TK
Thomas Knighton
5 days ago
⭐ 1 star to Mandolin – genuinely the worst takeaway experience I’ve had in America
I visit America three or four times a year and have eaten at countless restaurants and takeaways, but this was without question one of the worst service experiences I’ve ever had.
When I arrived, the woman working the drive-through (Mandolin on receipt) told me I couldn’t enter the lobby because they were short-staffed and it was closed. She told me I could order directly at the drive-through window instead, which I did.
I paid in full and even left a $6 tip.
She told me my food would take around 10 minutes and instructed me to wait by my car, saying she would let me know when it was ready.
I did exactly that.
I stood right in front of the restaurant, clearly visible from the drive-through window. During that time several cars came through, and the lady looked directly at me on numerous occasions. After around 30 minutes, despite me trying several times to get her attention, nobody told me anything.
Eventually I decided I had no choice but to get back into my car and join the drive-through queue. After waiting another 15–20 minutes, I finally reached the window.
She then told me: “Your food was ready 20 minutes ago.”
I couldn't believe it.
I asked why she hadn't simply told me, considering I had been standing right there waiting exactly where she had instructed me to wait.
Her response was: “Why didn’t you drive around?”
Because you specifically told me to wait there and that you would tell me when it was ready.
Her explanation was again that they were short-staffed. Being short-staffed may explain food taking longer, but it doesn't explain watching a paying customer stand outside for 30 minutes while their food sits there getting cold and then blaming that customer for not knowing it was ready.
What makes it even worse is that I was collecting food for my family. By the time I eventually got back, my five-year-old had fallen asleep and didn't even get to eat his dinner.
I told the lady at the time that I would be leaving a review reflecting the service I had received. I had already paid, I'd tipped $6 in good faith, and all I expected was for someone to simply tell me when my food was ready.
MANDOLIN added "Have fun with that!"
Instead, what should have been a 10-minute collection turned into approximately 45–50 minutes, largely because of completely avoidable poor communication.
For identification, the employee serving at the drive-through was a young woman, approximately mid-20s, with frizzy hair.
Absolutely dreadful customer service and a terrible experience from start to finish. Unfortunately, this has been the worst Pizza Express—and one of the worst takeaway experiences—we've had during all our visits to America.