Trading Post Cafe - Villa Rica

This was my second visit in three years, and the quality and service were outstanding. Tara took excellent care of us during our meal and truly went above and beyond. The experience here is definitely different from what I'm used to back home in New York. We'll be sure to stop by every time we visit Georgia. Thank you for the wonderful food, service, and engaging conversation!

The restaurant has a charming country store vibe, perfect for enjoying a comforting meal. As soon as you step inside, you feel like you've been transported back in time. The decor is rustic, as you can see in the photos. I visited for breakfast, which was tasty. I was also advised to return for their famous fried chicken!

However, our family's recent dinner experience was mixed. Most of us were excited for the all-you-can-eat catfish option, but things started off poorly when the host tried to seat five people at a table meant for four. They eventually found us a spot at a larger table. Our server, Tara, welcomed us, took our drink orders, and gave us a moment to look over the menu. When she returned with our drinks, my brother ordered the AYCE catfish, but was disappointed to find out it consisted only of fillets and not the whole fish he expected. He opted for the fillets with broccoli and okra. My mother ordered the two-piece Wels fillets with a side salad and broccoli, while my father went for the 8oz chopped steak with double potatoes and gravy. My husband ordered the same 8oz chopped steak with a baked potato and side salad, and I got the 8oz chopped steak with broccoli and a side salad. Unfortunately, our meals quickly went downhill. My brother's AYCE order arrived with just one piece of catfish. My mother's fillets were uneven in temperature—one was lukewarm, while the other was so hard that it made a clattering sound when it hit the table; her broccoli was cold as well. My husband's hamburger steak was burnt, and his baked potato was cold with melted butter, yet still rock-hard. My steak was also burnt, and my broccoli was cold. I asked Tara if she could heat our broccoli in the microwave, and she did get it hot again. To make matters worse, when I informed Tara about my burnt hamburger steak, she said she would check with her manager. She returned with a $3.99 discount on my hamburger steak but surprisingly charged me for the side salad and a small bowl of broccoli. I was shocked by this experience. The food quality was subpar, though Tara was a great server. It’s clear that they are struggling, especially since their hours have been cut back during the week and they close early on Fridays and Saturdays. This restaurant used to be fantastic, but after the fiasco on Friday night, I don’t think we’ll be returning any time soon. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures because the experience was too disappointing!

This restaurant has some of the best dishes in this area. So nice to sit down and eat with a friendly staff. Chicken and dressing is my favorite. Great vegetables.