Mr C's Fried Chicken and Waffles

I usually don’t write negative reviews, as I prefer to highlight what’s working and share positive experiences. However, my visit to Mr. C’s on Sunday, 5/26, at around 12:47 p.m., left me with enough concern that I feel compelled to share. I understand that Sunday lunch is a peak time, and I’m empathetic when a restaurant is short-staffed. That said, what I witnessed during my visit was not simply a staffing issue—it was a breakdown in basic service and customer care. After waiting about 35 minutes for a table (which I expected), several tables opened up as customers left. Instead of seating the waiting guests, the staff focused on cleaning the bar area—which wasn’t even in use—while multiple tables remained empty. Even once those tables were cleaned, no one was seated. It took another 30 minutes before any seating occurred, despite several available tables and more than 10 guests still in line. Eventually, the staff told us we could "sit wherever," nearly an hour after we first arrived. Once seated, service continued to be inconsistent. Despite being next in line, we were overlooked as another group’s order was taken first. When our server arrived, she seemed irritated when we tried to place our order with our drink request to save time. We tried to be understanding, acknowledging the staff shortage, but her tone grew increasingly defensive. When we asked about a substitute for the complimentary cornbread (which was unavailable), the server seemed confused and unhelpful. Eventually, we asked for Texas toast—even if it wasn’t complimentary—just to have some bread with the meal. The final issue was when our food arrived: one piece of chicken fell onto the table as the server handed over the basket. She started to take the entire basket back, but we asked her to just replace the dropped piece since we were hungry. She reluctantly agreed, but then told us we were being “extremely rude.” At that point, the experience had gone from frustrating to disappointing. We stayed and ate, but the meal was overshadowed by poor service, disorganization, and a lack of hospitality. I truly hope this was just an off day, but for a restaurant that clearly has potential, better training, communication, and customer service are urgently needed—especially when staffing is low.