Elliston Place Soda Shop

Reviews 4

DI

Diamond Jim

Over a year ago my wife and I had a WOW experience here. Although I had intended to write a review, I misplaced the business card...and only found it this week. So, although this review is late...it is necessary as the wonderful experience lingers to this day. My wife and I are southerners, from Houston, and were traveling on business. We wanted to have breakfast at an old time independent restaurant...and located Ellington Place Soda Shop...which served breakfast. At first glance it met all of our expectations, sending us into the past...what we call "the good ole days". When we entered we were greeted in that friendly southern way that makes one feel as though they are family. We were seated, given a menu, and asked about breakfast. The waitress said that, unfortunately, breakfast was over. Our jaws dropped! We wanted breakfast. We explained to the waitress that we had specifically looked for and discovered Elliston Place...and only wanted breakfast. She saw our dismay...so she whispered to us that we should ask the manager. The manager arrived at our table. She was a very genuine "people person" who had managed the place for years. Her friendliness overwhelmed us. When we asked about breakfast, she said that, unfortunately, the grill was now only set up for their lunch burgers. But she knew how much we wanted breakfast, so she asked us to wait a moment while she checked the grill. She returned and told us that the cook was preparing burgers...but that she was clearing space on the grill and would prepare our breakfast herself! We were dumbfounded, and overjoyed! What a WOW experience. Keep in mind that we passed TWO chain restaurants in order to get to this small downtown eatery. And this is something that would NEVER happen at one of the chain restaurants. We had an absolutely wonderful conversation with her, in the old soda shop environment...but the best was yet to come. We had a breakfast fit for a lumberjack...prepared perfectly, including our eggs! The experience was one of those that you take with you...and lasts LONG after the actual breakfast is over. Ive forgotten her name... but well never forget that simple WOW experience and the manager who provided it. This was worth a hundred breakfasts at Dennys, IHOP, or any of the other chains. Ive NEVER had ONE memorable experience at any of the chains at which I am sometimes forced to stop...and I ALWAYS look for the mom & pop businesses wherever I go. This is where one might experience real life. FIVE STARS to you. And, further, I might mention, I read the negative review concerning the customer receiving a free meal because the restaurant was overwhelmed. In all fairness, the customer should have withheld the review until attempting the restaurant a second time. I am self-employed myself. With the unbelievably poor work ethic of todays millennials, and the total misunderstanding of the word "service" by the vast majority of them, there is no wonder that Ellington Place was understaffed and overwhelmed. This is more a comment on the sorry state of our society today than it is a comment against a restaurant struggling against corporate America and slamming the good folks who WERE there attempting to make this business work. Again...FIVE STARS FOR ME! Diamond Jim, Houston,TX

BR

Brooks Hooper

so i just went into this restaurant and the first thing i notice is how gross the place smells. its like a very synthetic metallic smell that blasts you in the face immediately as you walk in. I ordered the shrimp basket and it was very, VERY quick to come out. Too quick and the reason for that is because nothing inside the plate was cooked. I opened my to go box when i got back to my office and immediately noticed that the shrimp where not cooked what so ever.. they had been dipped in some sort of batter to be fried, and NEVER GOT FRIED. Basically just some uncooked shrimp caked in a batter in a go box. Absolutely 100% ridiculous. Not to mention I paid $16 for this a drink a very small piece of pie. My thoughts before were , "man i bet there are either a ton of shrimp in here, or either they are just going to be really good" well it was NEITHER and it was a waste of money and time. DO NOT GO TO THUS RESTAURANT! I didnt even recieve a fair amount of fries. I would be willing to bet I got less fries than come in a Happy Meal at mcdonalds.. Horrible restaurant. Just knowing that I could have gone to mcdonalds and gotten twice the food with twice the quality ( yes mcdonalds food is twice the quality because theres is actually cooked) for half the price and actually would have been able to eat it safely makes me so damn angry.. thanks for nothing elliston place food and soda restaurant..dont go here... believe me dont go here its not even a 1 star restaurant i just had to do that to submit the post.

J.

J.

This is the second time Ive tried this restaurant, thinking maybe the first time they had a bad day, but I will not be giving them another chance. The first time I had Ellistons I had their burger, it was bland and dry. This time I went a different route and ordered their Turkey and dressing and two sides. First the turkey: I guess I should have known, but didnt expect there to be dark meat included. I prefer white meat when it comes to poultry, I dont like how greasy dark meat tastes. Its a good thing Im picky because if I had just eaten the turkey blindly, I probably would have choked on the bone that was hiding in there. Second the dressing: Im not sure how something can be both dry and moist at the same time. The dressing has a decent flavor, but its very grainy. Third the mashed potatoes: how do you not serve (bland) mashed potatoes without gravy? They are not seasoned and Im pretty sure theyre instant (or at least taste like it). Fourth the mac and cheese: again, bland food will get you nowhere, it doesnt even taste cheesy. Because of these reasons, Im not even going to try the biscuit or the (what I assume to be) cranberry sauce that came with the meal. Sure the meal itself was a fairly decent price, but I would rather pay four dollars more for a higher quality meal that I will actually enjoy and want again.

JA

Jan Stephens

Went there for breakfast after doctors appointment got there at 1015 had to get change for parking meter stood there 10 minutes while two of the waitress talked to each other at end of counter. So after putting money in meter it was 1025 am one of the ladies that wouldnt get my change waited on us took 8 minutes to get coffee and take order(2 other customers in there was they wasnt busy) so when she came to take order I said can I get breakfast well she was not to enthused but said yes. After I got it I should have got lunch , I asked for scrambled legs they was far from scrambled and hard as a rock yellow and white marble looking eggs, the bacon cold and greasy. I guess the cook wasnt happy ordering breakfast late too. I use to eat here all the time. This surprised me that the staff wasnt friendly at all , the two older ladies waiting tables seemed more interested in talking with each other, there was a younger girl there that was waiting on a table and stopped to get my change so I could park without getting a ticket. Really disappointed I took a friend that had never been there telling her how wonderful it was, I was so embarrassed will never darken their door again