Hopdoddy Burger Bar — Restaurant in Austin

I believe that companies will stand out in the future by providing exceptional guest experience... I love hopdoddy, it's definitely in the top 3 burgers I have ever had... I was excited to try the sister location... Damn it's disappointing! Walked in ordered at the counter, give us a buzzer, the table number we have to sit at, did not bother to ask for temperature of the patty, and "when the food is ready you can go and pick it up at the counter over there" (clerk is pointing). Total of the operation $30.27. I am ok with that.. that's a new concept but whatever as long as the burger is good... We go sit down, got to find my own high chair for the kid, for those who wonder it's behind the bussing station, after 10 min in the place I thought I was part of the staff, cleaning the table and water/sauce stain from the previous patrons... Buzzer vibrates! time for the food! I go pick it up, looks like hopdoddy I got excited for a second, behind the counter half eaten chocolate chip cookie hanging out, it belonged to the employee who just walked away after putting my food down, not only it is a health department violation (22 years in the food business, I have a little bit of experience with that) but how about you stay behind the counter, you confirm with me it's the right order, and you wish me a good meal... especially because you made eye contact, stay 2 more second don't just walk away... Oh well... I will take a bite and everything will be fine, unfortunately I felt like bitting in a shoe sole, super over cooked and dry. The whole experience was just destroyed... Let me tell you this, if a manager is looking at this, and I hope they will, I can consult with them FOR FREE to give them an upper hand and crush the P-terry Down the Street, all your employees are gonna make more money, and you will get huge amount of business from surrounding neighborhoods (Circle C being the highest income neighborhood in South Austin they don't mind paying $12-15 for a burger!) BUT! You need to treat those people right! I always said that the hardest part in the restaurant business is to bring people in the door, once they are here treat them right and they will come back forever... I will leave this here for now, and I will be back see if the owner of this beautiful place pays attention, because it is a BEAUTIFUL PLACE! The Location is AMAZING, the design, the parking is ample, just right off WLM Cannon... It could be a GOLD MINE! I know you are new and you are trying to get your stuff together, so that's why I will be back and try it again, hopefully I will have another...

So, after reading the reviews I am surprised I am the only one writing a review like this after two very similar experiences at Lil' Doddy's.

To start, our food was actually pretty good the first go around so that is why I am not giving it 0 stars.

First time in: we went in with the intention to take our food to go (there is a drive by window blocked off so we knew not to try, but a strange thing to have and not use -- just in my personal opinion). I went in and was greeted by a man who was taking orders. I thought I had done my homework ahead of time because we were hungry and so excited to try, so naturally I looked up a menu. As I tried to order I started saying what I wanted and the man rudely corrected me every chance he could by telling me what was not on the burgers and then asked me "have you ever even been here?" NOPE, sure haven't...sorry I was going off the menu we saw on YELP...sorry the wrong menu was posted?

Then we come to find out they do not even get your food prepared to go, nor do they let you know when the food is ready. You are forced to sit at a certain table and then they bring it out to you ready to eat and you have to package everything accordingly and put in boxes and bags to take home. Not the best business model, especially if you are in a hurry.

Second time in: didn't eat. And I will tell you why. It was yesterday afternoon around 1. I am pregnant and needed to sit down. There were no seats inside so I grabbed a table outside. There was a long line so my husband and step daughter went inside to order for us all (if you want to do that you better know what everyone wants and where everyone in your party is-- otherwise they won't help you!) Shortly thereafter the same man who took my order the first time we were there came out and rudely asked, have you ordered? I said no. Is your party inside, have they ordered? I am not sure, I assume that is what they are doing I say. He then informs me, well this table is assigned to someone else and you can go sit in those chairs over there and wait until I give you a table, then he walks away.

We left.

Don't talk to people like that. 2. How are we supposed to know all the rules your restaurant has? 3. If a pregnant woman is sitting outside in the heat of the day, there's a probably a reason why, maybe be kind in the future. 4. Customer service is key. 5. Being rude is never the answer, no matter how good...

I'm not sure if you're going to want this review because my experience this afternoon was... not great. I decided to stop by there on my way home because I didn't want the traditional fast food & I've had good experiences at the Hopdoddy on S Congress. It was 2:15 on a Sunday so I assumed it wouldn't take too long. I also needed a place with a drive-thru since I have a broken foot & limited mobility at the moment. My first mistake (in staying) was that I realized that they don't have a traditional drive thru, that it was marked for online orders only. So I found a shady spot & tried to place an order online, but the order wouldn't go through, (using their website)... "unspecified error" every time. So I decided to just drive through the window & ask if there was another way to order (& explained about my mobility issues so she'd understand why it was difficult to just come in.) After some hesitation, the staff member said she could ring me up directly & they would bring it out to me in one of their takeout spaces. Fair enough, so I placed my order & drove to the space. It wasn't fully in the sun when I parked but as I waited 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes... I slowly started to bake. I know their orders can take a while, so I didn't assume that it would be ready in 5 min, but after 28 minutes & not seeing anyone even look towards my car, I decided to go ahead & drive back through to ask about it. The young man who I spoke with that time, quite frankly seemed guilty & seemed to know what order was mine before me saying anything. So then he said, "oh yes, I think your order just came up" as he grabbed the bag that I had seen behind him as I drove up. I explained that I'd been waiting for almost 30 minutes for it, while slowly baking in a sunny drive thru spot, and he offered a coupon for my delay, but I did tell him that in wasn't likely to return.

I don't think it's fair of me to really give a review of the food since by the time I got it, I'm pretty sure it had been sitting for 15-20 minutes at least. The ahi tuna burger was edible, since tuna can be eaten cold, although the bun had practice disintegrated on the bottom by the time I tried to eat it. The sage sweet potato fries, however, are definitely not improved by swimming in their sauce until cold, so I could only manage a few of those off the top.

But, live & learn & I've definitely learned to avoid this restaurant...