Although Fatz is a chain, there is just something about those little rolls and cheese fries that keep me coming back. This location however, had something even better. They had some of the best servers and hostesses that I've come across in a long time. It was very apparent that they all work well together and view their coworkers more like family.
(5)
Claire B.
In a word - run. If I could give a zero I would. I was told by the hostess "the wait is at least 20 minutes maximum." That should probably have been my clue to move on. I gave it a shot and went to the bar with my aunt. The bar was crowded but that was to be expected. The restaurant is surrounded by hotels off of 95. We waited about 20 minutes for the bar tender. He served me a beer and I actually ordered for the guy next to me who was also waiting as well as my aunt (seltzer w cranberry and lemon). Got the beers. No glass. Asked the guy washing the glasses for one who properly replied "when I get a chance to dry one". Okay cool I can drink from the bottle. I asked if the bar tender was getting my aunt's drink. He said the bartender was busy. Got the drink - no cranberry - we let it go. The kegs are foaming beer all over the place. The bar literally begins to feel like something out of Bar Rescue. I mean it was just too much. All three people behind the bar - left. I mean they just left! The bar was a MESS. Empty plated everywhere. Behind the bar? Cash register was open. Cash al over the place. Dirty glasses stacked up. We've waited a half hour now and I start to think...if the front of the house looks this bad what the heck does the kitchen look like? Others at the bar are now asking "why are there so many open tables and all these people are waiting?" I go back to the front and see the main room has a lot of open tables as well. I ask the hostess, "why are all these tables open and everyone is waiting for a seat and why os the bar a disaster? Im concerned that the front is being run in this manner the kitchen is a concern", she says "she is short one person and they are not usually busy on Tuesday". Really? You have a restaurant with 6 hotels all around it! The best however was the manager who stood there and did NOTHING. ZERO NADDA. I paid the bar tab and left. The manager simply said have a good evening. Welcome to yelp Ms. Manager, I don't usually write such reviews but seriously - just bad.
(1)
Jennifer C.
Terrible mac and cheese. My kids wouldn't touch it. Burgers say never frozen. Mine was definitely a frozen patty . Well done on the outside pink on the inside. My husband's salad was the only decent food. Never again. .. Food gross... but Service was TERRIFIC.
(3)
Chris W.
Sweetened ice tea with lemon is delicious.! Had an Asian Chicken Salad and the famous calabash chicken with a side of coleslaw. Everthing was very fresh and tasty. And the portions are HUGE! We Can definitely recommend this place to others.
(4)
Shawn J.
Not impressed by this place at all. We had been on the road for 12 hours driving from Philly and stopped here for a late supper. The food was decent enough, nothing special in our opinion. I ordered the open faced Pot Roast sandwich, which as you can see in one of my images (sideways, sorry) of the menu, in the description it says "accompanied by red-skinned mashed potatoes". The waitress Tammy asked what side I wanted, because it was supposed to come with a side. I said well I guess since it comes with mashed potatoes I will get, and that's when she cut me off and said no, the mashed potatoes would be my side. I read the menu again where it said in the description that the item is "accompanied by red-skinned mashed potatoes". She said no, that was merely a suggestion. I wanted to laugh, but I was too tired and hungry from a day on the road. I read it again out loud to my family to a: get their opinion, and b: to give her a chance to go by the rule of the customer is always right. She just stood there as if I was wasting her time. So I let it go, and we had a good laugh about it in the car when we left. The "World Famous" Calabash chicken my eldest son ordered what was in his words "just chicken tenders, nothing special". My wife's potato soup was barely warm, and her salad was very basic run of the mill cheaply made Caesar. My youngest son's Shrimp and Grits was the highlight, very tasty. Question though, why do some places like this leave the tails on the shrimp?
(2)
Michele P.
Driving from Fla to northern Virginia we stopped here for dinner. Thought we'd hit Dickey's BBQ next door, but it had two cars in its lot vs a full house at Fatz. We were seated in a large comfortable booth right away. I was told we arrived just before the dinner rush. By the time we left there seemed to be a bit of a wait. We mentioned it was our first time there and our waitress brought us out a generous sample of their Calabash chicken, which was yummy so I got the Calabash chicken and shrimp combo with mashed potatoes. The spuds could've been warmer, but were pretty good. Food great, service great. I drive to Fla at least every other month. I'll definitely come back.
(5)
Ron H.
Great burgers. The price was decent, the food was fresh, & the service very friendly. For a stop off I-95, this was the place to eat in the area. Would I go again....absolutely.
(4)
Trey D.
100 percent satisfaction! We filled this place with ravenous 11-13 yr olds and had zero complaints. We were in Florence for a baseball tournament for 5 days and had 3 meals with Fatz! Not only can you eat in, they have excellent options for party trays with great service!
(5)
Joe D.
FATZ is a small chain in the southeast which we discovered (with the help of YELP, of course!) while returning from Florida to our home in Massachusetts. After a long day of driving, we made our way to Florence, SC for the overnight and ate at the local FATZ Cafe. The meal was good - not gourmet but two entrees, cocktails (did I say it was a long drive?) and a shared dessert and coffee all for less than $50 plus tip. The parking lot was full of travelers. License plates from all up and down the east coast so I think that gives you an idea of their clientele although there were clearly a few locals as well. The staff was very attentive and the manager came to introduce himself and see our dining experience was. All very pleasant as he proudly claimed to be the best store in the chain of 58 (I think) FATZ Cafe's. One item of note regarding the food. I had the beef and rib sampler and the ribs were delicious. Again, not gourmet or 'secret sauce' not found anywhere else in the known universe. Just good food at a great price. Should we find our way back on another road trip, I won't hesitate to stop in for a good, inexpensive meal at a friendly place!
(4)
Janet F.
Looking over the reviews and either I ordered the wrong item or went on a bad day. Worst service by the waitress. She rarely stopped at our table and even seen her flossing her teeth. Gross! Not on floor. Got a side salad that came with the meal and it wasn't fresh. I got a steak and baked potato ... And yea the steak was dry and burnt. I went there due to hotel stay telling me it was recommended and they had a voucher for a free dessert. I asked for the dessert listing and find out there were only 3 selections I could have. I was already frustrated that I just decided to forfeit the free dessert. I was mainly disappointed by the service but the food wasn't all that.
(2)
Don E.
Number one place in Florence and staff is totally amazing l!! And the manager is totally amazing !! Great food !!
(5)
Nikki V.
This is my first time at this location. The food was great, the service was great and the location is good. We had a ball.
(4)
Kay K.
Best meal ever! Especially for the moderate price! We were staying overnight in Florence and ask the innkeeper for a local dining recommendation. Thank goodness she recommended Fatz Cafe! The Calabash Chicken was likely THE best chicken I've ever eaten -- so tender with just the right yummy spices. My husband had the beef tips over rice and he loved them. Staff was polite, helpful and prompt. The manager stopped by to check on us, too. So glad we lucked into this jewel in Florence! Too full to hold dessert but they had a nice selection.
(5)
Ellen G.
We were impressed by the reviews for Fatz and, since it was close to our hotel (the excellent Hampton Inn) we thought we would give it a try. Were we ever glad we did! From the moment we walked in the door we felt welcomed by the courteous and attentive staff. And then the food started coming - first those amazing poppy seed rolls, which we devoured. Then I got a salad with hot bacon dressing - delish! That's a childhood favorite of mine that you seldom see anymore and this one was memorable. DH had the loaded baked potato soup and kept commenting how good it was, as well. His steak and my ribs were to die for. We desperately wanted to sample the peach cobbler and peanut butter pie but were way too full, so I guess we'll have to come back to do that. We both agree that this was the best road trip meal we've ever had ... HIGHLY recommend this Fatz in Florence, SC!
(5)
Melinda C.
Excellent. The ribs were great. Service great with Jamie. Great place to stop on the way to Orlando especially with little kids. Manager came over to the table to chit chat was very nice made the experience even better.
(5)
Gili G.
The server (ANNA) was a delight with her great smile. I had the house salad which was cold and crispy. Perfect! The ribs were pretty good, and came off the bone easily. my sauce had a nice spiceyness to it. The bread pudding was nice as well. The food arrived very fast which was great, as my dog was waiting in the car.
(4)
Ed M.
We stopped here for a good meal after a full day of driving. They gave us samples of the special fried chicken tenders with a mildly hot sauce. Both had the baby back ribs with asparagus. Fork tender obviously smoked for a long long time, very good. Asparagus was also done just right with a little herbal sauce, adds to the flavor. Best was the fried bread in place of rolls. Very courteous and helpful waiter.
(4)
Kat A.
Everything was great. Try the ribs....so tender....they fall off the bone. Deliciousness!
(5)
Patricia P.
Best Cobb salad ever. I'm glad I stopped here on my way back to Boston. Delicious ... I recommend it
(5)
Leslie V.
Try the ribs, the chicken pot pie (divine!) and cheese grits with fried green tomatoes topped with a spicy sauce and cheese was an awesome appetizer to get us started. The service was on top of things, just lacked...ummm...personality? Maybe because it's Monday!? :-) Either way, I'd definitely go back when driving through again.
(4)
N V.
Always stop here traveling through the area and especially like their fall "off the bone" baby back ribs. Very tender and tasty. Friendly service staff.
(5)
Coleman A.
The grilled citrus chicken spinach salad with raspberry vinegrette is awesome. I would recommend it.
(4)
Michael A.
We had another great visit here on our way down to Florida. You are greeted at the door like your family and they can always find a table for you. As usual, we started with the fried green tomatoes and the to-die-for puffs with flavored butter. Both are a must! I had the Parmesan Encrusted Fatz Fish. It's a very mild white fish and was delicious over the bed of rice. My wife had the roasted turkey dinner and loved it. Service was great as usual and you're thanked on the way out.
(4)
C N.
This is a special thank you to Warren the owner. He is a great host and went out of his way to make our visit a good one. He knows the value of customer satisfaction. We are traveling from Connecticut and time is important. The food was fresh and generous serving size. Restroom very clean which is important. Thank you again Warren for your hospitality.
(4)
Kemi S.
I ordered the Firecracker Sticks, they were like spicy shrimp and southwestern sauce eggrolls. Very well flavored, delicious, and filling. I could only eat 3 of them with my glass of Sauvignon. They tasted even better the next day for leftovers. It was also a great atmosphere to have a drink and watch a game. Bartender was friendly and polite. Good place to stop in if you're passing through town, as I was.
(4)
William M.
On my drive South to Miami, this is the second time in a year I have stopped here. Each time the food was excellent, Service was great, and the cost was minimal. What more needs to be said?
(4)
Maria M.
Ribs with traditional and Carolina gold sauces were fantastic! Oh, and the poppy seed rolls too! Will definitely recommend!
(5)
Meinflorence M.
I had hickory burger the bun was over toasted to the point where it crumbled apart, and the meat was dry and hard to chew. Disappointed! On a positive note the biscuits and sweet tea were great!!
(2)
Osugradinca S.
Calabash chicken, ribs and roasted vegetable skewers were a nice meal! Peanut butter pie was perfect to share with others. Ask for Chelsea...she was a great waitress with a super smile! She was attentive to our needs throughout the dining experience.
(5)
Renae S.
Food was cold--waiter didn't want to be there. The table next to us had to send their meal back TWICE for undercooked chicken... They weren't even busy! Bathrooms were dirty, but then again everything was. I have been to other Fatz locations that were great, however, I would NOT waste your time or money here.
(1)
John P.
There is salt and more salt. Very nice atmosphere but chicken and fish that we had was extremely salty Would not recommend stopped here on way home from Florida John Ocean city md
(2)
Gnate S.
Our waitress was nice. Our food was gross. Cold, burnt chicken, and the "fresh" veggies looked delicious on the outside, but seriously tasted like they were rotten. I know a lot of people like this place (we were recommended to go there by a few people), but not a good experience for us.
(1)
Mike S.
FATS IS RIGHT! I had to give them an extra star because they basically gave us free samples of so much stuff, that we barely needed our meals. If you like hearty portions, you like lil sampler bonuses, and you like to add a few pounds of "muscle mass" in one sitting....it's time to go to FATZ!
(4)
Maria A.
Great place if you are in SC area. The waitress was very nice.
(5)
Chris V.
Just left Fatz Cafe in Florence, SC. Great service by our waitress Julia and she was really great with our three boys. The meal was great and management was active and made a point to come by the table and thank me for service since it is Veteran's Day. We will be back.
(4)
John W.
While traveling north on I-95 we made the choice to eat at Fatz in Florence, SC. We wanted something better than fast food but not a big meal. It was a good choice. My wife had the Calabash Chicken & Shrimp. I had the Calabash Chicken Wrap. Both selections were quite good. The chicken (Fatz speciality dish) was lightly breaded and not overly greasy. It had a moist, fresh flavor. The accompanying sides were also tasty. The wrap had a nice spicy ranch sauce that I particularly enjoyed. Good service too!
(4)
Heather H.
Close to the 95, just off the freeway. Try the fried fish, it's great! Light, flaky, and not over breaded or over fried. Has allergy menu. Be aware that the allergy menu may say an item does not have milk in it but it may still have margarine in it (which usually contains milk). So if you have a milk allergy, don't eat the Poppyseed Rolls even though the allergy menu says you can.
(4)
David P.
Fatz is a good option if you are staying at the Hampton Inn or one of the other hotels just off I-95. The staff is friendly and responsive. Our meals were good and nicely presented.
(4)
H. D.
We stopped here on our way back from FL and ordered take-out. The place was packed so we figured it was good but we thought it was lacking. My dinner was just alright but my husband was really disappointed with his.
(2)
Meghan H.
The food (especially my steak) was good, mojito needed work, but the real star was Michael our server. He's super sweet, attentive, and patient! Definitely try to sit in his section if you can. He made our experience there great!
(5)
Trevor T.
The food was not to my satisfaction. The rolls was actually the best part of meal. My dad really enjoyed large fried whiting fish. I was disappointed with my chicken pasta, the chicken was breaded and the Alfredo sauce was not impressive. the service was good.
(1)
T A.
First time at a Fatz. A heck a lot better than fast food and only about $5 more person (without booze). Very quick service...in and out in about 30 min at lunchtime on a Saturday. Close to 95. Server, Daniel, was good and had a quick wit. We'll stop here or another Fatz again. Try the farmhouse burger.....egg, bacon, horseradish and burger. Nothing with that and very tasty.
(4)
Charlie F.
I arrived around 7:30 on a Saturday night. A few folks were waiting for tables (about a 10 minute wait) but I was offered a seat at the bar, which I accepted. Bartender was very pleasant, especially since I was ordering sweet iced tea and a meal instead of an alcoholic beverage. My meal of the Carolina Stacked chicken, mashed potatoes, and those great rolls were delivered quickly. Wonderful flavor! As I've said before, I will be happy when this chain finally decides to open a location in Raleigh!
(4)
Dwayne M.
Good food, wonderful service, very fast. We were driving through South Carolina on 95 and stopped at this exit to get the cheep SC gas before entering NC and we saw that FATZ had good reviews so decided to eat there. The service was some of the best I've ever had. The bread and especially the brown sugar butter they give every table was really good. We ordered the Calabash chicken salad and Calabash chicken wrap. The Calabash chicken was good for chicken strips. The food came out really fast, which is a plus for travelers. We would go back if we were ever in the area again. PS: On Sundays they have an additional Homestyle menu option that looked good. Since a lot of other good restaurants we saw were closed Sunday, FATZ is a great Sunday option.
(4)
Elliot H.
My husband and I are passing through Florence on our way to Fla stopped at Fatz for dinner, it is near our hotel Sre pleasantly surprised Food is several notches above the usual on the road fare and the wait staff are accomodating Stop by if you are on the way South
(3)
Tony S.
Another great dinning experience at another Fatz restaurant. Service and staff were terrific.
(5)
Sandy A.
Great service, great food, chicken out of this world, melt in ur mouth.rolls to die for.
(5)
John H.
Driving back from the half marathon at myrtle beach we started getting hungry around 11:30. Luckily we came upon a Fatz Cafe and stopped to have lunch. I had the combo sampler that included, fried shrimp, steak, and their famous calabash chicken + one side item: my choice was the cheese grits. I woofed down my food and it was the perfect after race meal - mostly protein. I guess I could have gone a little healthier with less fried stuff, but it was all very good. Our server was very nice and we even splurged on the desert. My friends had the peach cobbler and I had a couple bites of a ice cream cookie sandwich which was awesome!
(5)
Bob B.
This place is just plain nasty. Plates were dirty and the menu was as bland as card paper. Had been in one years ago in Greenville and thought it stunk. Figured I would try again since the chain didn't fold. I guess there is a market for every nasty middle of the plate chain in America, because somehow these places stay open. My recommendation is if you want to eat cheap, just do Waffle House.
(1)
Joel C.
The food was excellent. I've eaten at three Fatz locations and the food has always been good. I would have rated this location higher but it was not very clean. The service was very nice and friendly. The manager greeted us at the door. I really want to rate this place higher. Fatz is a nice alternative to Applebees, Ruby Tuesday, Chili's...etc.
(3)
Cindy Z.
The best thing here is the poppy seed rolls. We found hair in the fried green tomatoes. Chicken potpie was very salty. Ruben sandwich very greasy. We asked for unsweetened ice tea, the waitress brought sweetened. We had to ask for silverware after appetizers is brought out.
(1)
Shelly B.
Great food but I know why it is called Fatz - cuz ya leave more Fatz then when you came in. Lol
(4)
Liana L.
Disclaimer: Fatz is NOT a special-occasion restaurant, or a particular Florence speciality; it's a chain store that's similar to Applebee's, but southern. Do not expect fancy dining for the overall 4 stars - it's simply a very excellent alternative to Arby's or Mcdonald's or any of the fast-food options nearby as a rest stop from a road trip. Don't be fooled by the "World Famous Calabash Chicken" - it's just fried chicken. :p Once you have that in mind, you're all set! Food is pretty inexpensive and quite filling; if you're avoiding fried foods, don't get the calabash combo. It's probably not worth it anyway even if you want fried foods. If you don't like salad dressing doused all over your salad, ask for the dressing on the side (or don't get the side salad). It looks like butter and oil are used copiously, so be careful with what you get. That said, I really enjoyed the flatbread that I shared with a friend. It's not very large, but I wasn't very hungry and it was filling for me. (I wouldn't normally recommend that, though). The fish and chips are good. Service is friendly and Southern, though there was a man who said "xie xie" and "zai jian" to us when we were leaving. I guess I'm supposed to appreciate the attempt to "connect" to my culture, but 4/5 of us were Korean (and even though I'm actually Chinese, I speak Cantonese natively, not Mandarin). In general, I find it offensive rather than nice, though I don't detect any ill intentions - just ignorance. :/
(4)
Lee F.
n all my many years of trying new restaurants in new places this was an oasis on our way down to take our daughter to FSU, August 2013, I have never been so impressed with the way my family was catered to in a manner that will forever make my impression of SC last through at least two generations of my family. Our server was a single mother working two jobs and attending college and made us feel like she was inviting us to her home. We felt as though we were the only people in this crowded restaurant and the food came fast and truly was a cultural experience, leaving us wanting more but with no room to order dessert. When our server heard we couldn't order dessert, she proceeded to bring not only the restaurants favorite desserts but also cotton candy for all three of my girls as a complementary service. We felt like we hit the lottery, the lottery of meeting blessed people, especially Jamie. . I obviously can not show enough gratitude on how thankful I am for this experience on such a long day.
(5)
Renee H.
Great location, right off the interstate. Stopped for lunch and was in and out pretty quickly. So much better than fast food!! Would be happy to eat there again!
(4)
Phil T.
Honestly don't know what the hype is for a poor mans chili's chain! This place is honestly average at most unless you are accustomed to this type of food. Wings were lamer than lame n turkey burger was good. The friendly southern hospitality here was nice but that's all I can really say that was great about it. Gotta love the southern belles otherwise it would be a typical 2 star. :)
(3)
Monkee C.
This is a great alternative to the national, casual dining chains (i.e. Chili's, Outback, Ruby Tuesday) with food that's as good as if not better. Decor's nice too, lots of natural stone and wood with none of that tacky "flair" typical of the national joints. Service at this particular location was very good. Our server was efficient and friendly. Our orders came out with minimal wait and more importantly, were hot (there's nothing worse than getting food that's been out under the heat lamps for a while). We tried their chips and salsa/queso/spinach dip appetizer and a bowl of clam chowder. Both were solid, the appetizer more so than the soup (full disclosure, I lived in Boston for over 5 years so I'm trained to be picky with NE style CC). The mini poppy rolls came out hot and were the best of the appetizers, IMO, especially with the honey butter. I had their southern pork chops with coleslaw and redskin mashed 'taters and sig-o had the calabash chicken strips with cheee grits. The pork chops were excellent, juicy all the way through. I liked the coleslaw and mashed 'taters as well, both were tasty without being over or under seasoned. The chicken strips were different from your standard chicken strips, but in a good way. The grits were just ok for me but sig-o makes grits that I've yet to find a restaurant match, so I'm spolied there too. So overall, A-OK. Definitely worth a trip back when in the mood for a taste of Southern Americana.
(3)
Lana A.
A mixed review here. Definitely expensive for what you get. Our bill came close to $30 for two burgers and iced tea. Hubby liked his Black Jack Burger but my Onyum Burger was not so good, with floury, strange tasting thick batter on the onion rings that accompany it and an odd spicy sauce drizzled over the rings as well as the burger that I truly hated. Service was friendly but not attentive enough to remedy anything. Our server seemed too distracted to even write down our order correctly, so when it was delivered to the table by other personnel it was, of course, wrong. But since we'd waited so long for it we went ahead and ate it anyway. It's too bad we had such mixed results since the place had been recommended to us.
(2)
Harold J.
We really got outstanding service at this location. From the host to the server. The server was ver attentive and our food exceed our expectations.
(5)
Mollie M.
I know Fatz is known for their calabash chicken, but I dont particularly care for it. I find their ribs though just delicious, and the meltinyourmouth poppy rolls with honeybutter just to die for. We had great service, despite being sat in the bar. I think its a good alternative to rubytuesdays and applebees. Same sort of feel, but different food options.
(4)
Natalie H.
I went here on a Tuesday night about a month ago, and was very disappointed. The food was good - but it was the worst experience sitting at a bar ever. It wasn't necessarily the bar tender's fault - I blame the management. The entire bar was wrapped and every one pretty much sat down near the same time - dinner rush. Everyone had to wait a very long time to get refills, bread, salads, and the worst part, is that dirty dishes lined the bar. Everyone was done eating the apps, or dinner dishes, and pushed them forward and the bartender was so in the weeds she didn't have time to clear them. I saw the manager walk by and ask her if she was ok - and she said she "thought" so - but emphasized "thought" - and the manager walked away. For 2 hours I sat there, in what should have been no more than an hour. Everyone was shocked that she was behind the bar alone - as she also had cocktail tables and making the servers drinks as well. Countless servers walked to the bar area, and no one offered to help or to clean up dishes. EVEN MANAGEMENT. It was unbelievable. In the final ten minutes of my stay, FINALLY, she got some help - was it was two hours too late. The food was good - but hardly worth the wait and service and a messy bar.
(1)
Kaffer D.
Oh my goodness, Fatz's is sinful! I LOVE Fatz and have never had a negative dining experience here. The salmon is delicious. The hamburgers are so good. The steaks are wonderful. The service is excellent. The bathrooms are spotless. And I love the ambiance. Fatz is excellent!
(5)
Rob W.
Great food & good service as usual. Always have to get a to go box when done eating too!
(4)
Tonya N.
We stopped at the Florence Fatz restaurant on our way to FL for dinner. This is the 3rd Fatz I have eaten at. All of our food was delicious! We really enjoyed it. We had the salads, beef tips, and chicken fingers plus the club sandwich. It was a great dinner! Our waiter Josh was very helpful and friendly! We'll be back in the future to dine at this location. We have never been disappointed by Fatz!
(5)
Gianna R.
We went here for lunch yesterday and the service was overly friendly and very accommodating our waitress was so sweet.. The were able to seat us pretty fast even though we had a big group.. Soon as we sat down they brought out this yummy bread rolls they were so fresh and with the warm honey butter they almost tasted like doughnuts.. YUMM.. They also brought our Shrimp and Grits they were also very Yummy.. We got the Sunday Special fried boneless chicken and 3 veggies the portions were huge and all that plus a drink for 10.99 you cant beat that.. It was prob the best place we ate at while in town....
(4)
E C.
The food was fair, but the service left something to be desired The credit card machine malfunctioned causing a delay in payment at the end of the meal.
(3)
Jessica J.
Yum! Yum! Yum! I totally enjoyed my dinner here and will definitely return the next time I'm passing through Florence, SC. I loved the variety of options on the menu...there is something for EVERYONE! I had a grilled chicken salad and hubby had a catfish sandwich. Service was great too. All the food was tasty. Can't wait to go back and try another option...hopefully I'll have a bigger appetite!
(4)
Wendy E.
Very disappointing. Nothing from appetizer to salad to chicken and ribs entree was more than mediocre. Never again will I spend my money at this restaurant
(2)
Morgan C.
we were traveling to Miami returning from a northeast vacations and decided to eat here. what a mistake. place looked good and had a good menu, but dirty floors and staff looked at us like if we were from Mars?? the chickens wings were regular wings with a sweet sauce, ok at best. some even kind of raw!!! then the bread is very good and the salad good too a Ceaser. the rest order fish sandwiches and chicken wrap. ok the wrap is a tender wrap was good. the baked potato undercooked. the steak was ok . but the fish was HORRIBLE, UNDER COOKED , NO , RAWW. I ASKED FOR A REPLACEMENT , AGAIN RAW. The manager was very apologetic but my appetite was gone so was my stomach . i mean raw to the point the batted wouldn't stick. they gave us free desert and didn't charge my entree, but is this a chain,where is the pride??? we aren't cattle , we are the people that pay for your bills when we eat at your establishment. the hostess was rude also with a snarl as we entered the restaurant. the bartender , right in front of us complained to the waitress that customers need to know we need to see ???, that they are out of miller light , bud light, bottles and drafts, and there was a sign. we sat by the bar and we heard it all. i mean this is a disaster. i will make sure whomever is the CEO of this brand they need to know w hat happened. as i sit in the hotel room my wife is sick to her stomach, probably the undercooked chicken!
(1)
Dana A.
Good food ,good service, price moderate, friendly staff would recommend to friends & family sampler platter good low fat steak cooked to perfection, salad fresh good portions.
(4)
Kelly F.
Great meal- I got the under 550 calorie meal of steak, broccoli and a salad... Which was great!! Add to it the super rolls and flavored butter. Great service from our great wAitress, Lenora, who went over and above her duties to make everything great!
(5)
Jason L.
Fatz Cafe is a chain primarily located in the South (with chains in NC, SC, Tenn, etc). The one in Florence is conveniently located right off I-95 for the hungry traveler. I had never even heard of Fatz Cafe until I moved to South Carolina but apparently it is a well known chain in these parts. Most of their menu is American fare found at most major chains (Ruby Tuesday and Applebees) injected with a bit of South Carolina/North Carolina flair. The restaurants are usually warm and accommodating and the one in Florence has always been clean and well organized. Service has been good the few times I have been there. The food to me has always been just average. For those of you familiar with North Carolina chains I consider this place a low class Tripps (sigh I really miss that place). Most restaurants always offer some bread before meals around these parts and you must try Fatz's mini poppy seed rolls. They are absolutely to die for and you will end up wolfing down a dozen if you don't pace yourself before the meal. Some other comments about their menu: Appetizers: Have had their three cheese spinach dip which was good but not excellent. The cheese is a bit too bland in their recipe. Of course spinach doesn't really taste like much so you better have a tasty cheese sauce to accompany it. Their fried green tomatoes were a complete fail. The breading tasted like cardboard. If you want better fried green tomatoes in Florence then you need to try Red Bone Alley. Entrees: They seem to promote their World Famous Calabash Chicken pretty hard but I wasn't that impressed with it. They use very small cuts of chicken and you end up eating more breading that meat. I have had better chicken tenders elsewhere but the kids will probably like these. Their BBQ babyback ribs were a pleasant surprise and I would order them if I went back. Very tender with a flavorful sauce. Their Edisto Shrimp and Grits was also not a successful dish but this is mainly due to the mediocrity of their cheesy grits. The grits weren't cooked enough and again their cheese selection is lacking. None of their sides are really memorable either so throw a dart at the menu to pick. Nothing at this place is really bad but besides their poppy seed mini rolls and their BBQ Babyback Ribs I haven't been impressed with anything. Everyone needs to try this place at least once so if you are a traveler looking for food off I-95 give it a try. I visit this place about twice a year due to sheer boredom with the other places Florence has to offer.
(3)
Joseph S.
Enjoyed the food, definitely best choice in the area for travelers, the ribs and chicken tenders was good but wish I had tried the pimento cheese burger. Apparently fatz is a chain restaurant like chilis so it's along that kind of experience.
(4)
Patrick V.
Calabash chicken salad excellent. Clam cakes dinner excellent. Fish dinners very good. And those rolls with sweetened butter! Fatz is a very busy place but has an extremely friendly and efficient staff. You've got to go to Fatz if you're in Florence, SC.
(4)
Cindy W.
On our first visit we tried the classic ribs, baked potato, and slaw. The ribs were great, the slaw was bland, and the baked potatoes were not cooked in the middle (twice - we sent the first potatoes back and received the same). Disappointed that the manager didn't stop by regarding the potatoes. We were seated in the bar area which was very quiet on a Sunday evening. We plan to check it out at lunch one day and see whether it's worth our putting on our list.
(3)
John L.
Fantastic food at reasonable price. Choose this place over your typical chains and you won't be disappointed. It is conveniently located right off 95 and we stopped there for a quick lunch while driving home from vacation. We will definitely remember this place for future road trips thru SC.
(4)
Dave O.
always leary of a resturant I have not heard of, but when we got to Florence, I checked YELP and saw the rating and figured we would give it a try. Was excellent. Starting with the hot rolls with cinnamon butter. My wife and I both had the 3 way seafood, popcorn shrimp, regular fried shrimp and fish and fries. I am a big eater but there was more than I could handle, and it was excellent with a real good price
(5)
Eboni P.
I have been to this restaurant many times and my experiences have always been great! The bread is ok but a little chewy. I like the bread better at other places! My family loved the bread. I enjoyed the broccoli cheese soup that came with my entree. The salads were crisp and refreshing. I ordered their version of a long island iced tea. It was good in taste but 0 percent alcohol content. That sucked really bad. It is a chain but it does it better than chain restaurants. But hey I happen to like some chain restaurants. The service we received from the hostess to the food runner was GREAT! WE loved our server Heather. She was a great server and she was there when we needed her. I did not Like my chopped steak and not only did the manager take it off they brought me a free dessert at the end of our meal. I was happy with everything except the chopped steak being overcooked and the drink.Everything I tasted from everybody else's plates. The rest of my party was happy with our visit! (: Oh yeah I liked the peanut butter pie! The pb pie is better @ Fridays though!
(4)
Daniel D.
We stopped here on our way down to FL from NJ. Food was GREAT! My wife ordered a steak ( which I thought she was crazy for doing at a Applebee's type place ) and it was pretty good. The rest of us had burgers and the likes of that. Everything was great! Service was a little kookie .... The waitress sat down with us and talked with us for about 10 minutes while taking our order. Well on the way back we held out for about an extra hour to hit this place again. Everything was just as good as the first time! Definitely go if you are on 95 and looking for a good quick meal!
(5)
Ashley C.
I enjoyed this place the food was good and the service was good too.
(4)
Melinda L.
Stopped here on our way to Disney. Excellent food and service. We got seated immediately during dinner peak time. Ordered chicken wings, Calabash fried chicken strips, Ceasar salad, burger and the chicken and rice soup--all delicious, moist and tender chicken, great dressing on the salad. Highly recommended, especially if you have little kids or hungry teenagers.
(4)
Gulshan I.
Very friendly place. When we walked in it almost felt like we were visiting friends or family and not a restaurant. Quick service no wait times even though the parking lot was full. I ordered grilled shrimp and it was average. I have tasted better shrimp and rice quantity wasn't enough.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Rhonda K.
Although Fatz is a chain, there is just something about those little rolls and cheese fries that keep me coming back. This location however, had something even better. They had some of the best servers and hostesses that I've come across in a long time. It was very apparent that they all work well together and view their coworkers more like family.
(5)Claire B.
In a word - run. If I could give a zero I would. I was told by the hostess "the wait is at least 20 minutes maximum." That should probably have been my clue to move on. I gave it a shot and went to the bar with my aunt. The bar was crowded but that was to be expected. The restaurant is surrounded by hotels off of 95. We waited about 20 minutes for the bar tender. He served me a beer and I actually ordered for the guy next to me who was also waiting as well as my aunt (seltzer w cranberry and lemon). Got the beers. No glass. Asked the guy washing the glasses for one who properly replied "when I get a chance to dry one". Okay cool I can drink from the bottle. I asked if the bar tender was getting my aunt's drink. He said the bartender was busy. Got the drink - no cranberry - we let it go. The kegs are foaming beer all over the place. The bar literally begins to feel like something out of Bar Rescue. I mean it was just too much. All three people behind the bar - left. I mean they just left! The bar was a MESS. Empty plated everywhere. Behind the bar? Cash register was open. Cash al over the place. Dirty glasses stacked up. We've waited a half hour now and I start to think...if the front of the house looks this bad what the heck does the kitchen look like? Others at the bar are now asking "why are there so many open tables and all these people are waiting?" I go back to the front and see the main room has a lot of open tables as well. I ask the hostess, "why are all these tables open and everyone is waiting for a seat and why os the bar a disaster? Im concerned that the front is being run in this manner the kitchen is a concern", she says "she is short one person and they are not usually busy on Tuesday". Really? You have a restaurant with 6 hotels all around it! The best however was the manager who stood there and did NOTHING. ZERO NADDA. I paid the bar tab and left. The manager simply said have a good evening. Welcome to yelp Ms. Manager, I don't usually write such reviews but seriously - just bad.
(1)Jennifer C.
Terrible mac and cheese. My kids wouldn't touch it. Burgers say never frozen. Mine was definitely a frozen patty . Well done on the outside pink on the inside. My husband's salad was the only decent food. Never again. .. Food gross... but Service was TERRIFIC.
(3)Chris W.
Sweetened ice tea with lemon is delicious.! Had an Asian Chicken Salad and the famous calabash chicken with a side of coleslaw. Everthing was very fresh and tasty. And the portions are HUGE! We Can definitely recommend this place to others.
(4)Shawn J.
Not impressed by this place at all. We had been on the road for 12 hours driving from Philly and stopped here for a late supper. The food was decent enough, nothing special in our opinion. I ordered the open faced Pot Roast sandwich, which as you can see in one of my images (sideways, sorry) of the menu, in the description it says "accompanied by red-skinned mashed potatoes". The waitress Tammy asked what side I wanted, because it was supposed to come with a side. I said well I guess since it comes with mashed potatoes I will get, and that's when she cut me off and said no, the mashed potatoes would be my side. I read the menu again where it said in the description that the item is "accompanied by red-skinned mashed potatoes". She said no, that was merely a suggestion. I wanted to laugh, but I was too tired and hungry from a day on the road. I read it again out loud to my family to a: get their opinion, and b: to give her a chance to go by the rule of the customer is always right. She just stood there as if I was wasting her time. So I let it go, and we had a good laugh about it in the car when we left. The "World Famous" Calabash chicken my eldest son ordered what was in his words "just chicken tenders, nothing special". My wife's potato soup was barely warm, and her salad was very basic run of the mill cheaply made Caesar. My youngest son's Shrimp and Grits was the highlight, very tasty. Question though, why do some places like this leave the tails on the shrimp?
(2)Michele P.
Driving from Fla to northern Virginia we stopped here for dinner. Thought we'd hit Dickey's BBQ next door, but it had two cars in its lot vs a full house at Fatz. We were seated in a large comfortable booth right away. I was told we arrived just before the dinner rush. By the time we left there seemed to be a bit of a wait. We mentioned it was our first time there and our waitress brought us out a generous sample of their Calabash chicken, which was yummy so I got the Calabash chicken and shrimp combo with mashed potatoes. The spuds could've been warmer, but were pretty good. Food great, service great. I drive to Fla at least every other month. I'll definitely come back.
(5)Ron H.
Great burgers. The price was decent, the food was fresh, & the service very friendly. For a stop off I-95, this was the place to eat in the area. Would I go again....absolutely.
(4)Trey D.
100 percent satisfaction! We filled this place with ravenous 11-13 yr olds and had zero complaints. We were in Florence for a baseball tournament for 5 days and had 3 meals with Fatz! Not only can you eat in, they have excellent options for party trays with great service!
(5)Joe D.
FATZ is a small chain in the southeast which we discovered (with the help of YELP, of course!) while returning from Florida to our home in Massachusetts. After a long day of driving, we made our way to Florence, SC for the overnight and ate at the local FATZ Cafe. The meal was good - not gourmet but two entrees, cocktails (did I say it was a long drive?) and a shared dessert and coffee all for less than $50 plus tip. The parking lot was full of travelers. License plates from all up and down the east coast so I think that gives you an idea of their clientele although there were clearly a few locals as well. The staff was very attentive and the manager came to introduce himself and see our dining experience was. All very pleasant as he proudly claimed to be the best store in the chain of 58 (I think) FATZ Cafe's. One item of note regarding the food. I had the beef and rib sampler and the ribs were delicious. Again, not gourmet or 'secret sauce' not found anywhere else in the known universe. Just good food at a great price. Should we find our way back on another road trip, I won't hesitate to stop in for a good, inexpensive meal at a friendly place!
(4)Janet F.
Looking over the reviews and either I ordered the wrong item or went on a bad day. Worst service by the waitress. She rarely stopped at our table and even seen her flossing her teeth. Gross! Not on floor. Got a side salad that came with the meal and it wasn't fresh. I got a steak and baked potato ... And yea the steak was dry and burnt. I went there due to hotel stay telling me it was recommended and they had a voucher for a free dessert. I asked for the dessert listing and find out there were only 3 selections I could have. I was already frustrated that I just decided to forfeit the free dessert. I was mainly disappointed by the service but the food wasn't all that.
(2)Don E.
Number one place in Florence and staff is totally amazing l!! And the manager is totally amazing !! Great food !!
(5)Nikki V.
This is my first time at this location. The food was great, the service was great and the location is good. We had a ball.
(4)Kay K.
Best meal ever! Especially for the moderate price! We were staying overnight in Florence and ask the innkeeper for a local dining recommendation. Thank goodness she recommended Fatz Cafe! The Calabash Chicken was likely THE best chicken I've ever eaten -- so tender with just the right yummy spices. My husband had the beef tips over rice and he loved them. Staff was polite, helpful and prompt. The manager stopped by to check on us, too. So glad we lucked into this jewel in Florence! Too full to hold dessert but they had a nice selection.
(5)Ellen G.
We were impressed by the reviews for Fatz and, since it was close to our hotel (the excellent Hampton Inn) we thought we would give it a try. Were we ever glad we did! From the moment we walked in the door we felt welcomed by the courteous and attentive staff. And then the food started coming - first those amazing poppy seed rolls, which we devoured. Then I got a salad with hot bacon dressing - delish! That's a childhood favorite of mine that you seldom see anymore and this one was memorable. DH had the loaded baked potato soup and kept commenting how good it was, as well. His steak and my ribs were to die for. We desperately wanted to sample the peach cobbler and peanut butter pie but were way too full, so I guess we'll have to come back to do that. We both agree that this was the best road trip meal we've ever had ... HIGHLY recommend this Fatz in Florence, SC!
(5)Melinda C.
Excellent. The ribs were great. Service great with Jamie. Great place to stop on the way to Orlando especially with little kids. Manager came over to the table to chit chat was very nice made the experience even better.
(5)Gili G.
The server (ANNA) was a delight with her great smile. I had the house salad which was cold and crispy. Perfect! The ribs were pretty good, and came off the bone easily. my sauce had a nice spiceyness to it. The bread pudding was nice as well. The food arrived very fast which was great, as my dog was waiting in the car.
(4)Ed M.
We stopped here for a good meal after a full day of driving. They gave us samples of the special fried chicken tenders with a mildly hot sauce. Both had the baby back ribs with asparagus. Fork tender obviously smoked for a long long time, very good. Asparagus was also done just right with a little herbal sauce, adds to the flavor. Best was the fried bread in place of rolls. Very courteous and helpful waiter.
(4)Kat A.
Everything was great. Try the ribs....so tender....they fall off the bone. Deliciousness!
(5)Patricia P.
Best Cobb salad ever. I'm glad I stopped here on my way back to Boston. Delicious ... I recommend it
(5)Leslie V.
Try the ribs, the chicken pot pie (divine!) and cheese grits with fried green tomatoes topped with a spicy sauce and cheese was an awesome appetizer to get us started. The service was on top of things, just lacked...ummm...personality? Maybe because it's Monday!? :-) Either way, I'd definitely go back when driving through again.
(4)N V.
Always stop here traveling through the area and especially like their fall "off the bone" baby back ribs. Very tender and tasty. Friendly service staff.
(5)Coleman A.
The grilled citrus chicken spinach salad with raspberry vinegrette is awesome. I would recommend it.
(4)Michael A.
We had another great visit here on our way down to Florida. You are greeted at the door like your family and they can always find a table for you. As usual, we started with the fried green tomatoes and the to-die-for puffs with flavored butter. Both are a must! I had the Parmesan Encrusted Fatz Fish. It's a very mild white fish and was delicious over the bed of rice. My wife had the roasted turkey dinner and loved it. Service was great as usual and you're thanked on the way out.
(4)C N.
This is a special thank you to Warren the owner. He is a great host and went out of his way to make our visit a good one. He knows the value of customer satisfaction. We are traveling from Connecticut and time is important. The food was fresh and generous serving size. Restroom very clean which is important. Thank you again Warren for your hospitality.
(4)Kemi S.
I ordered the Firecracker Sticks, they were like spicy shrimp and southwestern sauce eggrolls. Very well flavored, delicious, and filling. I could only eat 3 of them with my glass of Sauvignon. They tasted even better the next day for leftovers. It was also a great atmosphere to have a drink and watch a game. Bartender was friendly and polite. Good place to stop in if you're passing through town, as I was.
(4)William M.
On my drive South to Miami, this is the second time in a year I have stopped here. Each time the food was excellent, Service was great, and the cost was minimal. What more needs to be said?
(4)Maria M.
Ribs with traditional and Carolina gold sauces were fantastic! Oh, and the poppy seed rolls too! Will definitely recommend!
(5)Meinflorence M.
I had hickory burger the bun was over toasted to the point where it crumbled apart, and the meat was dry and hard to chew. Disappointed! On a positive note the biscuits and sweet tea were great!!
(2)Osugradinca S.
Calabash chicken, ribs and roasted vegetable skewers were a nice meal! Peanut butter pie was perfect to share with others. Ask for Chelsea...she was a great waitress with a super smile! She was attentive to our needs throughout the dining experience.
(5)Renae S.
Food was cold--waiter didn't want to be there. The table next to us had to send their meal back TWICE for undercooked chicken... They weren't even busy! Bathrooms were dirty, but then again everything was. I have been to other Fatz locations that were great, however, I would NOT waste your time or money here.
(1)John P.
There is salt and more salt. Very nice atmosphere but chicken and fish that we had was extremely salty Would not recommend stopped here on way home from Florida John Ocean city md
(2)Gnate S.
Our waitress was nice. Our food was gross. Cold, burnt chicken, and the "fresh" veggies looked delicious on the outside, but seriously tasted like they were rotten. I know a lot of people like this place (we were recommended to go there by a few people), but not a good experience for us.
(1)Mike S.
FATS IS RIGHT! I had to give them an extra star because they basically gave us free samples of so much stuff, that we barely needed our meals. If you like hearty portions, you like lil sampler bonuses, and you like to add a few pounds of "muscle mass" in one sitting....it's time to go to FATZ!
(4)Maria A.
Great place if you are in SC area. The waitress was very nice.
(5)Chris V.
Just left Fatz Cafe in Florence, SC. Great service by our waitress Julia and she was really great with our three boys. The meal was great and management was active and made a point to come by the table and thank me for service since it is Veteran's Day. We will be back.
(4)John W.
While traveling north on I-95 we made the choice to eat at Fatz in Florence, SC. We wanted something better than fast food but not a big meal. It was a good choice. My wife had the Calabash Chicken & Shrimp. I had the Calabash Chicken Wrap. Both selections were quite good. The chicken (Fatz speciality dish) was lightly breaded and not overly greasy. It had a moist, fresh flavor. The accompanying sides were also tasty. The wrap had a nice spicy ranch sauce that I particularly enjoyed. Good service too!
(4)Heather H.
Close to the 95, just off the freeway. Try the fried fish, it's great! Light, flaky, and not over breaded or over fried. Has allergy menu. Be aware that the allergy menu may say an item does not have milk in it but it may still have margarine in it (which usually contains milk). So if you have a milk allergy, don't eat the Poppyseed Rolls even though the allergy menu says you can.
(4)David P.
Fatz is a good option if you are staying at the Hampton Inn or one of the other hotels just off I-95. The staff is friendly and responsive. Our meals were good and nicely presented.
(4)H. D.
We stopped here on our way back from FL and ordered take-out. The place was packed so we figured it was good but we thought it was lacking. My dinner was just alright but my husband was really disappointed with his.
(2)Meghan H.
The food (especially my steak) was good, mojito needed work, but the real star was Michael our server. He's super sweet, attentive, and patient! Definitely try to sit in his section if you can. He made our experience there great!
(5)Trevor T.
The food was not to my satisfaction. The rolls was actually the best part of meal. My dad really enjoyed large fried whiting fish. I was disappointed with my chicken pasta, the chicken was breaded and the Alfredo sauce was not impressive. the service was good.
(1)T A.
First time at a Fatz. A heck a lot better than fast food and only about $5 more person (without booze). Very quick service...in and out in about 30 min at lunchtime on a Saturday. Close to 95. Server, Daniel, was good and had a quick wit. We'll stop here or another Fatz again. Try the farmhouse burger.....egg, bacon, horseradish and burger. Nothing with that and very tasty.
(4)Charlie F.
I arrived around 7:30 on a Saturday night. A few folks were waiting for tables (about a 10 minute wait) but I was offered a seat at the bar, which I accepted. Bartender was very pleasant, especially since I was ordering sweet iced tea and a meal instead of an alcoholic beverage. My meal of the Carolina Stacked chicken, mashed potatoes, and those great rolls were delivered quickly. Wonderful flavor! As I've said before, I will be happy when this chain finally decides to open a location in Raleigh!
(4)Dwayne M.
Good food, wonderful service, very fast. We were driving through South Carolina on 95 and stopped at this exit to get the cheep SC gas before entering NC and we saw that FATZ had good reviews so decided to eat there. The service was some of the best I've ever had. The bread and especially the brown sugar butter they give every table was really good. We ordered the Calabash chicken salad and Calabash chicken wrap. The Calabash chicken was good for chicken strips. The food came out really fast, which is a plus for travelers. We would go back if we were ever in the area again. PS: On Sundays they have an additional Homestyle menu option that looked good. Since a lot of other good restaurants we saw were closed Sunday, FATZ is a great Sunday option.
(4)Elliot H.
My husband and I are passing through Florence on our way to Fla stopped at Fatz for dinner, it is near our hotel Sre pleasantly surprised Food is several notches above the usual on the road fare and the wait staff are accomodating Stop by if you are on the way South
(3)Tony S.
Another great dinning experience at another Fatz restaurant. Service and staff were terrific.
(5)Sandy A.
Great service, great food, chicken out of this world, melt in ur mouth.rolls to die for.
(5)John H.
Driving back from the half marathon at myrtle beach we started getting hungry around 11:30. Luckily we came upon a Fatz Cafe and stopped to have lunch. I had the combo sampler that included, fried shrimp, steak, and their famous calabash chicken + one side item: my choice was the cheese grits. I woofed down my food and it was the perfect after race meal - mostly protein. I guess I could have gone a little healthier with less fried stuff, but it was all very good. Our server was very nice and we even splurged on the desert. My friends had the peach cobbler and I had a couple bites of a ice cream cookie sandwich which was awesome!
(5)Bob B.
This place is just plain nasty. Plates were dirty and the menu was as bland as card paper. Had been in one years ago in Greenville and thought it stunk. Figured I would try again since the chain didn't fold. I guess there is a market for every nasty middle of the plate chain in America, because somehow these places stay open. My recommendation is if you want to eat cheap, just do Waffle House.
(1)Joel C.
The food was excellent. I've eaten at three Fatz locations and the food has always been good. I would have rated this location higher but it was not very clean. The service was very nice and friendly. The manager greeted us at the door. I really want to rate this place higher. Fatz is a nice alternative to Applebees, Ruby Tuesday, Chili's...etc.
(3)Cindy Z.
The best thing here is the poppy seed rolls. We found hair in the fried green tomatoes. Chicken potpie was very salty. Ruben sandwich very greasy. We asked for unsweetened ice tea, the waitress brought sweetened. We had to ask for silverware after appetizers is brought out.
(1)Shelly B.
Great food but I know why it is called Fatz - cuz ya leave more Fatz then when you came in. Lol
(4)Liana L.
Disclaimer: Fatz is NOT a special-occasion restaurant, or a particular Florence speciality; it's a chain store that's similar to Applebee's, but southern. Do not expect fancy dining for the overall 4 stars - it's simply a very excellent alternative to Arby's or Mcdonald's or any of the fast-food options nearby as a rest stop from a road trip. Don't be fooled by the "World Famous Calabash Chicken" - it's just fried chicken. :p Once you have that in mind, you're all set! Food is pretty inexpensive and quite filling; if you're avoiding fried foods, don't get the calabash combo. It's probably not worth it anyway even if you want fried foods. If you don't like salad dressing doused all over your salad, ask for the dressing on the side (or don't get the side salad). It looks like butter and oil are used copiously, so be careful with what you get. That said, I really enjoyed the flatbread that I shared with a friend. It's not very large, but I wasn't very hungry and it was filling for me. (I wouldn't normally recommend that, though). The fish and chips are good. Service is friendly and Southern, though there was a man who said "xie xie" and "zai jian" to us when we were leaving. I guess I'm supposed to appreciate the attempt to "connect" to my culture, but 4/5 of us were Korean (and even though I'm actually Chinese, I speak Cantonese natively, not Mandarin). In general, I find it offensive rather than nice, though I don't detect any ill intentions - just ignorance. :/
(4)Lee F.
n all my many years of trying new restaurants in new places this was an oasis on our way down to take our daughter to FSU, August 2013, I have never been so impressed with the way my family was catered to in a manner that will forever make my impression of SC last through at least two generations of my family. Our server was a single mother working two jobs and attending college and made us feel like she was inviting us to her home. We felt as though we were the only people in this crowded restaurant and the food came fast and truly was a cultural experience, leaving us wanting more but with no room to order dessert. When our server heard we couldn't order dessert, she proceeded to bring not only the restaurants favorite desserts but also cotton candy for all three of my girls as a complementary service. We felt like we hit the lottery, the lottery of meeting blessed people, especially Jamie. . I obviously can not show enough gratitude on how thankful I am for this experience on such a long day.
(5)Renee H.
Great location, right off the interstate. Stopped for lunch and was in and out pretty quickly. So much better than fast food!! Would be happy to eat there again!
(4)Phil T.
Honestly don't know what the hype is for a poor mans chili's chain! This place is honestly average at most unless you are accustomed to this type of food. Wings were lamer than lame n turkey burger was good. The friendly southern hospitality here was nice but that's all I can really say that was great about it. Gotta love the southern belles otherwise it would be a typical 2 star. :)
(3)Monkee C.
This is a great alternative to the national, casual dining chains (i.e. Chili's, Outback, Ruby Tuesday) with food that's as good as if not better. Decor's nice too, lots of natural stone and wood with none of that tacky "flair" typical of the national joints. Service at this particular location was very good. Our server was efficient and friendly. Our orders came out with minimal wait and more importantly, were hot (there's nothing worse than getting food that's been out under the heat lamps for a while). We tried their chips and salsa/queso/spinach dip appetizer and a bowl of clam chowder. Both were solid, the appetizer more so than the soup (full disclosure, I lived in Boston for over 5 years so I'm trained to be picky with NE style CC). The mini poppy rolls came out hot and were the best of the appetizers, IMO, especially with the honey butter. I had their southern pork chops with coleslaw and redskin mashed 'taters and sig-o had the calabash chicken strips with cheee grits. The pork chops were excellent, juicy all the way through. I liked the coleslaw and mashed 'taters as well, both were tasty without being over or under seasoned. The chicken strips were different from your standard chicken strips, but in a good way. The grits were just ok for me but sig-o makes grits that I've yet to find a restaurant match, so I'm spolied there too. So overall, A-OK. Definitely worth a trip back when in the mood for a taste of Southern Americana.
(3)Lana A.
A mixed review here. Definitely expensive for what you get. Our bill came close to $30 for two burgers and iced tea. Hubby liked his Black Jack Burger but my Onyum Burger was not so good, with floury, strange tasting thick batter on the onion rings that accompany it and an odd spicy sauce drizzled over the rings as well as the burger that I truly hated. Service was friendly but not attentive enough to remedy anything. Our server seemed too distracted to even write down our order correctly, so when it was delivered to the table by other personnel it was, of course, wrong. But since we'd waited so long for it we went ahead and ate it anyway. It's too bad we had such mixed results since the place had been recommended to us.
(2)Harold J.
We really got outstanding service at this location. From the host to the server. The server was ver attentive and our food exceed our expectations.
(5)Mollie M.
I know Fatz is known for their calabash chicken, but I dont particularly care for it. I find their ribs though just delicious, and the meltinyourmouth poppy rolls with honeybutter just to die for. We had great service, despite being sat in the bar. I think its a good alternative to rubytuesdays and applebees. Same sort of feel, but different food options.
(4)Natalie H.
I went here on a Tuesday night about a month ago, and was very disappointed. The food was good - but it was the worst experience sitting at a bar ever. It wasn't necessarily the bar tender's fault - I blame the management. The entire bar was wrapped and every one pretty much sat down near the same time - dinner rush. Everyone had to wait a very long time to get refills, bread, salads, and the worst part, is that dirty dishes lined the bar. Everyone was done eating the apps, or dinner dishes, and pushed them forward and the bartender was so in the weeds she didn't have time to clear them. I saw the manager walk by and ask her if she was ok - and she said she "thought" so - but emphasized "thought" - and the manager walked away. For 2 hours I sat there, in what should have been no more than an hour. Everyone was shocked that she was behind the bar alone - as she also had cocktail tables and making the servers drinks as well. Countless servers walked to the bar area, and no one offered to help or to clean up dishes. EVEN MANAGEMENT. It was unbelievable. In the final ten minutes of my stay, FINALLY, she got some help - was it was two hours too late. The food was good - but hardly worth the wait and service and a messy bar.
(1)Kaffer D.
Oh my goodness, Fatz's is sinful! I LOVE Fatz and have never had a negative dining experience here. The salmon is delicious. The hamburgers are so good. The steaks are wonderful. The service is excellent. The bathrooms are spotless. And I love the ambiance. Fatz is excellent!
(5)Rob W.
Great food & good service as usual. Always have to get a to go box when done eating too!
(4)Tonya N.
We stopped at the Florence Fatz restaurant on our way to FL for dinner. This is the 3rd Fatz I have eaten at. All of our food was delicious! We really enjoyed it. We had the salads, beef tips, and chicken fingers plus the club sandwich. It was a great dinner! Our waiter Josh was very helpful and friendly! We'll be back in the future to dine at this location. We have never been disappointed by Fatz!
(5)Gianna R.
We went here for lunch yesterday and the service was overly friendly and very accommodating our waitress was so sweet.. The were able to seat us pretty fast even though we had a big group.. Soon as we sat down they brought out this yummy bread rolls they were so fresh and with the warm honey butter they almost tasted like doughnuts.. YUMM.. They also brought our Shrimp and Grits they were also very Yummy.. We got the Sunday Special fried boneless chicken and 3 veggies the portions were huge and all that plus a drink for 10.99 you cant beat that.. It was prob the best place we ate at while in town....
(4)E C.
The food was fair, but the service left something to be desired The credit card machine malfunctioned causing a delay in payment at the end of the meal.
(3)Jessica J.
Yum! Yum! Yum! I totally enjoyed my dinner here and will definitely return the next time I'm passing through Florence, SC. I loved the variety of options on the menu...there is something for EVERYONE! I had a grilled chicken salad and hubby had a catfish sandwich. Service was great too. All the food was tasty. Can't wait to go back and try another option...hopefully I'll have a bigger appetite!
(4)Wendy E.
Very disappointing. Nothing from appetizer to salad to chicken and ribs entree was more than mediocre. Never again will I spend my money at this restaurant
(2)Morgan C.
we were traveling to Miami returning from a northeast vacations and decided to eat here. what a mistake. place looked good and had a good menu, but dirty floors and staff looked at us like if we were from Mars?? the chickens wings were regular wings with a sweet sauce, ok at best. some even kind of raw!!! then the bread is very good and the salad good too a Ceaser. the rest order fish sandwiches and chicken wrap. ok the wrap is a tender wrap was good. the baked potato undercooked. the steak was ok . but the fish was HORRIBLE, UNDER COOKED , NO , RAWW. I ASKED FOR A REPLACEMENT , AGAIN RAW. The manager was very apologetic but my appetite was gone so was my stomach . i mean raw to the point the batted wouldn't stick. they gave us free desert and didn't charge my entree, but is this a chain,where is the pride??? we aren't cattle , we are the people that pay for your bills when we eat at your establishment. the hostess was rude also with a snarl as we entered the restaurant. the bartender , right in front of us complained to the waitress that customers need to know we need to see ???, that they are out of miller light , bud light, bottles and drafts, and there was a sign. we sat by the bar and we heard it all. i mean this is a disaster. i will make sure whomever is the CEO of this brand they need to know w hat happened. as i sit in the hotel room my wife is sick to her stomach, probably the undercooked chicken!
(1)Dana A.
Good food ,good service, price moderate, friendly staff would recommend to friends & family sampler platter good low fat steak cooked to perfection, salad fresh good portions.
(4)Kelly F.
Great meal- I got the under 550 calorie meal of steak, broccoli and a salad... Which was great!! Add to it the super rolls and flavored butter. Great service from our great wAitress, Lenora, who went over and above her duties to make everything great!
(5)Jason L.
Fatz Cafe is a chain primarily located in the South (with chains in NC, SC, Tenn, etc). The one in Florence is conveniently located right off I-95 for the hungry traveler. I had never even heard of Fatz Cafe until I moved to South Carolina but apparently it is a well known chain in these parts. Most of their menu is American fare found at most major chains (Ruby Tuesday and Applebees) injected with a bit of South Carolina/North Carolina flair. The restaurants are usually warm and accommodating and the one in Florence has always been clean and well organized. Service has been good the few times I have been there. The food to me has always been just average. For those of you familiar with North Carolina chains I consider this place a low class Tripps (sigh I really miss that place). Most restaurants always offer some bread before meals around these parts and you must try Fatz's mini poppy seed rolls. They are absolutely to die for and you will end up wolfing down a dozen if you don't pace yourself before the meal. Some other comments about their menu: Appetizers: Have had their three cheese spinach dip which was good but not excellent. The cheese is a bit too bland in their recipe. Of course spinach doesn't really taste like much so you better have a tasty cheese sauce to accompany it. Their fried green tomatoes were a complete fail. The breading tasted like cardboard. If you want better fried green tomatoes in Florence then you need to try Red Bone Alley. Entrees: They seem to promote their World Famous Calabash Chicken pretty hard but I wasn't that impressed with it. They use very small cuts of chicken and you end up eating more breading that meat. I have had better chicken tenders elsewhere but the kids will probably like these. Their BBQ babyback ribs were a pleasant surprise and I would order them if I went back. Very tender with a flavorful sauce. Their Edisto Shrimp and Grits was also not a successful dish but this is mainly due to the mediocrity of their cheesy grits. The grits weren't cooked enough and again their cheese selection is lacking. None of their sides are really memorable either so throw a dart at the menu to pick. Nothing at this place is really bad but besides their poppy seed mini rolls and their BBQ Babyback Ribs I haven't been impressed with anything. Everyone needs to try this place at least once so if you are a traveler looking for food off I-95 give it a try. I visit this place about twice a year due to sheer boredom with the other places Florence has to offer.
(3)Joseph S.
Enjoyed the food, definitely best choice in the area for travelers, the ribs and chicken tenders was good but wish I had tried the pimento cheese burger. Apparently fatz is a chain restaurant like chilis so it's along that kind of experience.
(4)Patrick V.
Calabash chicken salad excellent. Clam cakes dinner excellent. Fish dinners very good. And those rolls with sweetened butter! Fatz is a very busy place but has an extremely friendly and efficient staff. You've got to go to Fatz if you're in Florence, SC.
(4)Cindy W.
On our first visit we tried the classic ribs, baked potato, and slaw. The ribs were great, the slaw was bland, and the baked potatoes were not cooked in the middle (twice - we sent the first potatoes back and received the same). Disappointed that the manager didn't stop by regarding the potatoes. We were seated in the bar area which was very quiet on a Sunday evening. We plan to check it out at lunch one day and see whether it's worth our putting on our list.
(3)John L.
Fantastic food at reasonable price. Choose this place over your typical chains and you won't be disappointed. It is conveniently located right off 95 and we stopped there for a quick lunch while driving home from vacation. We will definitely remember this place for future road trips thru SC.
(4)Dave O.
always leary of a resturant I have not heard of, but when we got to Florence, I checked YELP and saw the rating and figured we would give it a try. Was excellent. Starting with the hot rolls with cinnamon butter. My wife and I both had the 3 way seafood, popcorn shrimp, regular fried shrimp and fish and fries. I am a big eater but there was more than I could handle, and it was excellent with a real good price
(5)Eboni P.
I have been to this restaurant many times and my experiences have always been great! The bread is ok but a little chewy. I like the bread better at other places! My family loved the bread. I enjoyed the broccoli cheese soup that came with my entree. The salads were crisp and refreshing. I ordered their version of a long island iced tea. It was good in taste but 0 percent alcohol content. That sucked really bad. It is a chain but it does it better than chain restaurants. But hey I happen to like some chain restaurants. The service we received from the hostess to the food runner was GREAT! WE loved our server Heather. She was a great server and she was there when we needed her. I did not Like my chopped steak and not only did the manager take it off they brought me a free dessert at the end of our meal. I was happy with everything except the chopped steak being overcooked and the drink.Everything I tasted from everybody else's plates. The rest of my party was happy with our visit! (: Oh yeah I liked the peanut butter pie! The pb pie is better @ Fridays though!
(4)Daniel D.
We stopped here on our way down to FL from NJ. Food was GREAT! My wife ordered a steak ( which I thought she was crazy for doing at a Applebee's type place ) and it was pretty good. The rest of us had burgers and the likes of that. Everything was great! Service was a little kookie .... The waitress sat down with us and talked with us for about 10 minutes while taking our order. Well on the way back we held out for about an extra hour to hit this place again. Everything was just as good as the first time! Definitely go if you are on 95 and looking for a good quick meal!
(5)Ashley C.
I enjoyed this place the food was good and the service was good too.
(4)Melinda L.
Stopped here on our way to Disney. Excellent food and service. We got seated immediately during dinner peak time. Ordered chicken wings, Calabash fried chicken strips, Ceasar salad, burger and the chicken and rice soup--all delicious, moist and tender chicken, great dressing on the salad. Highly recommended, especially if you have little kids or hungry teenagers.
(4)Gulshan I.
Very friendly place. When we walked in it almost felt like we were visiting friends or family and not a restaurant. Quick service no wait times even though the parking lot was full. I ordered grilled shrimp and it was average. I have tasted better shrimp and rice quantity wasn't enough.
(3)