My thoughts on The Sugar Factory - Atlanta versus Biloxi

Yall - It is crazy to think this little firecracker is 8 years old now!  Where has the time gone?  I feel like it was not too long ago that I was telling Broxton that he was going to be a BIG BROTHER, but then it feels like a lifetime ago as well.  Time is such a crazy thing...  

Anyways, for those that know me, this is a repeat, but for any newbies out there - a quick recap...
We try and go to Biloxi each summer.  With Savannah's birthday in July and mine in August, it just sort of made sense... not to mention it was a great time for family vacation as well.  Well, a few years ago, my dad spotted THE SUGAR FACTORY was opening up at the Hard Rock Biloxi - and of course that meant we would have to check it out whenever we went for our summer / birthday trip!  

When our trip finally happened, I took the kids to The Sugar Factory for lunch one day and the food was pretty good...  when they did a birthday celebration for another customer in there, I knew that we WOULD for sure be back, as I have never experienced anything like that!   So we decided that we would go BACK to celebrate dinner there - and do her birthday.  We invited the bigger brothers that live near Biloxi (that is also a highlight each year, to catch up with them on our trip!)  to come join us for this, again... I had NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT!  The way they celebrate is SO HYPED UP - you can not help but get in a good mood!  

SO - we went to THE SUGAR FACTORY BILOXI in 2019  - I don't know why I did not post the video or any pictures from there... but they are on my phone and we still get excited watching it!  
We realized after that visit that we had a new tradition - SUGAR FACTORY BILOXI each year for Savannah's birthday and try to catch up with the family members that don't live close.  
COVID messed us up and we were not able to go there in 2020. 
Better believe it that we were back and ready for THE SUGAR FACTORY BILOXI 2021!!!
Again, it was AWESOME and we left so hyped up and excited!  We have even managed to invite new people each visit...   You guessed it - the next year that was on our agenda from the get go - so THE SUGAR FACTORY BILOX 2022 was set!!!

Now we get to 2023...  Broxton is playing football this year and they practice during the summer.  That being said, our annual trip to Biloxi had to be cancelled.  Needless to say, I was sad, but Savannah was devastated.  We have gone to Biloxi each summer for as long as I can remember.  I just told her that meant we had to make new traditions and that we had a new chapter opening, so good things were headed our way.  I found out that there was a Sugar Factory in Atlanta, so the plan was to surprise my girl with her annual tradition, but just a new location.  In keeping with tradition, we invited family that we don't see that often, this year it was Matt and his daughters- as well as my brother and sister in law.  All were Sugar Factory newbies, and they had seen the videos and heard that all the hype, as this wasn't our first time there!!!! 

WORST DECISION EVER-  THE SUGAR FACTORY ATLANTA 2023 - 
Now hear me out- We made our reservations and got there about 10-15 minutes before our table time.  They quickly sat us with no wait - This is looking good already!
HERE WE GO :
1st kicker... we had to go UPSTAIRS - my dad has a fractured back, so I asked for an elevator to help him out- the elevator is broken and has been for a few days.  It is okay, we make it up stairs, just takes him a bit to get there... 
2nd - it quickly got hot - it seemed like their air was out?  Not to mention it was pretty dark in there - I get the "mood" but it was TOTALLY OPPOSITE of Biloxi.  
We order our food - pretty good - then tell the server we want to do the birthday celebration and that this is a tradition we have done for years at another location, so we are excited for the new year... 
This is where I get bitter--   
Biloxi lets you pick whatever song you want  - they HYPE IT UP NO MATTER WHAT... 
Atlanta - we only have 4 songs we dance to
Biloxi - makes a HUGE PRODUCTION out of it.  Starting with the server hyping the crowd - "When I say GET you say LIT...  When I say HAPPY you say BIRTHDAY " and then they come our clapping HUGE METAL SPOONS and dancing and the atmosphere is just fun and energetic and contagious as the whole place gets in on it - employees and patrons - sometimes the lighting changes with sparklers going off on the wall and a huge sparkler type candle in the dessert...
Atlanta - they come out "dancing" to one of the 4 songs they know, all of which we had never heard of, they dance while someone holds up a marque looking thing that says Happy Birthday and then they leave - no sparklers or anything.. 

FINALLY - the entrance / exit / photo op area.  In Biloxi, it is a huge wall that has plenty of space and is not overly crowded... In Atlanta, it is right at the door, so as we tried to take a family photo (of which we were squished and it was very uncomfortable) we were blocking the entrance for people to come in - which caused a GROWN WOMAN to act like she was going to BUCK UP to my mom, so I had to address that situation. 

All in all - 
HAD we gone to THE SUGAR FACTORY - ATLANTA for the first time - we sure as anything would have never gone back again.   I hate that we talked it up and had a party of 9 come for a good time, just to be disappointed.  Savannah even mentioned it was NOTHING like Biloxi and she liked Biloxi, but was not a fan of the Atlanta location.   Now, we had great company and good food, so it was not a wasted trip... we enjoyed and had a good time.  We know how to make the most out of things...  
I am just saying - if you want the BEST EXPERIENCE at The Sugar Factory - please skip Atlanta and head to Biloxi, it is SO MUCH BETTER!!!!  (Maybe Biloxi can train Atlanta?)  

To finish this off, with a little bit of Petty Betty - 
They also said they don't carry beer at Atlanta - my dad always has a Miller Lite bottle when we do the dinner- but not in Atlanta...  They also really need to expand the size, as it was AWFULLY CROWDED in the Atlanta one - and they can take decor tips from Biloxi location as far at the lighting and all that good stuff. 

Will we go back?
Atlanta - FOR SURE NO - 
Biloxi- AS SOON AS WE GET THE CHANCE!!!!
Also heard the one in Orlando is pretty good, so we might check them out one day.