everbowl — Local services in San Diego

9/17/24 @ 12:15 PM

I am writing to express my profound disappointment with my experience at the EverBowl in La Jolla today. As a loyal and frequent customer--visiting a couple of times a week--I have consistently praised EverBowl and recommended it to family, friends, out of town guests and colleagues. I have even considered opening a franchise and have used EverBowl's catering services for business events and staff appreciation meetings. I have a positive rapport with other locations; regular employees know me, greet me warmly, and some have even kindly offered, "it's on us today." I am a fair and generous tipper with the staff, because I am always treated well and it's been an amazing product at other locations.

This was my first visit to this particular location, and unfortunately, it did not meet the standards that I have come to expect from the brand. From the moment my coworker and I entered, we were met with shockingly negative attitudes from both of the employees. Their rudeness and dismissiveness were off-putting and unprofessional, including eye rolls and a lack of courtesy when we asked simple questions. For instance, I asked for a medium bowl, and my coworker wanted a small. The employee rudely and abruptly responded with "regular" or "large." When we asked if they were out of smalls, he simply repeated, "regular" or "large." My coworker declined as she only wanted a small one.

However, the ordering process was different from what we have experienced at all other locations. Instead of building my bowl with the base and toppings first, I was instructed to pay upfront, which also automatically prompts you to tip before you've even been served. This left me having to recall my choices from memory. Despite the off-putting first impression, I chose to give them the benefit of the doubt and generously gave them a tip before I had even been served or treated with any respect. When I was charged extra for items that are typically included, I initially didn't question it. However, when I noticed the portion sizes--especially the acai base and almond butter--were significantly less than usual, I kindly asked for more almond butter. She had only put a nickel-sized amount in the bowl, despite the extra charge. The response I received was not only defensive but also rude, stating, "you gotta pay another $1.00." I reiterated that I had already paid extra for almond butter and expected to receive what I paid for.

When I pointed out that the portion sizes were less than what I typically receive, the staff's reaction was combative. Instead of addressing my concerns, the male employee argued, "We aren't nickel-and-diming you. We have a product, and you have to pay for it," responding to my feedback with sarcasm and asking, "Do you want your bowl or not?!" I reminded him that I had already paid for the almond butter and extras, explaining that I paid $15.54 for this bowl--more than I pay at several other locations for the same order. His response was once again sarcastic: "Do you want your bowl or not?!"

At this point, I requested a refund. While he processed it, I asked for a printed refund receipt, which he refused to provide. When we inquired about his name, he refused to give it, leading my coworker to take a photo for our records. As we walked out, he aggressively chased after us, only to be stopped by an incoming customer. We felt threatened by this employee and his erratic behavior, so we immediately reported the incident to property management and our staff.

To the franchise owner: I urge you to review your staff's conduct. Their behavior is damaging your reputation and alienating loyal customers. Given this experience, my coworkers and I, along with others who frequent your location, will no longer be returning.

I hope EverBowl takes this seriously and addresses these issues promptly to prevent further negative experiences for...

Came here a few times, and the last two times, I had bad experiences.

The first was about a month ago when I came in,l and had to wait 10 minutes before even being acknowledged. When the guy finally took my order, I asked afterwards if I could get my parking validated. He rolled his eyes and said “no” in a very rude tone. I’ve never had issues getting my parking validated here in the past, so I don’t see what the issue was.

I get that they’re likely swamped with online orders, but there was no greeting or “we’ll be with you in just a second” when I walked in, even though I was clearly seen by the employees. It was like I was invisible. And if they’re too busy to validate parking or they no longer offer validation, they should say that in the window or tell the customers when they walk in.

Today I came in at 2:50pm and the employee told me “just to let you know, we’re closing at 3.” I left disappointed. I saw online that the store closes at 5, so I’m a little confused. I strongly recommend correcting the online hours.

It’s a shame because this location is convenient for me, but between the steep prices and the bad service, I won’t be returning to this everbowl and I wouldn’t recommend it for...

Update: I tried to come in the store last week at 8:54pm. I saw a team member walking to the back room and was knocking since door was already locked. I called the line and left 2 voice messages that were unreturned. The open sign was still showing, however it was not true. I rushed all the way there to ensure I could go in before 9pm closure, but left disappointed. Even more disappointed that no one got back to me after my contacts. Everbowl is always fresh ingredients and staff are efficient...