Mary Brown's Chicken — Restaurant in Ottawa

--- final update - two years further on ---

Still no reply to me after two years. They don't care.

Update - for those interested. As you can see they replied below. I wrote to them as they suggested. After nine days, no reply. I guess they respond here so people think they care.

———— I was at a loose end for a lone dinner, so I decided to give the new restaurant a try. First, I checked out the website to choose something, and when I saw the 6pc Signature Chicken & Taters, I drove to the drive thru to order it. The young lady on the intercom said there was no such meal, and that the closest thing they had was the 4 piece meal - but with a drink and a coleslaw. I said OK. At the window, the lady said they had given me "2 centres" -- an upgrade?? I asked what that meant. She said it's the "middle breast meat", instead of dark meat. She made it sound like it was a favour, but disappointed, I said I do prefer dark meat. She said "oh really?" and that was the end of it. She wanted money. I was too hungry sitting at a drive thru window with someone who obviously didn't care what I wanted. I knew I was not going to enjoy it - I suspected the "centres" were those dry pieces that nobody really wants. It turned out I was right - the two "centres" I got were the driest, lousiest part of the chicken.

I did mention that their menu seemed to be different to that on the website. She said something about the one on the website being for ordering through the app (not sure what that even meant, or what difference it made), so I didn't push it.

I don't understand why I could not order that 6 piece dinner I had seen on the website menu - I had selected the correct location (I double checked when I got home). And why would the staff not have heard of this option? And why would I be given some "upgrade" to more white meat if that's not what I had ordered (especially those bad "centres"!!)? And I wonder why did she not immediately offer to change it after I'd said that? I went home grumbling as I was starving, and was disappointed to find it was even worse than I suspected - it was also very greasy. Wiping my fingers literally soaked their napkins with grease. It was really quite gross. The skin seemed to have been a sponge for the grease. I ended up leaving most of the chicken.

The "Taters" & coleslaw were actually pretty good - in fact, they were the best part. I don't really do pop, so I put that can in the fridge for a future guest - because it came with a "meal" I didn't really want - I just wanted the 6 piece Chicken and Taters they'd offered on the website.

This was a really bad first impression. They can't even seem to have the same menu on the web page as they do at the restaurant. I wonder how it would have been handled if I'd actually placed the order online. I would seemingly have ordered something they hadn't heard of! And honestly, I probably wouldn't have bothered to come here and write this, except I felt a strong need to come and warn people about this greasy chicken, which was mostly really dry "centre" meat, and was pretty bad. I had heard good things about Mary Brown's, so was anxious to give it a try, since it's close to home - but now I really don't know why anyone would enjoy it. It's certainly not KFC, and as I finish writing this, I'm starting to get a real belly ache.

I won't be giving them another chance. In a way I guess I was lucky not to be stuck with 6 pieces. It...

I was in the mood for Mary Browns because it’s delicious chicken, hot, moist and flavourful. So I went to this location because it’s the closest one to my home. I go in and after a few minutes of studying the menu, I approached the counter to order and the staff member told me they were having a promotion/special. I told her I wasn’t interested and proceeded to order two keels/breast pieces. She persisted with trying to sell me the promotion/special but I told her I wasn’t interested. She then pivoted and told me the deal included taters and once again I said no thanks I don’t want taters. So in addition to ordering two keels/breast pieces, I ordered a large side of cheese macaroni. So I thought this was what I was going to get. As the staff member was preparing the order she asks me if I wanted a small coleslaw with the meal as it came with the meal so I said sure. She also told me I get a drink with the meal so I gave her my selection and she added it to my order as well. As she was packing up my order I had an uneasy feeling that the chicken pieces I received weren’t the ones I ordered but I shrugged it off as me worrying unnecessarily and I drove home with the order. Once I got home and sat down to consume my meal I quickly discovered that indeed my gut was correct and that I should have listened to it. I DID NOT receive two keels/breast pieces but instead received a thigh and a wing. I HATE THOSE PIECES which is why I ordered the keels/breast pieces to begin with. What I should have done is driven back to the restaurant and exchange the wrong pieces for what I ordered but I was extremely hungry by this time and am guilty of accepting poor service from a restaurant and not returning to call them out on it. I also made the mistake of not looking at my receipt to see what this girl actually keyed in for my order and what she charged me because for all I know I paid extra for the white meat keels/breast pieces but got the lower quality pieces. I threw the receipt out in the restaurant so I accept my responsibility in doing that and it played a part in my disappointment. Lesson learned, but when you place an order you EXPECT the staff to listen to you and if there’s any confusion with your order, they should be verbally verifying your order before preparing it. I won’t be returning to this location because A) the staff member had a thick accent and it made it difficult to understand what she was repeating back to me as I ordered and B) I was furious that once I got home they got my order wrong even though I repeated myself a...

I only know the atmosphere in terms of the drive thru but... No complaints! The wait is never too long and service is super friendly. I usually go every Monday to get 2 Spicy Hot Mary Chicken sandwiches as on this day, they are half off. 2 for $11 and change. Deal! I devour one and save the other for breakfast. So good! Combo of fresh bread, piping hot chicken, spicy mayo. Ironically... I despise mayo. But, this one is just fine and needed to add that kick to your meal. The same hard working lady always takes my order and she is a doll. I always have my dog with me and she loves on her with her words and once, my pooch Leya was treated to a little piece of chicken! I've been trying to eat better as in salads so I've taken a little break over Xmas but I will be back soon. It's just a sandwich I crave and I love to support them here. The only other thing I've ordered from this location is a biscuit. Hard to resist. I take it home and make my own sausage biscuit! I've told friends about the sandwich deal and they've also gone to check it out. Great location at...