I am disgusted at the level of service my wife and I received at a burger restaurant in the South after 9 pm on November 21. This restaurant came to T&T with a big reputation for quality and service, and I eagerly wanted to experience their burgers. So on Thursday night, we went to the cashier’s station. There was no one there, but a young woman in a nearby aisle was chatting away with two others, presumably the cooks.
I inquired if anyone was working at the cashier. The young woman came over to take our order. I asked: “Why do people have to beg for service in here?” She didn’t reply. Considering there were no others waiting for orders, I found 15 minutes a bit long for our order of two burgers and fries. I didn’t say anything. Lo and behold, when we bit into our burgers, they were cold. I couldn’t understand it. What were they doing all that time? Burgers are supposed to be freshly cooked.
So I went over and asked one of the cooks: “Why are the burgers cold?” I had to repeat my question three times and she kept looking at me with wide eyes, in an incredulous manner. She then asked me if I wanted to speak with the manager. I replied, “Yes.” A young woman came out, with red eyes, as if she were sleeping, and said she was the manager, and asked what was the problem. I asked her if serving cold burgers was standard procedure. She replied in the negative.
What I expected then was an apology. Instead she went straight into asking if I wanted fresh burgers or if I wanted my money back. I repeated my question: “Why were the burgers served cold, when burgers are supposed to be freshly cooked?” The manager could supply me with no answer and was visibly upset at the staff over the incident. She promptly began to berate them.
I want to show the public how a foreign franchise could fail in this country and thereby hurt foreign investment, just by unprofessional service. I would hate to think that serving me cold burgers was a retaliation to my slight admonishment about getting prompt service. On top of that, they didn’t serve coffee, except in the morning, at a time when everyone is getting into the coffee market.
I would not recommend this burger joint to any of my friends or family. I should have got a clue on the level of service at this restaurant, as the place was empty when we got there.
Joel Quintal
San Fernando