Restaurants that you wouldn't recommend

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

What restaurants have you experienced horrible food, service, etc. that you would recommend that someone not go to ?

A couple that I would not recommend are:

Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown - Horrible food, usually half cooked or cold, vegetables are canned, service is extremely slow even if the restaurant isn't busy. The current management doesn't care to much for the decor, it's looking pretty run down even though it was refurbished after a fire over a decade ago.

PF Changs, Fayette Mall - After waiting about an hour to be seated. The only thing good about the restaurant was the appetizer of spicy chicken lettuce wraps. Most of the food had a powdery after taste like it was made with an instant mix.

[UK78ALUM]

Yep, definitely PF Changs. Greasy, lukewarm, highly overrated.

[The Old School JPS]

Artemisia in Louisville. Pathetic portion sizes, indifferent service and food that is mediocre at best (if that) despite the price tag. I love a lot of restaurants in Louisville but I will not return to that place.

Bearno's by the Bridge in downtown Louisville, at least for their lunch buffet in the basement. It is terribly frustrating. It sits empty most of the time - the buffet, that is, not the seats. Every now and then they'll bring out another pizza and it is gone before most people get any of it. The salad bar is a pathetic collection of wilt. Plus, the place just seems dirty.

[surveyor]

Z's Oyster Bar and Grille - Whittington Parkway, Louisville, KY - Service and menu doesn't meet the pricing. I can give the benefit of the doubt over a disappointing first visit and will usually give a place another chance. We should have stopped after the second visit but decided to try them again a few years later - same results.

[Dwight Schrute]

I actually like PF Chang's, but it isn't worth the wait.

Tonio's Mexican Restaurant in downtown Lex. I don't mind the fact that it isn't clean, but the food tastes terrible.

TGI Friday's.
Fazoli's is the newest addition to my restaurant blacklist.

[Will Lavender]

I actually like PF Chang's, but it isn't worth the wait.

Those lettuce wraps are flat-out unbelievable.

This is going to sound kitschy, but I hate Cracker Barrel even though everybody else seems to love it. Nothing "country" about that place, IMO. Everything tastes to me like it came straight from a can.

[Jeff Craddock]

Since I don't live in Lexington, I'm kind of limited to chains for this thread. I agree that PF Chang's is just mediocre. The one in my area gets lots of business, but the food is just so-so (but not awful). Too many authentic Chinese places--ones where you ask for the Chinese menu and ask the waitperson to translate--around here to spend money at Chang's.

Olive Garden--after several sub-par meals, we gave up years ago.

Cheesecake Factory--My wife loves it, I can't stand it. The portions are obscene, the food is over-rated. Humongous does not equal good.

Will, I don't care for Cracker Barrel for lunch or dinner, but I do love those pancakes with warmed genuine maple syrup. That, with a couple of scrambled eggs and some bacon, makes my a happy man when I'm on the road.

Shoney's. Once my go-to for breakfast on the road, the last few times I tried the breakfast bar were just gross. I'm not sure if my tastes have improved or if they just don't care anymore.

[teamchemistry09]

Forget this talk about Cracker Barrell and Shoneys. Frisch's is probably the best place to go for breakfast. Very affordable and everytime I go to the one in Fern Creek (Louisville) they are all very friendly and even know me by name. I have never gotten bad service there. I highly recommend the breakfast bar. And if you go, ask for Brian. Hes one of the best servers Ive ever had. The main reason Im saying this is because Im Brian who works there but hey, its great.

[capcat]

And if you go, ask for Brian. Hes one of the best servers Ive ever had. The main reason Im saying this is because Im Brian who works there but hey, its great.
:big_grin: I will ask for Brian next time.

[Dwight Schrute]

Those lettuce wraps are flat-out unbelievable.

This is going to sound kitschy, but I hate Cracker Barrel even though everybody else seems to love it. Nothing "country" about that place, IMO. Everything tastes to me like it came straight from a can.

Cracker Barrel is very hit or miss with me. The Sunday chicken special is fantastic. Everything else, I agree is mediocre.

I actually like PF Chang's, but I don't think it's the best Chinese I've ever had.

[surveyor]

Cracker Barrell stopped being a quaint country restaurant when it expanded outside of Tennessee decades ago. It serves a purpose, but it's not a destination point that comes first to mind when travelling.

PF Changs is to "chinese" food what Chi Chi's was to mexican food - that still cracks me up "authentic mexican" :icon_lol:.
PFC is more a neo-asian american cuisine than chinese.

Cracker Barrell still provides a decent breakfast, IMO.

[Littlemeyer]

Cracker Barrell still provides a decent breakfast, IMO.

Absolutely agree with that. I'd been anti-Cracker Barrel for most of my adult life, much to my family's chagrin, until one day last fall in Georgetown, Kentucky. Had an absolutely wonderful breakfast there.

To me, though, the best thing about Cracker Barrel is the book-on-CD rentals. :thumbup:

What would I NOT recommend? Lambert's. All hype, no flavor. (IMO)

[ukwebfan]

Texas Roadhouse (Ft.Wright)- I'm not a big fan like many others in my family. My only visit was not well received in the service or food department.

Joe's Crab Shack (Bellevue)- Worst seafood in town by far. I would compare it to a large LJS. Only go for there for drinks or lent if you must since there's a good river view.

Montgomery Inn (Ft. Mitchell & Cincy)- Their food is over-rated and over-priced. If I didn't have a wife who's a Cincy native or receive their gift-certificates, I'd never make the trip.

Frisch's & LaRosa's have steadily gone downhill in price, portion size and quality.

[trublu]

Shoney's are just nasty, old food and poorly managed.
Our Olive Garden went out of business due to very poor service.
And, our Waffle House restaurants seem to have the biggest nastiest cooks they can find. I hate that.

[surveyor]

Joe's Crab Shack (Bellevue)- Worst seafood in town by far. I would compare it to a large LJS. Only go for there for drinks or lent if you must since there's a good river view.

:icon_lol:

Wholeheartedly agree - except LJS has better food - at least better than the Louisville Joe's location.:icon_mrgreen:

[UKcat]

What restaurants have you experienced horrible food, service, etc. that you would recommend that someone not go to ?

A couple that I would not recommend are:

Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown - Horrible food, usually half cooked or cold, vegetables are canned, service is extremely slow even if the restaurant isn't busy. The current management doesn't care to much for the decor, it's looking pretty run down even though it was refurbished after a fire over a decade ago.

PF Changs, Fayette Mall - After waiting about an hour to be seated. The only thing good about the restaurant was the appetizer of spicy chicken lettuce wraps. Most of the food had a powdery after taste like it was made with an instant mix.

Your opinion of the tavern in Bardstown applies to most of the private eateries here. If it weren't for tourists and late-night people; none of them would survive.

[surveyor]

Your opinion of the tavern in Bardstown applies to most of the private eateries here. If it weren't for tourists and late-night people; none of them would survive.

I'm not sure about the rest of the eateries in Bardstown, but I've always had very good food and service at Kurtz' Restaurant. When we choose to dine in Bardstown, that's always been the place for us. :thumbup:

[Will Lavender]

Forget this talk about Cracker Barrell and Shoneys. Frisch's is probably the best place to go for breakfast. Very affordable and everytime I go to the one in Fern Creek (Louisville) they are all very friendly and even know me by name. I have never gotten bad service there. I highly recommend the breakfast bar. And if you go, ask for Brian. Hes one of the best servers Ive ever had. The main reason Im saying this is because Im Brian who works there but hey, its great.

:icon_mrgreen:

That Frisch's is literally ninety seconds from my house. I'll ask for you next time we're in. :thumbup:

[TrueblueCATfan]

I just had breakfast this morning at the Cracker Barrel on Crittenen Drive....it wasn't bad but I have had better

[boomdaddy]

Cracker barrel is the pits. I hate the bland food and the crappy gift shop.

[surveyor]

Cracker barrel is the pits. I hate the bland food and the crappy gift shop.

Perhaps, but it's been a good stock.
From around $9 / share to $45+ in a few years. In that regard, it's been goot to me. :icon_lol::beer:

[TrueblueCATfan]

[quote=boomdaddy;407776]Cracker barrel is the pits. I hate the bland food and the crappy gift shop.[/quote


the gift shop is the best part.....I love looking thru their stuff