Smoothie King — Restaurant in Austin

I usually stay at one of the hotels close to this location when I come into town so out of convenience, I have chosen to come here several times over the past 6 months. At first I was having a great experience but over the past 2 months, I have had several issues.

Today, I had a dry spot in my throat that caused me to cough just at the wrong moment when they were trying to hand me the smoothie I just paid for. The person at the window was extremely rude by shoving my smoothie into my hand (almost breaking the cup) and when I addressed it, said "that's not my problem". How is it not YOUR problem that you just so rudely shoved my smoothie into my hands???? Tried calling the store but the manager was no help and didn't even apologize.

I shouldn't have went back at all because last time I was in town, I also had a bad experience. My smoothie was so watered down that it was like drinking an actual drink.. and if you drink smoothies, you know that's not how it's supposed to be blended. I went inside to speak to the manager that day but all she offered was a complete refund instead of making a new smoothie that was of the right consistency…. so I went to a completely different smoothie place to spend my money.

They have been consistently rude over the past 2 months and more often than not, my smoothie isn't right at all (because yes they've also given me the wrong order and didn't care then either) or it isn't the right consistency. I travel ALL over and don't have this many issues with ANY other Smoothie King.

I would avoid this location at all costs. I will be taking my business...

To preface, I am currently a shift lead at a smoothie king in Houston. This is probably the worst smoothie king experience I’ve had in terms of both service and food quality.

I online ordered and my friend ordered in store, I ordered an Açaí cocoa haze bowl with added peanut butter that I payed extra for. I received a bowl with the pitaya base and no hazelnut spread which was NOT removed from the bowl in my order. Instantly noticing the bowl base was wrong, I politely let the worker know that I wasn’t sure this was my bowl. She looked at me like I was stupid and said the bowl name so I told her that it was supposed to be an açaí base and she continued to tell me it was the right base, despite it being completely wrong. I gave up because she seemed to get irritated and I am not typically a confrontational person but after a long day, I just wanted the correct bowl. Mind you, a bowl that I ordered fifteen minutes before I arrived that wasn’t even ready until ten minutes after I arrived.

Following that, her manager (?) asked a few minutes later if she found the açaí and if she was confused again between the two. There were various moments of bickering (playful or not) between manager and employees occurring across the lobby with us in there, a worker just hanging on his phone while our orders were not being made and essentially no customer service being provided. Along with these and her gossiping with her coworkers, our experience was lengthy, uncomfortable and...

I've had mixed experiences at this location but mostly negative...er unimpressive. As far as the smoothies go, never been a problem -- I get the Pineapple Surf and it's tasty IMO. But, when I go, I don't usually have high expectations in the customer service department as it has been unimpressive for the most part. When I go anywhere and order something, I'm used to being acknowledged -- "hello, welcome to ...! What can I getcha today? Hmm, let me see....I'll have the..." -- this has only happened once or twice in the dozen times I've been here. I VERY rarely get that comfortable experience and it becomes kind of awkward! One time an employee was eating something and just starring at me - didn't show much for manners, didn't even acknowledge me or seemed ready to take my order, or even wanting to take my order, and I wanted to ask them "are you going to ask me what I want or what? Because YOU are the one who is supposed to start that convo, not me". I don't expect employees to over do it and show the above-and-beyond in customer service by treating me like a "king" but at least show some courtesy to patrons, with manners, respect, friendliness and some common sense. It's not hard! Don't get a job in customer service if you can't do that. Let's hope for improvement in...