Burger King — Restaurant in Astoria

This Burger King used to be my preferred fast food spot, even though it is literally the option furthest from me. Would legitimately go out of my way to go there. That being said, the last handful of times I have gone have unfortunately been almost the complete opposite of the excellent food and service I had been used to receiving from them. I’m not sure if management has changed hands recently, or if the current schedule of employees are newer and haven’t been properly trained, or what has happened to make such a big difference, but it is in fact a noticeable and notable difference, and for the worse.

Over the last few months or so, I’ve visited maybe half a dozen times. Every single time, and I mean every one, there has been AT LEAST one problem with the order. This evening (which will be my last for a while, at this point) I got two burgers - one with no lettuce and extra pickles, one with no lettuce or pickles and extra tomato, which is an up charge of $0.59. While this is no huge amount of money, the principle stands that I should get what I have paid for. Both sandwiches came out wrong, made standard with no changes. I have worked in food service management for almost two decades, now. I KNOW how this stuff works. Which is why I gave as many chances as I did before leaving this review, and I do so genuinely with the hope that someone who can fix the problems might see it. But! Knowing as I do how this stuff works, getting two standard builds back, to have the entire order wrong, that tells me the person on the make line looked at the order screen and chose to flat out ignore ALL of the simple modifiers on not one but both sandwiches. While I TECHNICALLY got two slices of tomato, I was given two slices so small that together they were barely the size of one regular slice. But boy there sure were a lot of those pickles that make me violently ill!

Some of the issues I’ve experienced over the last few months (again, at least one something wrong every single time, usually many somethings): faulty food (missed modifiers or food, wrong food entirely, cold, left under warmer too long, over salted, unseasoned beef patties. the bathrooms used to always be spotless and really well maintained, now it’s a 50/50 if you’ll find it clean, or trashed and smelling like old urine. The women’s room, anyway, I cannot speak for the men’s.

And FINALLY, my HUGEST complaint, and effectively the straw that broke the camel’s back. The crew this store had this time last year were AMAZING. And I don’t mean just regarding stuff along the lines of the things listed above, I mean they were smiling and friendly and polite and helpful. WELCOMING. I have had ONE good staff experience the last half dozen times I’ve gone. I’d be happy to provide names and such outside of this public forum if asked to do so, but suffice it to say that the one guaranteed way to lose business, as they have lost mine for at least the near future, is to be rude and ESPECIALLY to act inconvenienced by my patronage. Sorry that I expect to receive a warm and edible version of the food I paid for, especially expecting it the first time around. Please, allow me to remove my business so you are no longer bothered by it. And that’s after half a dozen chances and an abundance of grace and understanding. Tonight I was the first time I didn’t just let it slide as a “stuff happens” thing and actually asked for a remake (the tomatoes , yes, but especially the pickles THAT MAKE ME VIOLENTLY ILL. And that was after I waited my turn for a minute in drive thru, and got to hear some staff share a number of disrespectful and unprofessional opinions on customers coming through half an hour before close. Loud enough that while they were out of view at the time, I could hear them QUITE WELL through the open back drive thru window. The time before this one, I had someone in a manager’s polo act bothered to be taking my order, so proceeded to look at me like I was crazy and talk to me like I was stupid the entire time. THAT should have been the last time....

Pretty sure this is my first review ever. Fast version: multiple laws broken by new manager; as pictured... I've been coming here for years; new manager has a vendetta against delivery orders because he failed at being self employed (I know this because he inadvertently told me himself while yelling at me). Even when they are off the clock, or there as a customer as well. So he prepares any orders with sub par work ethic associated to delivery in any way. Not a great look when likely half of their orders are tourism related... He tried to give me damaged product (picture on their window shelf after I declined to accept it included). There was another bag in even worse condition but he threw them inside when I took a picture. Went on a racist tirade when I refused to accept the order politely. Refused to even give a second bag. Scapegoated lower ranking employees for his poor work habits. Touched phone and then exposed food, I was to receive breaking contamination/food handling laws. Fully failed to serve me, and my passenger the food we purchased. Threw food around before trying to give it to me and after I declined, as I was driving off. Exhibits textbook anti social behaviors. Would give a negative score if I could, and fully considered calling him in for a hate crime that day. Very, very glad to never go to this establishment again. But wanted to forewarn anyone staying in our lovely town and thinking of ordering online and anyone whom might be perceived as Latinx (I'm not, but he assumed I was, judging by the abusive things he said). I would suggest going to Mc Donald's across the street if you're looking for the lowest cost at highest quality. Never had a problem there, or anywhere else in town. I understand this job is hard, but mishandling food is a literal crime. As is public discrimination. Long version: Wanted to note, because I feel awful for needing to leave such a low review; that before the new manager arrived, I would have rated them five stars, maybe four during tourist season for wait times. But I give a lot of clearance to polite people. I've been coming here almost weekly for YEARS because I really enjoyed the crew; including the old manager. New manager is the most unprofessional person I have ever encountered ever, period; willing to scream at and insult customers in front of customers. Has a superiority complex with everyone I saw him interact with. And doesn't seem to understand or care about food handling laws. Tried to say I was being rude to the young man at the window as a defense to him actively verbally abusing me; but my issue was with him the entire time (as I watched him manhandle the order as he bagged it, before handing it off). I was presented with an entirely ripped bag. And was publicly shamed and verbally abused by him for questioning it. I used my pleases and thanks you (or no thank you's the entire time) and even addressed him as sir as he berated me, my intelligence, and even my professional choices- said to a literal stanger. This was at maximum a five minute exchange where he drew all of these prejudiced assertions, and violated me verbally, before I said enough and left. I had a witness with me, whom never received their personal order. My whole entire extended family is boycotting, not just this establishment, but all BK's in future, for as long as he remains at his post. He's a danger to those he perceives as inferior, and thus a liability. Condoning this behavior is unacceptable. He's training new workers this behavior is acceptable. Genuinely the most disgusting behavior I have ever encountered in a professional environment, from the food to the service. I have never seen anyone throw a tantrum like this on the clock.

edit: All I wanted was a replacement bag so everything wouldn't be falling out all over my car, I didn't even ask for the food to be exchanged. But honestly this is straight up cross contamination at a food establishment. Germs don't care about your ego, sir. My heart goes out to the crew who has to try and operate under a...

If I could give negative stars I would. We got to the counter and the vile manager decided that was the perfect time to completely berate an employee right at the counter. It was so bad it made my family and everyone in the lobby uncomfortable. We thought the poor employee was going to cry. It was so awful we left. We meet an employee that works there they said that did us a favor and that we don't want to eat there. The dishwashing system is broke, the roof is leaking some sort of liquid & sludge over the grill, one fryer can't turn on because it's covered in 5 years worth of sludge, one can't shut off due to the same reason and there is a leak in the roof so bad that one of the walls in the kitchen area is bulging like it's going to pop. Apparently the manager also appears to be consistent in the treatment of her employees. That is why there is a massive turn over rate and they're constantly hiring. The employee told us if you're going to be in an accident, it better be 4 hours before your shift or she will fire even if you have a note from the emergency room or a police report or you're hospitalized. Then she doesn't even have the balls to fire you. We were told she leaves your name on the schedule and then doesn't give the person any hours hoping they will just go away. Someone who is a former employee REALLY needs to report this place. If you have a heart and value not getting food poisoning or worse, you will not support the business practices of this particular...