Went for dinner with my mother, aunt and uncle and a family friend the evening before Mothers Day 2012. The crowd for a Saturday evening seemed typical, altho I don't know for sure since I do not live here.
Service was slow to start, we ordered drinks and the family friend and I decided to share a bottle of wine. Everyones drinks came except for the wine. Waiter said she would be right back with that.
Five minutes pass. Waiter shows up with 2 wine glasses - no bottle. A few more minutes pass. Waiter shows up with the wine but no opener. Explains that she has to find someone to open the bottle because she does not know how and rushes off.
Who puts a waiter on the floor that has no idea how to open a wine bottle?
She comes back and explains she can't find anyone to open the bottle for her. Exasperated, I ask her for the corkscrew and I open it myself. As I set the bottle down she picks it up and begins to pour both glasses practically to the brim. No tasting offered. Good thing the wine wasn't corked.
Again, if you are a manager of a restaurant that serves wine - why aren't the staff trained in the procedure??
Waiter runs off.
A few minutes later a manager-type shows up to "help with the wine." Great. If I hadn't already opened it we would have been at the 30 minute mark of our visit when this fellow arrives. I told him so as well as suggesting that the staff be trained in opening bottles. No comment from said 'manager-type'.
Finally we place our orders. I ordered the ribeye steak, medium rare. On the menu it comes with sauteed mushrooms, onions and peppers. I order it with mushrooms ONLY.
My mother and aunts dishes come out first, the rest of the tables meals a few minutes later. My steak is covered in onions and peppers. No mushrooms. I point this out and ask for another steak on the fly. I'm not happy. Five more minutes drag past and I am delivered the same steak without the onions/peppers - but now absolutely smothered in mushrooms AND now over cooked.
Needless to say, we skipped dessert.
My advice is to skip this place altogether.
Burger was ok.  They were a bit stingy with the fries, which I do not  understand for a restaurant like this. Â
The service was sub-par, Service was slow, salads were forgotten about. Â We had to ask for more bread, and it was not delivered. Â Check came way too soon. Â
I haven't eaten here in a while and I do not think I will be back soon. Â
I wonder why the went from poppy seed muffins to poppy seed doughnuts. Â It was so greasy, not like it used to be. Â
The menu seemed rather IHOP-ish.
If I am in SC and a Fatz cafe is in my vicinity, I am most likely going to visit!
I ordered the Blue Ridge Chicken, minus the tomatoes and scallions. Â My side was the wonderful stone ground grits that Fatz does so well. Enjoyed my meal, which was quickly served by a polite and attentive staff.
Good southern food at reasonable prices. My favorites are the calibash chicken, pork ribs, hot rolls with cinnimon butter and great sweat tea. Teas not to sweet and done just right. The wait staff is fast and friendly and restuarants comfortible and clean. I recommend a visit there you'll  be pleasantly surprised.
Review Source:Mentioning Fatz and Applebees in the same breath is just plain wrong. They are not even in the same league. I always make a stop at one of the various Fatz Cafes if I'm driving through the upstate. This place is a top notch casual dining establishment. The service is always quick, attentive and friendly. The menu is much more diverse than I remember from years ago. Yet even so, I still order calabash chicken almost every time. They are a little on the smaller size these days, yet still delicious. Perfectly breaded in calabash style, fried golden brown and juicy. Also good are the deep fried poppy seed rolls. Sinfully good with butter.
If you're looking for a meal at exit 19, I'd pick Fatz every time.
I agree with my daugher Dawn E except so far they were some of the best chicken tenders I have had so far since I moved to SC and this Fatz was all around much better than the one in Seneca. Well maintained, the wait staff were well groomed and efficient and theover all appearance was clean and comfortable
Review Source:Fatz Cafe, according to Fatz Cafe, is world famous for their Calabash Chicken (fried chicken tenders). Â I don't know about the world, but I, a person who grew up in FL and lives in MA, had never seen the word Calabash" until I read the menu at Fatz.
Still, what kind of Yelper would I be if I didn't order the thing they're famous for?
I ordered the Calabash Chicken Salad (you can find them on several menu items as combo ingredients and even in soups). Â It was kind of good, the usual salad ingredients but certainly nothing special and the chicken tenders weren't better or worse than any other chicken tenders any where. Â They were juicy, but there was nothing exciting or original about the batter.
Service was prompt and with a smile. Â Prices were decent. Â This is an OK place, but nothing to write home about... Â Well, I guess I am sort of writing home about it right now.
Oh, I almost forgot the one notable exception... Â The rolls were awesome. Â They were these greasy balls of poppyseed dough (fried maybe or just baked with lots of oil) and they butter was sweetened with (I think) honey and a touch of cinnamon. Â Not on anyone's diet, for sure, but amazing all the same.
Fatz Cafe is your slightly nicer version of an Applebee's (I consider Applebee's to be a reference point of where I do not want to go when asking a client in a new location where the good restaurants are.).
Atmosphere - Darker inside than an Applebee's and not as open. Â The bar area is to the right of the dining area as opposed to in the center like an ABs. Â The inside materials are also higher-end than AB.
Food - Big on burgers and other sandwiches, but I went here for dinner after attempting to go to the Buffalo Wild Wings Cafe (apparently it was Karaoke night, and there must have been over 300 people there...freakish!!). Â I usually try to eat healthy on the road and my choices were slightly limited here as most items, as w/menu items of this genus, are dowsed in sauces. Â After talking to a fairly cute barmaid (girls are maids and guys are tenders...right?) I went w/the Teriyaki-Glazed Chicken on a bed or rice w/grilled veggie skewer, as this was my healthier alternative. Â It turned out to be decent. Â I washed it down with the tasty locally made Thomas Creek Red Ale. Â For dessert, I had the Peach Cobbler that was okay. Â Oh, and they serve these poppy seed rolls that are a cross between a Dunk'n Doughnut Hole and...Hell...a doughnut. Â They are good, but I am sure are like 500cal ea.
Service - The barmaid/tender (oh, FYI, I ate at the bar) was pleasant and talkative, which was great as I was eating solo. Â SO needless to say, service was great!!
Overall - The whole meal, w/tip came in just under $25. Â Not bad, but their menu does not really fit my tastes. Â So I may be back if I am limited w/choices or want to talk to a cute barmaid??
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