Muscle Maker Grill — Restaurant in Antioch

(2022 review edited for spelling, not sure why it's labeled new)

This review is hard for me because I truly want to like this place. To be fair, they've never been rude to me, but nearly every time there's an issue with my order.

I started eating here 3-4x per week in August 2020 when I decided I needed to live a healthier lifestyle. My culinary skills are severely lacking and I'm not home often. Things were awesome and I was losing weight until I noticed a price hike late in the year. I understood seeing as how a global pandemic was disrupting the economy, but shortly after this my service took a downturn. One time I picked up my order and got the wrong burger but didn't realize it until I got home, 20 minutes away. The next time my side of broccoli was barely steamed and was still raw, so I just threw it away since I wasn't home that time. On every other visit, my loaded baked potato was instead just a plain baked potato with 0 toppings. The one time I switched up my order from my usual combo I got a flatbread that was ice cold. The final straw was the time when I picked up my order and they forgot my entree. Same as the burger, I didn't realize it until I was far away. Frustrated, I emailed them and said I wasn't sure about coming back. The owner offered me a free meal, but I turned it down because I was just over it.

A few months go by and I decide to give them another chance. I noticed they raised the prices again and also stopped offering a free side with the wraps. I was dismayed, but figured I could switch to burgers and still get a free side of sweet potato fries. While the burgers are excellent, the fries are always completely soggy and tasteless. They're more like wet noodles but at least they're free, so I'll deal. Things were okay, but then for a few months their online ordering system was down. I'm a millennial, so I hate talking on the phone. This, coupled with another incident of getting a plain potato when I paid for the loaded one, was when I decided to give them a rest (again).

Fast forward to yesterday, and I decide to give MMG yet another chance because I've recently fallen back into relying on fast food due to my extreme on-the-go lifestyle (most days I'm not home until nearly midnight). I go to the site and noticed they raised prices yet again. I understand with the pandemic and inflation things are out of control right now, but DAYUM! My usual meal of a simple wrap, broccoli, and baked potato that was about $15 is now $25. This time, I decided to go with a chicken and rice bowl with added broccoli and baked potato on the side, but it was still $25. The whole time I was thinking, "Please just get this right!"

I put my order in and show up 20 minutes later just to be told my potato isn't ready. Okay, no big deal, but then a few moments later I'm told they're out of potatoes. They ask if I want to substitute it or they can owe me in the future. Feeling completely defeated and just wanting to leave, I told them it's okay, just refund me for the potato. At this point, the owner (I believe) gets involved and tells me because the order was online he can't refund one item. Having worked in customer service and food services roles before, I totally understand that sometimes the systems that are used can't accommodate every customer request, but at this point it doesn't matter. It's just always something. The owner asks again if I want a substitute or money owed to me, but I was honestly not interested. I was ready to leave without anything because I was feeling frustrated and stupid. To their credit, they were super friendly about it, but I was just over it. Finally, the owner says he'll take care of it, and he calls the card processor and tells them to refund the entire order. I thank him and he asks if I want my next meal free or if he can offer me a smoothie. I tried my best to be polite while still expressing my disappointment, so I said I don't want anything free and I'm trying to stay away from sugar. Shortly after I took my bag and left. Not sure I'll ever be...

I came at 4pm. There were about 5-6 group of customers. I ordered the recovery chicken burger (with cheddar cheese and turkey bacon). I asked if they can do a batter-fried chicken and add mushroom, lettuce, onion, and tomato. They said yes. I also ordered a medium strawberry smoothie with peanut butter and banana—it was very tasty. I waited for 20 minutes. The chicken burger was ready. I checked with them because other customers already got their smoothies. I had to tell them my smoothie order again which they got right but I had to wait 30 minutes for everything. Moreover, they gave me the regular recovery grilled chicken burger with no vegetables which was kind of frustrating because I told the staff who was taking orders my preference thrice and said sorry for being slow yet still messed up my order. Kind of unacceptable. On the other hand, the burger bun was soft and fluffy but I thought the chicken was bland and okay, and the sweet potato fries were not crispy and not as soft as you would...

We ordered our food, their was 3 customer behind us in line. They ALL got their food before us .. after the last one left I waited 10 min then asked about our food. By the looks of it they didn't start making it till the last customer got his. Very disappointing, waited about half hr for food. Five minutes before we left a customer that ordered online left disappointed because his food wasn't ready and had no more time to wait. You need to prioritize your customers.... FIRST COME FIRST SERVED

I didn't want to say nothing but even your regulars put up with this. That day before we walked out, some lady came in and said " are you guys ready for me?" Her order wasn't ready so she straight up said YOUR FIRED about 3 times... My daughter ordered door dash from there a few days ago. She ordered at 12 and didn't get her food till 130.... Instead of making excuses just step up your game. And yes she told us it would take longer but she said 10-15...