Dairy Queen Grill & Chill — Restaurant in Strathroy-Caradoc

I went with my daugther for a blizzard and fries this Sunday afternoon at around 2:15. We orderd and were asked to sit while our food was brought out to us. As we looked to find a seat, I noticed almost all of the tables were dirty with crumbs and greasy streaks (Red Flag number 1). After finding the least streaky table we sat down. After a minute I mentioned to one of the employees that the tables were dirty and could use a cleaning, likely due to a busy lunch, I guessed. The young man then brought out a container with a mix of who knows what and a cloth to wipe the tables. This was HUGE red flag number 2. I have never seen a restaurant EVER clean tables with dirty reused water nomatter what cleaner may be in it and a cloth. I have only ever seen a spray bottle with a clean fresh cloth or better yet, paper towel used to clean tables in a restaurant properly. I asked him if the solution was clean and he said it was changed every 2 hours!!!!!! (Red flag 3) So, the water from the past 2 hours that had been used to wipe crumbs and food debris and mucus was being used to "clean" the tables. Anyone would see how disgusting that is, especially during cold and flu season but irregardless of the time if year. That's just unhygienic and unhealthy. After our blizzards were nearly eaten, an employee carried out our fries with their bare hands, no tray. I mentioned to this employee that it would be better to get all the food ready together or make the hot food first to eat than follow with dessert. She mentioned she didn't "want" my suggestion but insinuated that she knew it was a highly disorganized and inefficiently run method of serving. After eating our small portioned fries, what appeared to be a manager or supervisor came over and asked how our food was? I said it was fine but asked why they did not serve food on a tray and explained that trays limit the number of hands that touch your food for hygiene purpose and act as a barrier for your food from the table. He said they used trays and as I pointed out I showed him four tables around me with people eating full meals, on the "clean" tables with NO TRAYS also no tray depot anywhere. Each table essentially had employees bringing there fries, burgers, ice cream out to them, by hand with their bare hands, no lids on anything and no tray. This is so unhygienic and very inefficient. Very disappointing on every level! I also saw so many employees standing around behind the counter doing very little. If I was the owner of this franchise I would be very concerned. If you value your health, I would say RUN from this Dairy...

To the regional manager who was at the Strathroy location today at about 5:40pm January 26th helping with the opening this review is thanks to your attitude and actions as a result of being served raw chicken.

I went to this location last night on the 25th with my wife and ordered two crispy chicken sandwich combos.

The one I received was raw and cold inside "photo attached to this review"

I phoned in to let them know that I wasn't up to driving across town again to refund and the manager said to come in today which I did.

I wasn't mad at all and kindly asked for my money back which the female manager was glad to process who was also very polite.

I showed her the photo of my food and my receipt and she took my phone briefly to show a few other people in the back and then the regional manager approached saying they'd make it right and I kindly explained I just wanted my money back as I didn't feel like eating there again so soon after being served raw chicken which is extremely dangerous.

Wasn't upset and feel that was a very valid request.

His reaction to me saying I didn't feel like eating there again right now was to slam a drawer right in front of me and walk away which even the female manager who was helping me prior was caught off guard by and apologized for.

I explained he was the difference maker between me just getting my money back and that being the end of it and me now feeling this review is needed.

The restaurant is new but raw chicken is an absolute no no and very dangerous.

To the regional manager, I will also be completing my review on my receipt so your head office knows that you're a hot head and shouldn't be allowed near the public if your reaction to someone asking for money back for being served raw food is...

I used to go to DQ several times per year before I left Ottawa in 2006. Since then, the prices have increased noticeably and quite rapidly. I would say that DQ's prices were very quite reasonable in the early 2000s, especially since the one I used to visit would only open seasonally during summer/early autumn for maybe 6 months. A large chocolate dipped cone around that time would have been around $2.00-$2.50.

Anyhow, I thought I would treat myself to something more elaborate: a banana split. Today (08 July 2024), I paid $7.90 (all-in) for this scrumptious treat with that incredibly thick and creamy quality that seems to stay very consistent over the decades. (Certainly, they sometimes have a bad day when the machine refuses to make the typical thick creamy consistency.)

The young lady who served me was very confident and friendly. When my order was ready, she was incredibly kind to deliver it right to my table - talk about nice service! This is a clean new location in Strathroy that is very much with the times. It's too bad though that the modern prices don't entice people for many return visits, but what am I saying, I'm dreaming of a bygone era that persists in my mind. We're living in the (bad) times of...