G & R Tavern — Restaurant in Waldo Township

The G&R Tavern is allegedly famous for its fried bologna sandwiches. I find the claim, at the same time, dubious since I had never heard of the place and there's only one location, but also generally believable since I know of no other food service business that claims as it's signature dish BOLOGNA FREAKING SANDWICHES. Setting that aside, the food wasn't terrible. It was fried (the aforementioned bologna), deep fried (generic curly fries and swollen-looking onion rings), and breaded (the inexplicably-named "pork loin,") but not terrible. I WILL say that if you are in a high-risk category for stroke or heart attack, probably pass this joint by. Healthy it is NOT. Also, for reasons I cannot begin to guess at, and cannot possibly have any validity in a rational world, every single menu item is served on its own, individual, absolutely tiny paper plate. Curly fries... paper plate. Onion rings... separate paper plate. Bologna sandwich.... another tiny paper plate. And they ARE tiny - if you want to dip your finger food deep fried sidedish in some ketchup say, you ARE going to need an additional paper plate, cause they ain't no room next to them fries! So there are some questionable things there but let me point out the good. The prices leave you guilt-free for splurging on dining out ($44 for a party of four including dessert - for just two, and drinks - granted, two of them were waters). Service was local-friendly, smiling and reasonably fast. Finally, I don't recommend you take your baseball team here for a post-game bite - there is very little spare elbow room. This place is SMALL. Also, make sure you hit the ATM before you go because, perhaps the management fears that long-prophesied Boogeyman, a one world currency, or maybe just because they are looking out for their patrons fiscal health, the B&R only takes payment in cash. Your credit and or debit plastic wallet spacers will do you...

I have driven past Waldo for years and years on 23, and have never had occasion to stop. So when a business meeting in Delaware was breaking up and someone mentioned G&R - I was up for the trip. I’ve always heard about the fried bologna sandwich and the pies. I like both, and I was up for the adventure. Also, I am a big fan of this type of establishment as well. So it is with great disappointment that I write this particular review.

First I need to point out that this is a cash only place, and I made a special stop at the ATM so I was prepared. It was a busy lunch crowd and we were to be seated by the staff. We did not pick the table, nor could we have guessed the amount of discomfort we would experience when the place a 3-top next to us that cut into the route to additional tables and the restroom. We had other patrons and waitstaff constantly brushing by with guts and butts dragging on our table. One surly server acted like it was our fault that it was difficult to get thru, and I was ready to leave by the time our food arrived. If the staff knows the flow of the floor space they should have done better placement of the adjoining tables.

My sandwich as fine. Not up to the hype, but good. The butterscotch pie however was an abomination. I took two bites. I offered tablemates bites to confirm I wasn’t crazy. I left 3/4 of a piece of pie uneaten. And I never pass up a dessert. The texture was extremely off-putting. The flavor was not good. And it was an odd color for butterscotch. Had I seen the state of the pie I would have ordered something else. That pie should not be offered. I have since learned that it is not the same pies of the acclaim. That pie maker/baker is no longer there.

I guess I should have made time to stop...

The bologna sandwich is great! All the other food is simply frozen and fried, nothing fresh.

The last two times I have been there though the staff has been very rude. My last visit upon entering the restaurant no one acknowledge my party. When I asked about seating, I was told to sit wherever. Great! Except there was 5 in my party and all the available tables were 4 tops and too small to fit 5 adults at. The only table available was an 8 top but 3 employees were counting money at it. When we asked if we could use that table when they were done an employee rudely stated “There’s a large table in the back corner go sit there”. I informed her the table was taken. To that she said “Well he (pointing to the owner or manager I’m assuming) won’t let you sit here because it’s for 8 people” and she went back to counting the money. So we squeezed uncomfortably around a 4 top table while the 3 employees sat at the larger table the whole time we were there. If we weren’t in a hurry to eat and get back home, I would have left. Please work with your staff on their customer service. I understand you do great business and probably think people will come regardless of the staff’s attitudes but let’s not forget why you do such great business...the...