Ruby Tuesday — Restaurant in West Columbia

Funny how it's been 4 years since I left a 5 Star review for the West Columbia Ruby Tuesday but things that certainly changed since then. I know we've gone through Covid during that time but the past 3 times we've visited here we leave saying never again.

This past Saturday we were lured in again by the BOGOF coupon. The restaurant was not busy at all so we thought we get out quickly, and it was 4:00pm.There were about 7 tables occupied at the time and we noticed 2 server, there did seem.to be 1 more but that one disappeared, maybe he went home.. It took a while for our server to come take our order. My son got a steak and I got the burbon chicken. We wanted a baked potato.but there was were none available.?? We also got the salad bar which was good on our part because it took over 45 mins to get our food. Our server never came back during that time to refill our glasses, but the young lady that sat us spotted our need and came over to give us refills.

Once we got our food my son realized his steak was overcooked but our server was gone again. It took another 10-15 mins to find our server. Thankfully the kitchen took care of his steak quickly. My food was fine except for the fact it was a tiny portion, about half the size of what I'd gotten last time we had come. There was an option for 2 breasts but I'm glad I didn't choose that one because it would have just been the other half of my piece of chicken and for almost $20.

We had another long wait to get our ticket after finishing our food. The server came by and asked what we needed and my son told her the ticket and I said a to-go-box. It didn't take long for the box but no ticket, another 10 mins and the server returned with the hand held device and told us the total. No ticket until after my son had paid, when he requested the ticket he found he had been charged for an alcoholic drink he didn't order. The server then said there was another item we were not. charged for but the difference in the price of tea and alcohol mostly covered it. I did offer to pay the difference but was told no. Which I thought was fair since it had taken 2 hours to eat in a restaurant that was not busy. I did give the server a tip even though the service was very slow but I'm not completely sure it was their fault.

Ruby Tuesday I've loved you for years and that's why we gave you three chances to make up for the long wait times and poor service. I do complete understand they were understaffed and overworked and I didn't one time complain to our server because it seemed it was the best thing to do. But enough is enough and we decided while sitting there for those 2 hours we would not be coming back.

Ruby Tuesday I do hope the best for you but if things continue like this I doubt you will be in West Columbia...

Restaurant Review

Service: 1/5 Upon arrival at 5:15 PM, the wait to be seated was unexpectedly long, considering there were few patrons in the restaurant. We waited about 15 minutes to get a table, which was our first sign of the service issues to come. The entire staff, from what we could see, seemed utterly exhausted, impacting the overall service quality negatively. There was a noticeable lack of enthusiasm, which extended to the ambiance of the restaurant, making it feel unwelcoming.

Food Quality: 2/5 The salad bar was another disappointment, appearing neglected with many empty trays and ingredients that looked as if they hadn't been replenished since the morning. When our meal finally arrived after a 45-minute wait, despite the restaurant being nearly empty, it was just passable. The most bizarre moment was being informed they had run out of buns, so our child was given Texas toast instead, which was too hard for him to bite into. My ribs were cold long with fries.

Ambiance: 1/5 The overall atmosphere was lackluster. The lack of energy from the staff translated into a dining experience that felt neither inviting nor comfortable. If ambiance could be rated lower, it would; the place felt more like a chore to visit than a place for enjoyment.

Value: 1/5 The only value derived from this visit was using up some gift cards. If I had not had these, I would have considered this a poor use of money and time. Given the service, food quality, and atmosphere, the price we would have paid without the cards would not have been justified.

Staff: 4/5 for the Waitress Our waitress deserves a mention. Despite the general malaise of the restaurant, she was trying her best. She was courteous, and though her efforts were somewhat hampered by the kitchen and management issues, she made an attempt to provide service.

Overall Experience: 1/5 This visit was a stark reminder of the importance of checking reviews before choosing a dining location. The experience was so lackluster that it would be advisable to consider a different branch of this restaurant chain or perhaps explore other dining options entirely. If there was any lesson to be learned, it's to perhaps scout locations or at least check recent reviews before deciding where to eat, especially when using gift cards. This place missed the mark on nearly every aspect, except for the effort of our waitress, who was the sole beacon in an otherwise...

Tonight was the worst experience I've ever had at this location. I typically go around lunch, but the hubby and I decided to have a late dinner on this particular evening. When we walked in it was about 9pm, only 2 customers sitting at the bar (clearly regulars). We waited approximately 7 minutes B4 someone yelled from another part of the restaurant "Be right with y'all" (female voice). About a minute later a young man comes up in a white undershirt and seats us. When he came back to our table after seating another couple, he had put on a plaid shirt on. He introduced himself as the AGM. He waited on us most of the night, which was much better than the actual waitress who ended up finishing the night. She on the other hand was horrible! When the food came out, that was the initial time she came to the table. She saw that I needed more sweet tea, but by the time I actually got it both my husband and I needed drinks and she came back by saying she was gonna get us new teas. It was probably 20 mins between the initial "let me get you another tea" to actually getting it. Then, after we finished our meal we wanted to order an alcoholic beverage. While my husband was looking over the menu, I asked him if he saw something he liked. She then said " Yeah cause it's late, so if you want something I need to know like right now!" With a snarky attitude. He ordered a drink, she left without even asking if I wanted something. I get up and go to the bar to add my drink onto our bill. I see the AGM and ask him, he then relays the message to the same girl who was waiting on us. She replies,to he boss, " Ok but that's it! It's 1010 and we're closed!" Then when she brought the drinks out they were mostly alcohol, almost too strong to enjoy. She charged us for larges, but made regular sizes. We just paid and left, didn't feel like getting into it over $2, especially after the service to that point by the actual waitress. Being in the restaurant industry for many years, when I left was an RGM for 10+ years... This is NOT how you 1) let your customers see your AGM. 2) let your customers wait when there is no one else in the restaurant. 3) allow employees to speak to customers. 4) allow employees to speak to managers. Needless to say, we...