Dusty's Place...plan on a long wait.
We live in Griswold so I have frequented Dusty's often...since there are only two choices for eating out in Griswold. We went on Friday for their "all you can eat fish and chicken" special. The meal comes with a trip to their salad bar and a choice of potato. Drinks are not included. There is no children's menu.

The fish and chicken are good for a small town restaurant. The salad bar is very plain and ordinary, nothing special, and it is not stocked well so there was no actual salad when my husband went through the line. This happens often at Dusty's. The baked potato was good.

Time is an issue at Dusty's Place. When eating at Dusty's allow at least two hours from arrival to departure. We waited 18 minutes to get acknowledged by the server...and another 10 minutes for her to take our order. We were told to proceed to the salad bar. 11 minutes later we had our sodas. It was 40 minutes after the drinks that the food arrived. Plates were hot and the food was cold so we knew the plates had been under the lights for some time.

The waitress rarely returns to the table to check on you or to clear dishes away. But, you can see her across the room smoking cigarettes. The restaurant was only 40% full so there should not have been a wait at all, especially since we all (four of us) ordered the special! The table of four next to us did not order the special and they waited even longer.

The "all you can eat" is somewhat tongue-in-cheek because the waitress does not return to the table to see if we want more. We did want more fish and chicken, but she did not return. We would have liked more water and coffee, but she did not return.

The staff is often unfriendly, dare I say "rude". It is as if you are bothering them by coming in to eat. Drinks and food will rarely be refilled. Plates are rarely cleared. The hostess will host, the busser will bus, the cook will cook, and the server will serve...but they do not work together as a team.

When you are finished eating you must then get up and go to the register to pay your bill...but the bill is rarely delivered to the table and the hostess will have to stop and go track down your bill so that you can pay. Meanwhile you have to stand between two tables of four while you wait for the bill. These tables are placed so closely together and so close to the register that it is nearly impossible to avoid bumping into the people that are trying to eat at those tables.

Dusty's Place has no "theme" and there is not a NO SMOKING section. It is 100% smoking. Most patrons are locals. Dress is very casual. The tables are usually cleaned off...as long as you don't look under the sugar boat. Tables are set with cups/saucers that are not replaced for the next customer...so these are often dirty from the previous customers.

The bathrooms are being remodeled but there is no diaper deck (or counter) for infants. The towel dispenser is very high so unless you are 5 feet tall you can not reach it, so you must accompany your pre-teens to the restroom to reach the paper towels.

I would not recommend this establishment for groups or parties due to the time factor, space factor, and lack of non-smoking section. If you have plenty of time to just sit and visit then Dusty's would be okay. Dusty's survives because there is no other local alternative (other than the ?hamburger? type establishment).    [31 Dec 2003 14:38:43]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: The special

     ­Anonymous   

Dusty's now has a new owner
Give Dustys a try now. Menu has changed for the better. I go there about every Friday night and sometimes Saturday as well. The bar area is still a smoking area but the dining room is now non-smoking.    [02 Dec 2006 13:32:05]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Club sandwich on marble rye bread

     ­Anonymous