Erica A.
Yelp
Sizzle & Crunch used to be one of my go-to spots for a quick dinner back when I lived in the U District. Unfortunately, it seems like the current staff doesn't care much for quality service or safe food handling practices.
When we walked in last night, we waited several minutes at the front counter without any of the employees greeting us or acknowledging our presence. I assume they were all preoccupied with packing orders for pick-up, but a "hello" or a "we'll be with you in a second" would have been nice and common courtesy.
The first girl in the assembly line dropped one of the rice bowls she was packing and had to sweep it up. To our horror and disgust, she held the dustpan and broom using her plastic gloves and then didn't change to clean gloves when she went back to packing other orders - she even stuck her dirty gloves in the lettuce!!! Meanwhile, another employee was transferring baguettes from a bin to another counter, but in the process was piling the bread into her arms so that they were all touching her shirt - definitely put me off from ordering a banh mi!
When the first girl finally turned her attention to us, I had to ask her to change into clean gloves since I saw her handle the broom and dustpan. Very much a cringe moment, but made worse because she didn't apologize and her tone even seemed to sour. When I got to the toppings station, the next girl said they were out of cucumbers even if they had plenty right in plain sight. I pointed them out to her and she said those were for the banh mi sandwiches but she could spare a few for my rice bowl. I thought it was weird that they wouldn't just divide their existing supply of cucumbers for the sandwiches and bowls.
Overall, I'd give Sizzle & Crunch as it is 0/5 stars if I could. The grilled pork was tasty like I remembered it being, but the service and unsafe food handling practices completely ruined the experience and made me feel kinda gross while eating. Will not be returning and do not recommend.