Dairy Queen Grill & Chill — Restaurant in Ankeny

Service at this Dairy Queen leaves a LOT to be desired. I grew up in the Des Moines area and used to frequent the Dairy Queen on the Southside. That Dairy Queen got a ton of business but I never once felt over my high school years and college years that their service was lackluster or slow even when they were absolutely packed inside and out. The Ankeny DQ is always slow. It sucks because it's the only DQ in Ankeny and I really like DQs products so if I want to go to DQ elsewhere I have to drive well out of my way. I realize when you have new employees you get bogged down from time to time, and things happen, but being completely honest I have never once gotten quick service at the Ankeny location. It's always slow and the employees are never overly friendly either. Others in the reviews section have complained that their Blizzards weren't properly mixed and just tonight (06/15/2014) my wife and I stopped in and hers was poorly mixed as well.

To make things worse their attached with Yannis (a nice restaurant) and share parking around the entire building. When the drive thru is packed they don't have any lines painted to keep people over to one side so people just trying to drive around to park at DQ end up getting stuck because drivers at the drive thru can't line up for the drive thru properly. This is partially DQ's fault as they need to have it better outlined, but I'll give them a little bit of a pass just for the fact that some people are just bad drivers and/or too stupid to realize they're blocking the parking lot and through traffic.

If the management at DQ is reading this you really need to train your employees better. I don't know what's wrong with this store but I think you need to have employees just standing at certain equipment doing 1 or 2 jobs when it's busy instead of a few running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I can understand why they're not the happiest employees when the operation seems to be so inefficient overall. The fact that other DQ locations that are just as busy are much faster speaks volumes to the issues at this particular...

3 years ago: EDITED

Even when super busy they remain calm and get it to you. I have never had a mistake on my order or any bad food. Tonight's hot brownie was the best. Keep up the great work.

FEB. 17th 2024: OK what's happened to this store? Guy ahead of us was back..they shorted him three meals previously. Her response: "Oh gee. That was you?" The outside lights were not on, so reading the screen was almost impossible. I couldn't hear the cashier. I told her several times I could not hear her. A new person came on and practically yelled like a smart a**. My order was read back to me... no I did not order a cheeseburger basket. I had to tell her three times. I told her a fish sandwich baskest. "FISH?". You know those things that swim in water. A chicken strip basket seemed easy enough..now mind you it is night with the screen not lit and she says a number 14? How do I know? I can't see it. Uh, oh, "Mumbles" is back. Cant hear her..so we finally gave up and we bought what was already ordered so we could just get our food. At the window a girl who I assume was crew chief gives us our blizzard and hot fudge, says have a nice evening and slammed the window. Just as I was ready to lay on the horn, she opens the window "yes?" We had food. "Oh." Slams window again. The place was a dirty mess. Ice cream on the counter and fudge too. The utility room door was open. A dirty mop... that's appealing. A food delivery guy came out with a small sack and left. A worker ran out with a big bag but missed him. Not sure who's fault that was but I imagine it was DQ . We parked to wait and thirty minutes later we got our semi warm meal. The smallest chicken strips I've seen. Kids meal or what? Watery pop. Stick with ice cream. Food isn't your thing. At least not at this one. Thankfully Ankeny has a vast selection of places to eat and LOTS of ice cream businesses. This franchise needs a new DQ in town for competition. It might make them...

A month ago I went to Dairy Queen in Ankeny and went through the drive through and ordered 2 chicken strip baskets a drink and a blizzard I got my blizzard when I paid and was asked to pull around and wait for my food. Over an hour later they asked me if I had received my food I explained no. The manager kindly offered 2 free meals next time and I got my food shortly after the hour. Even though my blizzard was melted and I did not get my soda I said that's ok they gave me free meals. I got back tonight and go inside thinking that would help them remember I'm there. They comped my two chicken strip baskets and soda and blizzard again. I waited for 50 minutes sitting in the store and my blizzard yet again melted so I proceeded to the counter handed everything to the assistant manager and explained I wasn't waiting any longer because of how I had to last time I'm hungry and tired and j left and went to another restaurant to get food. I am beyond disappointed with them, in no circumstances should it take more than 50 minutes to make 2 chicken strip baskets and no one approach me and explain why they were taking so long and possibly apologize they let business walk out the door. As I sat and observed them work while I waited I counted 3 people go back for incorrect blizzards. They need serious help or will probably close down due to all these terrible reviews I also had time to read on their Facebook page! I work in a corporate office and am the first the be patient for almost anything but this...