Cook Out — Restaurant in Alpharetta

Edit 2021 2 stars: I've been here for years since I moved to alpharetta in 2016. This is the 1st time I've been so severely disappointed. My order was not taken correctly, took more than 15 minutes to get my order, it was cooked poorly, had the wrong stuff packaged, was not well packaged, the significantly smaller portion size was unusual, and the price has gone up. Individually, I could get over each situation. Together? Different story.

I usually don't complain this much but I ordered 2 trays and I had an issue with just about everything I received. The chicken strips for both trays were dry and overcooked like they'd been under a heat lamp for some hours. I got 2, maybe 3 sides of okra that had basically no seasoning, and the reason I can't tell how many sides I actually got was due to poor packaging: the trays were open when I opened the bag and I can't tell if the okra was in the 2nd tray before the trays started exchanging sides or just rolled in from the other tray; the different portion size was also throwing off my ability to tell how much was in each box originally. The hushpuppies were just straight up missing, that was for sure. The coke zero I ordered was listed a Diet Coke on the receipt and the syrup/water mixing ratio was off to the point the color was wrong that even I could tell it wasn't right and I've only ever seen the stuff in my friend's cup. I'm not sure I actually got a mocha shake, though ultimately I hope the blob I tasted at the bottom of my mocha shake was peach... The only thing that passed as normal was my friend's cheddar bite things. I admit I haven't been by since like covid started so it has been awhile but I think this will be my last visit for awhile. I understand the price thing and having worked at a restaurant before, I can understand maybe not noticing the syrup running out, but the rest was unusual by the standards I've come to expect from previous visits. The guy who took my order didn't even have his mask on properly either, and didn't comment on the other customer who walked in without a mask. I picked 2 stars because this cookout used to be absolutely wonderful...

2020 5 stars originally: This is my late night go to when I'm looking for a good burger and some bacon. Always efficient and pleasant people running the front, plus the actual location is always very clean. Sometimes the crowd of customers at the front can get pretty big and noisy with everyone who is waiting for their orders but it usually not a huge deal because the orders come out so quickly....

As a former employee of CookOut I’d like to voice my personal experience. As a Christian Company that cares highly about Quality and integrity of food and service. Doesn’t hold the same standards with employee relations.

COOKOUT Mission Statement: “TO SERVE CUSTOMERS THE HIGHEST QUALITY FOOD, IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME, IN A PROFESSIONAL WELL RUN WAY, OVERALL TO BE THE BST IN THE Q.S.R. BUSINESS.”

I don’t feel the Store Manager Z.F. exhibits the Quality, Integrity, or Professionalism like stated in the Mission Statement or is that only in relation to food/customer service. I’ve seen her on numerous occasions and she only greeted me once with a “Hello!” She never introduced herself or made me feel welcome as a part of the team. I found it odd that she never ask me my expectations or expressed hers. True enough I’m not a manager so maybe I’m insignificant in that regard. The tone in which she speaks is abrasive and/or belittling. I’ve noticed she doesn’t compliment good practice or behaviors yet focuses on fault/flaws alone. Doesn’t show any appreciation for things done within good taste and/or practice. I witnessed her show favoritism too amongst employees/managers over others. Personally, she made me feel very uncomfortable with her presence, based off her demeanor not her title. My managers often felt under attack and scrutinized making the work day filled with tension. Maya Angelou said it best, ”I’ve learned people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.”

So many of US spend majority of our days working. If I spend 4 or more hrs of my time especially at work. I’d like to work for a company that acknowledges my attributes, while helping me build off those attributes to provide better service, quality, integrity, and mentorship to grow within the brand CookOut. I personally didn’t feel that at all.

So if you don’t care about value, decorum, appreciation, and being part of a team you can grow with… then this is the place for you! If you care about these things then find employment else where.

“When We Work, We Work. When We Pray, God...

Upon arriving at Cook Out tonight the customer service was deplorable. Which seems to be the theme now. Upon getting to the drive-through, not only did NADIA greet me with a sub-par attitude and rush me through my order, but when I got to the window to pay, she just stuck out her hand (without saying a word) for me to give her my payment; no smile, nothing.

When she handed me my order, I was not offered any condiments or even a napkin, so I politely asked for some ketchup and Cajun seasoning only for NADIA to pause and stare at me with annoyance, as if I was impeding on her evening by giving the establishment my business. I guess how dare I ask for ketchup for my fries! She grab a bunch of packets shoved them in my hand and closed the window.

Apart form NADIA's ill'mannered service, my order was the smallest of portions. The fries were literally less than a fist full. They barely filled the small pocket-bag they came in and were cold. I've noticed that the portions from this Cook Out have been becoming more sparse, but the customer service is simultaneously diving nose first downhill.

This isn't the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd time I have received bad service. I and my co-workers work overnight, so this restaurant tends to be the only place open sometimes. We all have lessened our visits to Cook Out because of the bad service. My supervisor even turned around once and returned her order to get her money back because she was so put off by the girl at the window.

I know that these are high school kids a lot of times, so if they have an issue with working past their bed time and it makes them cranky/unpleasant, Cook Out should consider only having adults work...