WNYMoms.com

We don't rarely order dessert when out dining because it can be pretty pricey so that's why for a treat once in a while we go to Friendly's. We can get the meal, drink, and ice cream for one price. Great! We were so excited when a location opened up in Hamburg. The excitement is fading. Every time we go it seems like we wait and wait. On the rare occasion we hit another location it doesn't seem this bad. We try to go at off times. The wait is better but still not great. At our most recent visit, we yet again waited for drinks, waited for the food, waited for ice cream,....since we had a lot of time on our hands, I was looking around and everyone in the restaurant looked miserable. Babies were whining, little ones were getting whispered at to behave because they were getting antsy,...there wasn't the happiness of knowing that ice cream was coming at some point. I don't know where the problem lies. I'm thinking it's in the back area and not the wait staff but I'm sure people are taking it out on the waiters/waitresses in tipping. Management better take notice or we'll be seeing another empty building before long.

My kids used to love going there. After a doctors or dentist appointment I'd take them out to lunch there. The last few times it just seems like the food was going down hill and the service is bad. Even my youngest noticed. The last time we went there was about three tables with people (including ours) and the waitress was running around like the restaurant was full, she was out of breath when ever she came to our table and acted like she couldn't keep up with the tables, I don't know what she was doing but to act like that was weird, but yet our food took forever. The waitress should have said something, apologized for it taking so long or something but not one word. We haven't gone there since. I'll mention it and they all say at the same time "NOOOO".

We've had the same problem...it doesn't seem real busy so where is the hold up? It's not like we're getting anything that would take a long/extra time to cook.

I know! I hate that. It's almost like the waitress is cooking the food! I'd hate to do there when they are actually busy.

I have never been to the Friendly's in Hamburg, but I have had similar experiences at the Friendly's in Lockport. The service is just so slow and I don't blame the waitstaff (all of whom seem to be pretty nice). The kitchen just takes forever to get food out. It really seems like they are completely short staffed. The last time we went there (about six months ago), we waited for an hour, sitting at a booth, just to be told they were out of something. And we didn't order anything unusual - it was like chicken nuggets or something like that. I was so furious I wrote a letter to the company and we haven't been back since. Are Friendly's restaurants run independently? Maybe there is something going on with the chain. It really is a shame because we run to Lockport frequently, and I would love to be able to go the restaurant, but it has really gone completely downhill.

I have had similar experiences at PF Changs. The last time it was just myself and my sister. We went for lunch on a Wednesday. The place was about 25% full. Our lunch took over an hour! Again we didn't order anything out of the ordinary. The time before was another lunch. There were 5 of us agin during the week. We were there for almost 2 hours! From now on I'm getting to go there.

I agree, lostinwny. I have been to the Friendly's on Transit by the Regal and also the one on Union near William. I stopped going to the one on Union because of very poor service. I have been to the one on Transit twice in recent history and the waitress was actually pretty rude and the service was horrible. I just chalked it up to us being there pretty late at night (after 9pm- we were picking people up from the airport), but then don't be open late if you can't accomodate customers. It's a shame because Friendly's used to be a great palce to get a quick meal, cheap.