Poor Richard's Restaurant

not as great as i remembered it from years ago but still a good place to have a steak more

The service was the only thing good about this place. Food - Horrible. Prices - High for the quality of food received. Atmosphere - The interior looks like it hasn't been updated in 40 years. The bathroom toilets were really dirty and the decor and fixtures were outdated. I went in wanting good seafood, but the Halibut and Shrimp dinners were $20. If I wasn't so hungry, I would've went somewhere else. Instead, I decided to give this place a chance. I ordered the Chicken Pot Pie off the lunch menu for a reasonable $7.95; thinking this would be a great homemade choice. Warning: do not order this if you are bothered by MSGs and are expecting something homemade and delicious. Let me explain. When I ordered, the server explained that it wasn't a true pot pie in a crust. It came in a bowl with a flaky pastry on top. This should've been my first red flag, but because I'm not a picky eater, I decided to give it a try anyway. The menu said it came with a salad, garlic toast and a side of mashed potatoes. I asked for a non-dairy salad dressing for the salad. The server explained they didn't carry any (not even an Italian dressing). Although the salad was iceberg lettuce, it was good. (Some baby greens would've made it taste better). It turns out that the salad and garlic toast were the only part of my meal I could eat. When I tasted my entree, the mashed potatoes were instant potatoes: Jail food. The chicken pot pie consisted of a bowl of concentrated cream of chicken soup mixed with canned chicken and canned peas. It tasted like Mono Sodium Glutamate. I wasn't sure if it really had MSGs in it, so I continued eating. (In hindsight I should've stopped eating it as I am allergic to MSG.) The flakey pastry was pointless. I didn't eat it. A Bisquick biscuit would've tasted better with it. I stopped eating halfway through. It tasted horrible. The Aftermath: Within the hour after eating the food, my throat started to swell and ache. And I got a severe migraine that lasted for the next 12 hours, that 2 doses of Tylenol didn't even help. I even woke up the next day with a slight headache and achy and swollen lymph nodes in my neck. I know I am not sick with the flu, so this had to be an allergic food reaction to MSG. (These are the harmful short-term effects that preservatives and additives have on the human body. I wonder what the long-term effects are...) To summarize my meal. I would say it tasted like jail food. Actually, it was so bad that wouldn't even consider it dog food. I wanted to make myself throw up after eating my meal. My hope in writing this is to warn others, encourage people to ask questions about what they are ordering, but most importantly, to encourage the restaurant staff to change their food ingredients. more

Atmosphere is a subjective thing, but I think it's safe to say the place has a kind of depressing feel to it. It seems that retired folks are their main customers. My wife and I gave the place a few chances and each time we've been disappointed. It's not that everything is bad, but rather so mediocre and bland. There is a remnant of a musty smell, as if the place was a big smoking establishment before the state ban. We're not going to bother returning, there are too many really good places in the neighborhood to eat. Pros: I've never seen the place too busy Cons: Bad atmosphere, mediocre food and prices more

We ordered steak dinners and one member of our party ordered lemonade. When it came, she took a sip and made a face. She said it tasted terrible and didn't taste like lemonaide. She told the server that it was terrible and that she would just have water. The lemonaide was on the bill and when she complained about it being on the bill, the manager came over and said that once something was on the bill, it stayed on the bill. We'll never be back. Pros: Cheap food Cons: Terrible service more

This is a neighborhood place where you can be 5 years old or 85 and still like it. Lots of us in NE grew up going to Poor Richard's with its 2-fers, killer potato skins, butter-dripping garlic bread, and great kids menus. This place knows how to make a Roy Rogers and Shirley Temple, and complete a meal with soft ice cream with chocolate sauce. And where else can you go for a $2 glass of wine on Tuesdays? Like another reviewer said, the staff has been there for years, and they remember your name. Rumor has it, however, that the new owners might be making some changes...like letting the old staff like Zee or Rory go. Wow, I sure hope that is not the case becuase service is one of the best things about Poor Richards and why most of us can overlook the hazy smoke smell, dim lighting and aging decor. If that happens, you will see regulars leave and the new crowd of folks except more pizzazz and far less smoke for their money. Already there are some changes...the owners don't give the wait staff the leeway to let a person order off the bar menu in the restaurant side - even if the entire rest of your party is ordering full meals. The free kids meals on Sundays is over. Come on guys...let your wait staff be the servers we have come to respect and love!! Time will tell what happens, but I for one would hate to see this stable, comfortable, wonderful icon go the way of so many other old school restaurants like Yaws...gone forever. Pros: Long-term wait staff, stiff cheap drinks, bar menu Cons: smoke...but you can see through that! more

I grew up going to Poor Richard's, and I have always enjoyed it. The staff has been there for years, and they will remember your name. True, the menu doesn't hardly ever change, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it. They offer standard, American fair, steaks, chops, chicken and fish. Best bet is to go with the Two-Fer dinner, which includes soup or salad, entree, beverage and ice cream as a dessert. And the garlic bread! I'd go there just for the garlic bread. It is hands down THE BEST garlic bread I have ever had. \r \r Don't go to Poor Richard's if you are expecting a flashy menu, young people in polo shirts waiting on you or the latest special that has been advertised on TV. Poor Richard's is a neighborhood, old style restaurant with consistent food, a comfortable atmosphere and friendly, seasoned wait staff. The interior was remodelled a couple of years ago and it is much brighter now. The ""Poor Richard"" theme is reflected in artwork on the walls and a monumental fireplace dividing the space between the restaurant and bar. True the ""blue hair"" set loves it, but you'll often see younger people and families with children there. \r \r All in all, a nice place to eat and a heck of a value. Definitely give them a shot. Pros: Consistent food, great staff, good value. Cons: A bit set in their ways. more

Very old place that at one time may have been a good place but no more. \r I had heard mixed reviews and decided to try them. The staff was the best thing about the place. The food was no better than going to Shari's and at double the cost. I had a ribeye which was more like jerky. This cost me 20 bucks. Yes They have a two-fer where two of you can eat for about $25 but why do that when the quality is so bad. \r \r The name is correct. POOR RICHARDS (Poor Food) Pros: Staff Cons: Everything else more

Dont go here!!!!! This was the worst food I have ever had in this great city. The service is good but that doesnt make up for the incapablities of their chef. I dont want to waste my time going into detail just to get one point across........IT'S DISGUSTING AND EXSPENSIVE. Pros: Passing prompt service Cons: The food is soooooo bad more

I have dined here on numerous occasions, most recently just a week ago, so believe I have given it a fair chance. I live in the neighborhood and want local businesses to thrive which is why I went back more than once. The food, while not offensive, is BOOOORING, predictable choices, nothing exciting or inventive going on here.. Food temperature is a problem, everything served seems to be about the same temperature (which is not a good thing), owners probably want to appeal to the blue hair set that flock to this restaurant. On the plus side, food portions are generous, , as if you actually wanted more of the pap they serve, prices are average ,and servers are friendly and polite. This is where you want to bring Aunt Tilly when she visits from Iowa. She'll feel right at home. Dining here took me right back to dinners with my mom in her lovely assisted living facility. Pros: food portions, friendly servers and lottery games in the bar Cons: Menu is as exciting as a drizzly day in Portland, ambience is retirement home chic. more

Going Home means going to Poor Richard's for Dinner..... Great food, Great service, Affordable Prices.... I've tried just about everything on the menu during different visits and never found anything to ever complain about.... Keep up the Strive for Excellence guys!!!!! more