Tell Me About Your Dye's Gullah Fixins Experience in HH-update

[hmcfall711]

Tell me about Dye's Gullah Fixins. I had seen a lot of reviews and suggestions for this place. I called today to make a reservation for the Friday night buffet. The lady on the phone was RUDE. I told her I was calling to make a reservation and she proceeded to tell me their buffet days and menu only days and that Friday night was buffet only. I told her I understood and that we were interested in the buffet and I had read on her website that we needed a reservation. She said, "Well its $26." I explained yes I understood. "Well I just have to tell you!" I said I understood.
"Well what time do you want?" I told her that we were hoping to eat early 5:30 or 6:00. "OK" then there is this pause. I assumed she was looking at a book or something to see if that time was available. Then she said,"HELLO" (me-yes) "WHICH ONE 5:30 or 6:00!" I told her 5:30 and she asked the name. I told her and she said "OK" and hung up.

The entire conversation was very harsh on her behalf. Now I have worked food service and I know things can get busy, but I also know that you should never come across angry at the customer. I told DH because he was the one who really wanted to go here and he said that if I wanted to cancel it would be OK. I am usually pretty tough skinned and these things don't bother me, but I don't want to spend $55 to be treated as if we were intruders.

I was hoping that others have been here and have a more pleasant story to tell to ease my conscious.

 

[WolfpackFan]

To me, Dye's was nothing special. We have half a dozen country food restaurants just like Dye's where we live and we eat at them all the time. The one time we went to Dye's it was for lunch and we were the only ones in the place. I thought the prices were kind of high for what you got. I had the feeling the place was not very professionally run. I think folks who are on vacation though and from areas that don't have country food places (which is what Gullah basically is) really think it is something special. IMO Mrs. Wilkes over in Savannah is much better.

 

[kda]

Sounds like you might have been speaking with Dye. I have no idea why she does the unfriendly routine and it's your decision whether that is reason to cancel or not. When I first read about Dye's on the board, there were several posts about 'rudeness', especially if you show up without a reservation in the evening.

We just showed up ~ 1:15 for lunch on a buffet day and stood at the front door, waiting to be seated. After a couple of minutes, a gentleman at one of the booths said someone would be out and after another few minutes, he went back to the kitchen. Dye stuck her head out and just stared at us. After a few more minutes she came out, told us it was a buffet, and told us to sit anywhere. There were only a few parties seated, and it was toward the end of the lunch period. Because of what I'd read on this board, we were prepared for possibly getting this type of reception, and thought it was pretty funny (as long as we got seated!). Kind of like the Soup Nazi or the waitresses at Durgan Park in Boston.

She came to the table and asked if we wanted sweet tea or lemonade and told us to help ourselves to the buffet. Obviously, we didn't get there when the food was fresh cooked, and there wasn't much chicken left. She said she would put out more for us, but we were fine. The food was tasty, but it turns out that I really don't care for corn meal on fried foods, which seemed common in South Carolina cooking. DH, on the other hand, thought it was fantastic food, and absolutely the best greens he has EVER eaten.

When Dye refilled the drinks, DH started chatting with her and told her how much we wanted to eat there, what good things were on the internet about her, etc, etc, etc. She became a different person and was quite lovely and we really enjoyed talking with her. She told us about the Fri eve buffet, and we made reservations to come back at 6 or 6:30, can't recall which. This was last Oct, and it wasn't filled up at all. She seems to do "crowd control" and decide how many she can serve. Again, DH thoroughly enjoyed everything he ate, and I liked it, too, but not as much as I expected to. We chatted with Dye again and she shared some Gullah history. She knew some of the DVC staff and seemed to like them very much.

We will absolutely go back. I think we'll probably stick with the buffets, where there's a selection.

 

[LJC1861]

Lisa and I love Dye's. We dined there last Christmas and loved it so much we went back the next day that she was open. During the course of that meal as we were talking with Dye we discovered that she did not have a website. Someone had offered to do one for her and she paid him some money up front and he never built the site. Needless to say hearing that made us very angry. Lisa does websites so we went back to our room and promptly built her a website. Lisa has been tweaking it ever since, free of charge.

Dye is basically a one woman operation. She does the cooking, buying, ordering, serving and answers the phone. She occasionally has some help from her family, but not always. She works long hard days. Everything she serves is made from scratch on the day it is served. She also runs a catering operation. The day we were there before Christmas she was making sweet potato pound cakes and yeast rolls......just before they were to be picked up so they would be fresh. She said she had time earlier in the week and could have frozen them, but that would not be right for her customers who "deserve them up to the minute fresh!"

She insists on reservations as she only prepares what is needed. She simply cannot afford to have food left over and wasted, and she will not serve leftover food the next day. As a previous poster mentioned she does do some crowd control as she knows how much she can cook in one day. If she runs out of collard greens it is impossible to whip up another batch as they take hours to cook!

Dye is passionate about the Gullah culture and her food. All her recipes have been passed down for generations. She is a proud woman who has worked very hard to get where she is. Her restaurant might not be the fanciest or most professionally run, but it is her dream. Her other dream is to bring Gullah food to the Food Network.

I could go on and on about this amazing woman, but I think this is enough for now. Look past the abruptness and you just might make a friend. I know we did!

Linda

 

[RIJim]

Im in HHI now and have RSVP'd for friday's buffet. I had the exact same experience as you. I actually called a few weeks back and was told to call back the week I was here. I felt like I was bugging her! I got a kick out of it, and think it will be a goof to go. I LOVE southern cooking. Plus the grouchyness will make me feel like I am home.....

 

[chum]

When Dye's first opened no one went.
I tried it for lunch and we were the only ones there. After 20 minutes one couple walked in. Food and service were ok.
It has gotten more traffic since those early days but I have yet to return.

 

[hmcfall711]

So, we went today and I am so glad we did not cancel. DH was on . We had 5:30 reservations, the first available for dinner. We were there waiting at open with another family of 5 that had stopped in earlier in the week and were back again. We were greeted by Dye's neice who helps out. She is 6 and so sweet and full of personality. Dye was welcoming and friendly. Her food was amazing. We are southern folks, so the kind of food was not new to us but the flavor was amazing. DH wanted to take her home. He even called his mom afterwards to tell her about it. I was amazed that he ate vegetables- so whatever she is doing to them I need to learn. It is obvious that she loves what she does and the atmosphere was different than the typical-homey with personality.

I feel like such an dork for being worried to start with. Thank you to everyone who eased my concerns. We will definately be stopping in again!

 

[5forDiz]

So, we went today and I am so glad we did not cancel. DH was on . We had 5:30 reservations, the first available for dinner. We were there waiting at open with another family of 5 that had stopped in earlier in the week and were back again. We were greeted by Dye's neice who helps out. She is 6 and so sweet and full of personality. Dye was welcoming and friendly. Her food was amazing. We are southern folks, so the kind of food was not new to us but the flavor was amazing. DH wanted to take her home. He even called his mom afterwards to tell her about it. I was amazed that he ate vegetables- so whatever she is doing to them I need to learn. It is obvious that she loves what she does and the atmosphere was different than the typical-homey with personality.

I feel like such an dork for being worried to start with. Thank you to everyone who eased my concerns. We will definately be stopping in again!

Glad to hear you enjoyed Dye's We've been to HHI many times but have yet to dine there so hopefully we will get the opportunity in August. All the positives seem to outweigh any sort of not so positives so it will stay on our family's to do list. Just like your DH I know mine will absolutely be loving it And poster LJC that is sooooooo nice setting up website!! What a beautiful thing to do

 

[podsnel]

Lisa and I love Dye's. We dined there last Christmas and loved it so much we went back the next day that she was open. During the course of that meal as we were talking with Dye we discovered that she did not have a website. Someone had offered to do one for her and she paid him some money up front and he never built the site. Needless to say hearing that made us very angry. Lisa does websites so we went back to our room and promptly built her a website. Lisa has been tweaking it ever since, free of charge.

Dye is basically a one woman operation. She does the cooking, buying, ordering, serving and answers the phone. She occasionally has some help from her family, but not always. She works long hard days. Everything she serves is made from scratch on the day it is served. She also runs a catering operation. The day we were there before Christmas she was making sweet potato pound cakes and yeast rolls......just before they were to be picked up so they would be fresh. She said she had time earlier in the week and could have frozen them, but that would not be right for her customers who "deserve them up to the minute fresh!"

She insists on reservations as she only prepares what is needed. She simply cannot afford to have food left over and wasted, and she will not serve leftover food the next day. As a previous poster mentioned she does do some crowd control as she knows how much she can cook in one day. If she runs out of collard greens it is impossible to whip up another batch as they take hours to cook!

Dye is passionate about the Gullah culture and her food. All her recipes have been passed down for generations. She is a proud woman who has worked very hard to get where she is. Her restaurant might not be the fanciest or most professionally run, but it is her dream. Her other dream is to bring Gullah food to the Food Network.

I could go on and on about this amazing woman, but I think this is enough for now. Look past the abruptness and you just might make a friend. I know we did!

Linda

I remember when you set up the website for her this past year- I have no doubt that Dye's business has really prospered because of it- such a truly generous and kind thing to do! I LOVE all the food photos you put on her site- my mouth is watering right now just thinking of them! I am doing my BEST to wait until next Monday, August 9th, to call for a Friday night reservation....but I have to say, it's VERY HARD because I want to go there VERY BADLY!!

Anyway, OP, I am so, so glad to hear you had a great meal and are glad you went!