Came here for brunch 10/8 and came in at 1130, the wait was 30 minutes, we were sat within the 30 minutes but still did not get our food order until 215. After sitting down for over 2 hours the wait was abysmal. Server was pleasant and it’s not her fault but if I had known it was going to take nearly 3 hours to be fed I would have gone to Mcdonalds.
Name K.
Good service, food was very disappointing. We all ordered burgers, somehow everything served to us tasted bland or like nothing, the only exception is the ranch and fried mushrooms. BURGER meat tasted like it was washed with a strainer under tap water. My burger was supposed to have bacon on it, what I got was an excuse for bacon, it was old, dry, overly crispy and flavorless. I got homemade chips that tasted like potato skin and oil. Somehow even the cheese was bland. Five star service, 1/5 food.
Charles Barber
Worst service ever! I don’t blame the waitstaff, the management is handled by a bunch of kids who don’t really know how to handle the issues. Management of this place is abysmal. Atmosphere is great, with proper management could be a top spot! Doubt we will return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Benjamin Lang
Really nice live music, we really enjoyed it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
jodi ray
I have personally worked for the owner and was very disrespected by the Chadwick’s.
Ray H.
Such a pleasant surprise. We went down to the Square for lunch on Thanksgiving thinking we would go to Boure', but the line outside was half a block long. City Grocery had no reservations until 6 p.m. We drove down Jackson Ave. from the Square and saw that Rafters was open, had never been there, so why not? They were severely short staffed and very apologetic about it, but we ordered a drink at the bar, grabbed a table, and settled in. Really appealing layout with a few tables outside, windows looking out onto Jackson Ave., excellent bartenders. Our drinks were very good and we got our food order in perhaps 30 minutes after being cautioned it might be almost an hour. My wife's cheeseburger was enormous and delicious, as was her side salad. My shrimp poboy and fries were excellent as well. Prices are reasonable. We really liked this place!
Charles H.
Such a pleasant surprise. We went down to the Square for lunch on Thanksgiving thinking we would go to Boure', but the line outside was half a block long. City Grocery had no reservations until 6 p.m. We drove down Jackson Ave. from the Square and saw that Rafters was open, had never been there, so why not? They were severely short staffed and very apologetic about it, but we ordered a drink at the bar, grabbed a table, and settled in. Really appealing layout with a few tables outside, windows looking out onto Jackson Ave., excellent bartenders. Our drinks were very good and we got our food order in perhaps 30 minutes after being cautioned it might be almost an hour. My wife's cheeseburger was enormous and delicious, as was her side salad. My shrimp poboy and fries were excellent as well. Prices are reasonable. We really liked this place!
Gagan Dangi
Horrible place to come for lunch on Sundays. Waited for 2.5 hours for food and it was still not served.
Madisyn Beals
Really slow customer service during brunch
Cole B.
Don't get the catfish. The drinks are good. Normal college bar drinks, and the food is decent. Just no catfish.
I've come here in the past, and the food is always good. Today, though, we waited for an hour and a half and never got our food. We also never got a water refill. We did get our appetizer, so we did pay for that and eventually left. This is not to say that Rafters is a bad restaurant because the food and drinks are good! Like any restaurant experience, sometimes there are bad service days and today was one of them.
Susan M.
Went there for brunch/lunch. The bartender/server was great and super apologetic. Took the kitchen two hours to get food out. Unacceptable!
Woody Roberson
Good atmosphere. It does have a limited menu
Bob j.
Shameful. Burgers are some of the best out there and the servers have been hard working all 4 times we have been here the last 2 weeks. We were "hit up" for a $20 per person cover charge at 12.15 pm on a Saturday while visiting for lunch (Tulane 7pm game day) We politely told bouncers out of their minds , they agreed and told us they were just radioed to start charging a cover. As we walked away they ran us down and said we could come up, "we're just radioed to forget the cover charge." Seriously??? We went up for food and place was 60% or so capacity. We immediately placed drink and food order. Minutes later told Dr Pepper not working, got warm sweet tea instead. Minutes later told Diet Coke not working, received warm unsweetened tea instead. 35 minutes later asked where our food was, told soon. 25 minutes later (1full hour after ordering) asked waitress what is going on? She said kitchen backed up. My wife got up, walked full restaurant and no one had food/ was eating. Pointed this out and waitress and no explanation. We walked out 1 hour and 15 minutes after order placed, pissed and starving. My only guess is they had no cooks, why not be honest so you don't waste our limited time? Full circle to the "cover charge " situation. So I experienced what a bakers dozen current and past Ole Miss students have told me, area cover charges are constant and over the top, rafters is the 1 name always thrown out there as the worst offender by a large margin, have been told height of Pandemic was over $50. Parallel behavior to a New Orleans gas station charging $50 for a gallon of gas or a bag of ice after a hurricane , why not, right? Athens, GA bars and restaurants-$0 Auburn, Al-$0, Etc, etc. Ask around any kid from any other SEC school and this type of behavior is unheard of, exclusive to Ole Miss and word is spreading pretty quick giving the campus and town a black eye. Not many places to hang in Oxford for the kids who make this town and local economy, ripping them (and others) off does not sit well with me. The Oxford community is pretty unique and tight (Boosters, residents, parents, Alumni) This place needs some forceful guidance, new ownership or competition. I for one am running some numbers and will file a few pieces to the IRS to make sure all of that cash is being accounted for.(talking many, many thousands $ per night cash) If you do visit this joint, ask 2 simple questions "will I have to wait an hour for food? & " you still ripping off the kids?"
Mysty Langford
Having read that this was the “best brunch in Oxford“, I was quite excited to stop in. It is located in the upstairs area of a wonderful older building. As the name might giveaway, you can see the large rafters and feel like you are a part of something magical. Unfortunately the only reason this review receives two stars is the interior space.Realizing that we are in the midst of a labor shortage, I am reticent to comment on staff. There are, however, instances where it cannot be avoided. It appears that the two hostesses on duty do not care for one another. I, and a large waiting party, got to witness some of their sniping. It appears that one of the hostesses, also charged with bussing tables, was not thrilled about working this day. Her efforts are wiping the table consisted of one spray to a tiny corner follow by random swipes with a rag. Our waiter seem to be an earnest young man who wanted to get through the basics of his job. This at least allowedone of our party to get a refill, but I was not so lucky.We ordered the chicken and waffles, and the adult grilled cheese with fries. The crust of the chicken is actually quite tasty. It has just the right amount of spice and is thick and golden. The rest of the meal was terrible, mostly because it was ice cold. No one in the history of the world has ever had a decent cold grilled cheese sandwich. Maybe it was just an off day for them, although they didn’t seem to be overwhelmingly busy. Based upon today I must disagree with anyone who claims this to be the best brunch in Oxford.
Came here for brunch 10/8 and came in at 1130, the wait was 30 minutes, we were sat within the 30 minutes but still did not get our food order until 215. After sitting down for over 2 hours the wait was abysmal. Server was pleasant and it’s not her fault but if I had known it was going to take nearly 3 hours to be fed I would have gone to Mcdonalds.
Good service, food was very disappointing. We all ordered burgers, somehow everything served to us tasted bland or like nothing, the only exception is the ranch and fried mushrooms. BURGER meat tasted like it was washed with a strainer under tap water. My burger was supposed to have bacon on it, what I got was an excuse for bacon, it was old, dry, overly crispy and flavorless. I got homemade chips that tasted like potato skin and oil. Somehow even the cheese was bland. Five star service, 1/5 food.
Worst service ever! I don’t blame the waitstaff, the management is handled by a bunch of kids who don’t really know how to handle the issues. Management of this place is abysmal. Atmosphere is great, with proper management could be a top spot! Doubt we will return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Really nice live music, we really enjoyed it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
I have personally worked for the owner and was very disrespected by the Chadwick’s.
Such a pleasant surprise. We went down to the Square for lunch on Thanksgiving thinking we would go to Boure', but the line outside was half a block long. City Grocery had no reservations until 6 p.m. We drove down Jackson Ave. from the Square and saw that Rafters was open, had never been there, so why not? They were severely short staffed and very apologetic about it, but we ordered a drink at the bar, grabbed a table, and settled in. Really appealing layout with a few tables outside, windows looking out onto Jackson Ave., excellent bartenders. Our drinks were very good and we got our food order in perhaps 30 minutes after being cautioned it might be almost an hour. My wife's cheeseburger was enormous and delicious, as was her side salad. My shrimp poboy and fries were excellent as well. Prices are reasonable. We really liked this place!
Such a pleasant surprise. We went down to the Square for lunch on Thanksgiving thinking we would go to Boure', but the line outside was half a block long. City Grocery had no reservations until 6 p.m. We drove down Jackson Ave. from the Square and saw that Rafters was open, had never been there, so why not? They were severely short staffed and very apologetic about it, but we ordered a drink at the bar, grabbed a table, and settled in. Really appealing layout with a few tables outside, windows looking out onto Jackson Ave., excellent bartenders. Our drinks were very good and we got our food order in perhaps 30 minutes after being cautioned it might be almost an hour. My wife's cheeseburger was enormous and delicious, as was her side salad. My shrimp poboy and fries were excellent as well. Prices are reasonable. We really liked this place!
Horrible place to come for lunch on Sundays. Waited for 2.5 hours for food and it was still not served.
Really slow customer service during brunch
Don't get the catfish. The drinks are good. Normal college bar drinks, and the food is decent. Just no catfish.
Restaurantji Recommends
I've come here in the past, and the food is always good. Today, though, we waited for an hour and a half and never got our food. We also never got a water refill. We did get our appetizer, so we did pay for that and eventually left. This is not to say that Rafters is a bad restaurant because the food and drinks are good! Like any restaurant experience, sometimes there are bad service days and today was one of them.
Went there for brunch/lunch. The bartender/server was great and super apologetic. Took the kitchen two hours to get food out. Unacceptable!
Good atmosphere. It does have a limited menu
Shameful. Burgers are some of the best out there and the servers have been hard working all 4 times we have been here the last 2 weeks. We were "hit up" for a $20 per person cover charge at 12.15 pm on a Saturday while visiting for lunch (Tulane 7pm game day) We politely told bouncers out of their minds , they agreed and told us they were just radioed to start charging a cover. As we walked away they ran us down and said we could come up, "we're just radioed to forget the cover charge." Seriously??? We went up for food and place was 60% or so capacity. We immediately placed drink and food order. Minutes later told Dr Pepper not working, got warm sweet tea instead. Minutes later told Diet Coke not working, received warm unsweetened tea instead. 35 minutes later asked where our food was, told soon. 25 minutes later (1full hour after ordering) asked waitress what is going on? She said kitchen backed up. My wife got up, walked full restaurant and no one had food/ was eating. Pointed this out and waitress and no explanation. We walked out 1 hour and 15 minutes after order placed, pissed and starving. My only guess is they had no cooks, why not be honest so you don't waste our limited time? Full circle to the "cover charge " situation. So I experienced what a bakers dozen current and past Ole Miss students have told me, area cover charges are constant and over the top, rafters is the 1 name always thrown out there as the worst offender by a large margin, have been told height of Pandemic was over $50. Parallel behavior to a New Orleans gas station charging $50 for a gallon of gas or a bag of ice after a hurricane , why not, right? Athens, GA bars and restaurants-$0 Auburn, Al-$0, Etc, etc. Ask around any kid from any other SEC school and this type of behavior is unheard of, exclusive to Ole Miss and word is spreading pretty quick giving the campus and town a black eye. Not many places to hang in Oxford for the kids who make this town and local economy, ripping them (and others) off does not sit well with me. The Oxford community is pretty unique and tight (Boosters, residents, parents, Alumni) This place needs some forceful guidance, new ownership or competition. I for one am running some numbers and will file a few pieces to the IRS to make sure all of that cash is being accounted for.(talking many, many thousands $ per night cash) If you do visit this joint, ask 2 simple questions "will I have to wait an hour for food? & " you still ripping off the kids?"
Having read that this was the “best brunch in Oxford“, I was quite excited to stop in. It is located in the upstairs area of a wonderful older building. As the name might giveaway, you can see the large rafters and feel like you are a part of something magical. Unfortunately the only reason this review receives two stars is the interior space.Realizing that we are in the midst of a labor shortage, I am reticent to comment on staff. There are, however, instances where it cannot be avoided. It appears that the two hostesses on duty do not care for one another. I, and a large waiting party, got to witness some of their sniping. It appears that one of the hostesses, also charged with bussing tables, was not thrilled about working this day. Her efforts are wiping the table consisted of one spray to a tiny corner follow by random swipes with a rag. Our waiter seem to be an earnest young man who wanted to get through the basics of his job. This at least allowedone of our party to get a refill, but I was not so lucky.We ordered the chicken and waffles, and the adult grilled cheese with fries. The crust of the chicken is actually quite tasty. It has just the right amount of spice and is thick and golden. The rest of the meal was terrible, mostly because it was ice cold. No one in the history of the world has ever had a decent cold grilled cheese sandwich. Maybe it was just an off day for them, although they didn’t seem to be overwhelmingly busy. Based upon today I must disagree with anyone who claims this to be the best brunch in Oxford.