Chris M.
Yelp
This restaurant does NOT really have "curbside pickup."
Yes, the website and app claims that they offer curbside pickup. However, after several experiences, I've learned that this restaurant will NOT bring you your food to your vehicle if they claim that they're "busy."
Today, I ordered my food to be completed ASAP (via the website). I placed my order at 1:12 PM and, as always, left a good tip too. I immediately received a notification via EMAIL, TEXT, APP and the WEBSITE that my food would be ready between 1:39-1:44 PM.
I showed up at 1:39 PM and "checked in." I entered my parking space number (and my car make/model is already on file) and waited.
...and waited, and waited and...
I had several previous experiences with food not being brought to the vehicle because they were "busy." This was during busy lunch times. However, I was assured (by Chili's) that this wouldn't happen again.
Due to the scarce number of vehicles in the parking lot (and only one other car waiting for food when I arrived), this didn't seem like it would be the case.
At 1:56 PM, I still had not received my food. This was puzzling because the restaurant did not look busy. So, I went inside.
Two employees were standing there. I was told by one that my food was on the shelf on the wall next to the door. I asked why it wasn't brought out to the curbside. Once again, the employee stated that they do NOT do this "when we're busy."
I asked if the food was now cold (since it was roughly 17 minutes after I arrived). She stated that they had "just placed the food there."
I arrived home and, of course, the food was quite cold. My fries were not only cold -- but they were overcooked and cold. This made most of them both cold and hard.
The rest of the food was edible -- but certainly not "warm" (let alone hot).
Now, I understand that restaurants get busy. However, my issue is this: HOW DO 'CURBSIDE' CUSTOMERS KNOW?
All of the signage, app, text, email and website tell me is to wait in my vehicle and my food will be brought out. How do we know if the restaurant is busy (especially if there aren't many cars)?
If this is the restaurant's policy, then I recommend changing all of the signs and messages to say that they will bring our purchase to us IF THEY ARE NOT BUSY.
At this point, I am 0-for-4 in getting actual "curbside pickup." Sure, I park at the curb. However, I usually am forced to wait for my food well past the delivery window before I walk into the restaurant to ask about it.
The good news is that my order was mostly correct today. The only thing that they nearly left out was a drink.
I offered two stars because I feel generous. I suspect that the food at this particular Chili's might not be too bad if I could only eat it warm. Unfortunately, this location doesn't seem to care about takeout or curbside. I used to like Chili's; however, this location has (pardon the pun) left a bad taste in my mouth.