Original Hooters — Restaurant in Wildwood

I'm usually really understanding of things that can happen when dining and I am always friendly. I rarely ever send food back. I was so excited since moving to Middleton about having a hooters nearby. I eat hooters a lot where I work in South Orlando. So here is everything that went wrong. I ordered 10 boneless wings with three mile island sauce. I know the flavor of that sauce and other sauces very well. I told them I'd also like a side of Daytona sauce for my fries I ordered. I also ordered a beer. I got my 2 girls their kids meals which includes drinks. Got my food and not my beer... my girls got their food as well. My boneless came in 2 little side bowls half with the sauce i ordered half unsauced with a side of Daytona. and then my fries. I said that's not right. She (not my server) takes them back and brings them back sauced. By that time I tried biting into one of the wings that were sauced and its hard and just barely warm. I then prod my fork really hard at all the others... same. So when she came back with the corrected sauced ones I let her know the deal. She tells me I have to speak to my server. by that time I check out the ones they corrected and they are hard as well... So way overcooked and then left to get basically cold or they gave me left over ones that had been sitting there. So they bring out all new ones..... They weren't much better... still no beer yet. Also, I guess the kitchen decided to be funny and put 9-1-1 sauce which I am also very familiar with the flavor of. I had to ask my server if I would ever get my beer. She brought it out by the time I ate half of them 9-1-1 boneless wings then I got a to-go box for my wings.... threw them out when I got home. THEN THE BILL CAME OUT.... They tried charging me for my girls drinks.... BUT NOT ONLY THAT.... They tried charging for 3 drinks and my beer. Even if my kids' meals didn't come with drinks it would only be 2 drinks and a beer. So she had to take it and have the manager take the drinks off the ticket. Still I paid like over $40 for my 2 kids and me to have a beer, 2 kids meals, 10 boneless wings with a side of fries. I don't mind the cost so much, but the food issues, the lack of getting a beer until I was already over even eating my food made my blood boil. I have never had such a bad experience in a hooters before. I don't know if I will ever go back. I was super nice to our server and the girl that brought out my food and didn't let my frustrations show. I tipped the server well over 20% because I know what the job is like as I had worked in the industry years ago and I know living off tips is tough. But this place needs serious help! Not sure if I will return. So many other locations have their stuff together. The hardest part was it wasn't even...

I went to the brand new Hooters on Friday August 1, 2025. It was extremely busy but I didn't mind waiting. They estimated 45 minutes but in about 20 minutes I was seated on the patio. I felt a bit bad because I was 1 person and they sat me at a 6 top. There were larger parties waiting and I truly wouldn't have minded waiting for a smaller table.

The patio is pretty good size I believe there were 8 TVs alone out there. It is covered with fans and was a little warm but not unbearable by any means. One other note on the patio they might consider screens as there were a few wasps flying in and out.

My server was Ashley and for being extremely busy she was friendly and attentive. One thing I like about Hooters is rarely do you ever need to ask for a soft drink refill, the staff just bring it when they see you getting low.

I ordered 10 breaded wings, all flats, with ranch, curly fries and a Pepsi. My order for being busy was delivered promptly and was the proper temp to be served.

I was a bit disappointed in the wings. I am a long time Hooters patron and have been in at least 8 different locations along the east coast. The wings seemed a bit small and there wasn't too much breading which I get is a personal preference. I just prefer more breading.

Another note I have never in probably 75 or 80 visits been charged for ranch or blue cheese. I believe it's a $1.09 up charge plus I paid a $1.79 upcharge for all flats. Most locations I've been to the upcharge for all flats/drums was .10 cents a wing. So $1 for 10. The extra seems a bit extreme to me but it won't stop me from doing it in the future,

Overall I gave the location 4 stars. Service was 5 stars, the atmosphere was 4 stars and the food was 3 stars based on the notes stated above.

I plan on going back and I hope to see some improvement in the wings.

There are two other locations scheduled to be built in The Villages and hopefully the crowds will get balanced out as the other locations open.

I'd recommend a visit for anyone...

WOW - a brand new Hooters, just opened in July! We were excited - the Hooters in our area closed. This is a HOT new building and design - just wish the food was as HOT as the building. We started with an adult beverage - both of them were good! I ordered 10-hot buffalo shrimp, 20 hot original chicken wings and some fries. I made it a point to request everything 'extra crispy' - The buffalo shrimp were soggy and warm - the chicken wings were just a bit warmer than the shrimp and the fries were 'bendy!' We complained to the waitress - explaining, we were going to eat the food as served, but it was not crispy and everything was warm, not hot. Halle, our server, took the fries back and a manager brought out the hot, crispy fries. Again we explained to her - only wanting her to understand the situation - you can't fix what you don't know it wrong! She offered a credit, but that's not what we wanted - I wanted her to know, so if we decide to come back again.....we'll get hot, crispy food! We decided to have some desert - we were looking at the key lime pie, but Halle recommended the Caramel Fudge Cheese Cake - it was a winner - very good! Later on when I was writing this review, I looked at my receipt - they gave us credit for the buffalo shrimp (which was a nice jester), but Halle missed an opportunity to make some amends - she did not even take the time to proclaim that the shrimp were complimentary! Missed opportunity to show some customer service! We wish this new location much good luck and hope that get the 'bugs'...