Hi-Lo Café — Restaurant in Weed

I hadn't been to the Hi-Lo Cafe since my last trip North pre-pandemic. Was glad to see they were still there and open and couldn't wait for the fried chicken dinner that I remember gett8 g a few times in the past. I was solo but when told to sit anywhere I chose a booth. A family were right behind me and chose the booth next to mine. A waitress went to their table first. I figured she didn't see me and as the family sat down right after I did, figured the waitstaff person just didnt notice the customer seating order. She walked by my table saying nothing, then got wate's for the family. Nothing for me, not even a fake smile or "be right with you." Sat a few minutes longer watching this wait person rushing back and forth, without looking my way. For a brief moment thought of leaving, but had been looking so forward to the fried chicken. Decided to move to the counter to be more visible and hopefully get the other wait person who greeted my as I entered. After a few more minutes "that" waitperson stopped in front of me with her pad to take my order. I asked for the fried chicken dinner. She paused, looked at me and said "chicken fried chicken. " I repeated "chicken fried chicken?", asking is that what the fried chicken dinner is called. She said yes. I occupied my waiting by reading the news on my phone. It started to feel like a long wait. I thought, maybe I can make small talk with that wait person, hmmm, what to talk about... I'll compliment her hair color. I really nice shade of red. I didn't get the chance though as she was busy rushing back and forth and breifly talking with a couple of other customers and occasionally the other wait staff. Never looked my way. Finally picked up the water pitcher and started over (I thought , now's my chance), but she walked past me and over to the man sitting 2 stood away from me, refilled his water made a little small talk, turned back around and walked past me and my water cup. Again, I gave her the benefit of the doubt, and rationalized that she didn't refill my water because it still had 1/3 cup of water left. I looked at the time, whoa, was it really 40 minutes since I ordered? I looked around at the now fairly full Cafe. No one had food, not even the table of 5 that had been seated when I walked in. Contemplated asking for m6 food to go, but decided against ranking the boat. Another 10-15 minutes later a plate came out. She came towards me, I shook my head at the breaded chicken breast with gravy saying, "that's not mine". "It isnt?" She said. Me - "No" She looks at me incredulosly. Me- "hmm is that the chicken fried chicken?" Her- "Yes, it's the chicken fried chicken. " Me- "oh, then it is mine." Her- " I thought so." So looks like they may be short on a cook or 2 in the kitchen and the service from some of their wait staff leaves much to be desired. The breaded chicken breast and mashed potatoes aka Chicken Fried Chicken was good though not at all the 3 piece fried chicken dinner I had stopped and waited for. The pastry cabinet at the register was empty, no giant cookies to take along for the long drive, no peanut butter pie to give me a sugar rush. I loved the Hi-Lo Cafe and miss what once was. I'll give it a other chance though and stop there again next road trip that way. I will order something different and may e make the compliment to the waitperson at the very beginning in hopes of better service. Was so ready to eat and leave that I forgot to take...

I think 2 stars maybe 1 to many but I’ll give it anyway. Not sure where to start but so many things were wrong on so many levels. Should’ve known better from the moment we walked in when the waitress was ranting to the other waitress about tables walking out, we kept being told they would be right with us then finally the waitress told us that they can’t seat any more people because they had a big table in the back that was overwhelming them and to come back in 20 minutes to check in. The front of the restaurant was mostly empty but we agreed to come back and things continued to go downhill. We were seated but the waitress told us that she couldn’t take any orders because the cooks were overwhelmed with the big table in the back and they would cry if they had another order. I kind of laughed to myself thinking ok that’s a weird way to do things but at least offer us some drinks while we wait. Meanwhile we kept hearing the same story they told to us being repeated to everyone who walked in. Continually they turned people away one after another even though there were several tables open. Finally the waitress took our order. I ordered a Bloody Mary but was told that there were no Bloody Mary’s only Mamosa‘s even though there’s a huge sign out in front that says now serving cocktails not to mention there website and menu say the same thing. Disappointing! Also the waitress’s were badmouthing the chefs which was extremely unprofessional and rude. Our food finally came out about an hour after arriving. I had ordered a All American Melt sandwich and the waitress that brought it to me told me to let her know if there was anything wrong with it because she had to slap it together real quick herself. Well that’s not what I wanted to hear after all it is a $14 sandwich, come on! Well slapped together it was, no love at all put into it and can’t call it a melt if there’s no cheese melting out the sides. It was a sad sandwich! After we were finishing up our meals we see the “big” table leaving from the back which was a total of 6 people- seriously! This place needs Gordon Ramsay to shut it down because it is a real kitchen nightmare. The rumor we heard later after passing through this town was that it used to be good but some changes were made as far as ownership and has been going downhill ever since but hopefully they can get it...

We have been eating here on our travels to and from Oregon for a decade. The place was well kept, the staff helpful and energetic and friendly and the food excellent.

Today was a complete disappointment. First, the food. The eggs were fine but they must have changed suppliers for the patty sausage. It was bland and flavorless. That used to be our favorite. My wife ordered sourdough toast, I ordered an english muffin. Instead of butter on them they had covered them with a nasty type of white, greasy marjoram that tasted just plain nasty. Tasted old, sour and stale. Neither of us could eat it. In fact all we could eat were the hash browns and eggs. At least they didn't screw those up.

Then I had to use the restroom. The mens restroom looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a week. The toilet had yellow and brown stains in and around it, the sink was filthy and the huge trash bin was overflowing. The toilet was so bad I left it unflushed. I refused to touch the handle. On returning to my seat I called the waitress quiety over and advised her. She obviously didn't care since she didn't seem to tell anyone and no one went to do any cleaning in the next 40 minutes we were there. My wife went to the women's restroom and found it dirty with an overflowing trash. There simply is no excuse these days for unsanitary conditions in a restaurant restroom.

The staff. It was plain that there was a general lack of enthusiasm and lazy attitude by all but the waitresses. People just wandered around with sour looks on their face as if they would rather be somewhere else. Whatever happened to the energetic and friendly staff that used to be there.

This is really a terrible shame. It used to be our go-to place to eat on the road but this last experience there means we will never go back. If I were exaggerating about the above I would be more than glad to admit it. But, I'm not. I'd rather eat fast food or go to Subway than ever eat...