Restaurant Review of Perkins in Dixon City, Pennsylvania

On, Sunday June 14, 2009, after a long day of shopping a friend, her almost 2 year old son and I decided to go to Perkins in Dixon City, PA. This decision led to one of the most disappointing dining experiences that I have encountered in a very long time.

Upon arrival we walked in to see a server complaining to the assistant manager/hostess, about her customers who were having a problem with their food. She was highly annoyed. After, telling the server to comp the item, the assistant manager than turned toward us and gruffly asked, "Three?" and when we said yes she then said, "high chair." After playing "follow the leader" around the restaurant so that she could get a highchair, instead of being seated, and then waiting for a highchair, we were seated directly behind the problem table. This was the only table that was taken in this section of the restaurant, aside from us.

The table behind ours was loudly discussing how their food was incorrect, and how they had to wait an exorbitant amount of time prior to being served. The server visited their table three or four times, trying to fix the problem with their omelet, bringing them the bill, clearing their table, and after fifteen minutes, she finally realized that we might be her table as well, and decided to go consult the seating chart prior to asking for our drink order.

Finally without apology we were asked for our drinks, so after giving our drink order we also ordered a kids meal, an appetizer and two adult meals. Then began the waiting process for our drinks, and while we waited we observed our server, chatting with other servers, and going in and out of the kitchen and clearing a table, and then after another 5-10 minutes, she found the time in her busy schedule to bring us our drinks.

The food was the only thing that was prompt, however, the timing was still incorrect. First we received the kid's meal complete with scalding hot plates and pancakes, and then we received our appetizer. Which is fine, but now with five plates on our table, she goes immediately back into the kitchen and brings us our meals. This left us with the option of letting our meals of or our appetizers get cold.

While our appetizer sampler was quite tasty, our dinners were less desirable. I ordered the butterball turkey melt, and my friend the turkey dinner. The turkey, stuffing and gravy were way over seasoned, as though someone had dumped half a shaker of poultry seasoning and salt on it. The fries that came with my sandwich were cold and rubbery. We might have complained if our server was anywhere in sight, however, she decided to disappear until we were around half way through our meal, when she stopped in to see how we were doing.

After that, despite my desperate need of a drink refill, our table was ignored, even when another table was seated in our servers section, which also had to wait fifteen minutes for a drink. Finally I got up and stopped another server, and asked for a drink refill. I also asked if a comment card was available, at the same moment my server happened to walk by. The other server brought me my drink, and I know my server saw it, however, she never asked if everything was alright, and she also never apologized for her lack of attention to our table.

It took her three trips to get our boxes, and our bill. I took the bill to the register and my friend took her child to the car. While at the register I asked if our server was new, the assistant manager said that she was not and asked was there a problem? I replied that we had to wait a very long time for service, and that we were basically ignored. She just nodded her head, and said so the service was slow? She didn't apologize, or offer any sort of compensation, just that she would have a word with the server.

It takes quite a bit for me to be appalled by service. I have a great understanding of the service industry, it is where I've spent a large portion of my life, and I have a degree in hospitality management. I understand when a server is overwhelmed, or when they make a mistake and apologize. I also understand when a server is new or having a bad night. However, when you don't get it right start to finish and can't even be friendly or apologize, I have a hard time swallowing it.

I was completely disappointed by my experience and though I can't recommend a complete boycott of Perkins patronage, I would strongly advise not visiting the Perkins located in Dickson City, PA. The service is slow, and unfriendly. The food though not terrible, is certainly below average and not worth the wait.