

The food, for a diner style restaurant in today's world I pretty much anticipate freshly made food with a few things here and there that are packaged premade (their less sold items but are sold enough to justify leaving it on the menu).

I got the breakfast burrito, no sauces, no seasoning, just egg, hash brown, and bacon zero flavor. I came with a side of hash browns, home fries, or grits; I choose the hash browns, again no flavor, barely cooked enough to have a Browning which also leads to no flavor. I put said pepper and some table side ketchup on, there was something about the ketchup that made me think they're either watering down their ketchup or there's some kind of mold in the bottle. I also got a coffee, and the first two sips were decent, but there also I started to get a kind of mold taste. I might be wrong on it being mold, but there was a concerning taste going on.

But the trend of flavorless premade tastes just go on from there, mother in-law got the hangover notably it had biscuits and gravy both were are premade/from the can and tasted ok I guess, but biscuits are not difficult to make and I would assume seeks a lot because it's southern America. Daughter for a burger and that one tasted fine to me, she want a fan of it, but the patty was a freezer puck, maybe they don't sell a lot of burgers, but the ones they picked were decent, and they at least got a decent chat on it. The pancakes were great though.

Overall, unless you're looking for a spot that provides food for a diabetic or you just don't know flavors and you're wanting a good diner spot to have breakfast or cheap lunch fare skip this place and just go to Waffle House for better food.

This is the only time we've eaten there, maybe it was an off day for them, but for the money we spent, I was not happy...

Ok. I have to eat some crow. I posted a review a few years ago during Covid that I wouldn’t go back to Shorty’s because of the masking that was NOT happening during the pandemic. It’s post pandemic now and we have been back to Shortys. I still have some concerns about a few things but hold judgment.

My mom and I love their food and couldn’t stay away once we thought it would be safe enough for her to go there. My mom has very serious health concerns for multiple reasons, but we never thought Shortys really considered their patrons during Covid. It was all about them making their buck.

We now feel safer going when I’m in town! I’m the only one of my sisters who will take my mom here because she loves breakfast foods of any sort and always wants to go to Shortys over any other place in Williamsburg! I cant disagree and I LOVE the biscuits and food here.

Some of the original concerns we had are still there since it is so busy and crowded, but the hope is that we’ve taken the necessary safety steps because there is no thought that anyone else there has or that the restaurant has done so.

The waitress dress requirements are disrespectful (treat you’re employees with some FREAKING RESPECT!). I always tip them 20%+(would anyway) because their work is a profession, they deserve a living wage, and should not have to use their bodies to sell your products so please catch a clue about this and move away from the requirements to wear tight shirts and pants. Great service, which we’ve always received, isn’t predicated on your servers showing their bodies but it is related to their abilities. My experience is that they are great at performing their jobs!

My mom and I LOVE the food and just wish we didn’t feel so guilty about going here for non-food related reasons. Definitely...

While I have eaten at Shorty's Diner previously and been pleased, I was disappointed with the plate I was served on Monday, Feb 24th, 2020.

Ordered the Meat Lovers Omelette with hash browns & a biscuit. The egg & cheese portion of the omelette was fine, but simply tossing a spoonful of meat mixture on after it's on the plate is unacceptable! I want the meats folded into the egg and cooked in the pan or on the grill with the eggs. The hash browns were overcooked on one side and unseasoned. I left most of 'em on the plate. The biscuit was dry & had no flavor, not even basted with butter when they were removed from the oven and was room temp to boot. They might be acceptable if smothered in sausage gravy, but not to eat as a stand alone item.

There was 3 or 4 customers sitting at the counter and two other tables when we arrived & one additional customer arrived while we were there, so they weren't busy at all ... unlike the previous weekend trips I've made to Shorty's. In fact the manager was repairing tables. Our server didn't check to see if we needed anything after bringing our food, but did bring us both a beverage in a "to go" cup with the bill which kinda made it seem as if they were rushing us out the door. For a restaurant that wasn't doing much business at the time, I expect better service. Prolly won't waste my time again on a weekday and will have to do some ciphering as to whether I'll return...