To Tell the Truth

[KaimukiMan]

1) OK, its Valentines Day. I don't beleive in going out on significant restaurant days. valentines, mothers day, fathers day, thanksgiving, etc. Do something special at home, then go out two days before or two days after when you can get decent service, good food, regular menu selections, regular prices.

2) There is not much I won't eat, not much I don't like, but just had a less than palatable experience at a fried chicken outlet. Cold, greasy, breading sloughing off, congealed gravy, dirty store, etc.

Friends (who were with me for the chicken fiasco) want to go there again tonight - they have a coupon, it wont be busy on valentines, etc.

I like these people, enjoy spending time with them. Am pleased to have been invited to their anti-valentine get together. I know there is no point in telling them "I would rather be shot than go there tonight, but since I value the time i spend with you folks I am going anyhow."

But I want to (tell them or be shot.)

Mostly I needed to process that "out loud." Bah Humbug, i'd rather be a boor (or boer: lout, oaf, boob, churl, philistine, vulgarian.) So off I go with a smile plastered on my face and a promise to behave.

[joe777cool]

Explain to them that if "having a coupon" is the biggest draw for a particular restaurant, it will probably be downhill from there!

[Michelly]

I suggest that before you go to this place, eat something at home that you DO like, and when you get to the 'restaurant' with your friends, order just a drink and tell them that you're not feeling so good; your stomach's giving you trouble, but you didn't want that to stop you from being with them.

[fourunder]

So....Hawaiian Fried Chicken is a *No Go*?

[KaimukiMan]

this is a well known national, now international chain.
and the coupons weren't accepted (it's complicated, not
necessarily the restaurant's fault) and it turned into a big mess.
we ended up at rainbow drive in, well...some of us did.
Definitely an anti-valentine night.

Zippy's, a local fast food chain with numerous locations does a good job on fried chicken.
______________________________________________________________

The following was the complaint message I sent to the national chain last week:

The store was not clean, my chicken was cold and greasy with the skin and breadding peeling off (original recipe.) The mashed potatoes were lukewarm at best, the gravy on the edge of congealing. The coleslaw and biscuit were very nice, thank you. While waiting for my food another batch came out of the fryer and when the employee pulled the tray, there were three pieces from a previous batch under the tray. Instead of tossing them, he put them back on the tray and dumped the new batch on top. Disgusting.

I know it was an hour before closing time, but my friends ordered extra crispy and had to wait 18 minutes for their food because the manager had not replenished the cooked chicken. I don't like food waste any more than anyone else, and maybe there should be 'half batches' for such situations, but you are supposed to be part of the fast food industry, and with an hour to go till closing an 18 minute wait doesn't seem reasonable.

The server's attitude was sour at best. He seemed more interested in whoever he was talking to on his cell phone than he was in the customers (business or personal i couldn't say.) it was clear he would rather have been anywhere else than taking care of me.

Finally, i got the two piece combo, one of the lowest cost items, that and a small drink was $9.19 (including 41 cents tax.) I do not consider that a good value.

I've been eating your chicken since 1973 (my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary) and this was wihtout a doubt the worst experience I have ever had at one of your restaurants.

[ricepad]

I seem to recall that the Colonel was once sued by a KFC franchisee for comparing their mashed potatoes to wallpaper paste. He prevailed, with the court noting that not only was he entitled to his opinion, but that he might know better than just about anybody else!