Cicis Pizza — Restaurant in Bartlett

If I could give them a 1/4 of a star I would. Every year I bring my basketball team to CiCi's as a team building and outing for my girls. Today, February 21, 2023, I did what I do annually, and brought my team to CiCi's paying for 16 buffets. We came in and everyone began eating, trying to enjoy ourselves, despite a very limited display of pizzas on the bar. We were very patient as there was only one employee placing pizzas on the bar. The team and I ate what we could; however, the bar was never replenished in its entirety. We'd been there for almost an hour, before asking if they were going to replenish the dessert bar. Well, one of the employees, (We'll call her Jheri curl) was really choppy and short with some of the girls, so I decided to see if the girls were maybe distracting her, even though I did not see an issue with asking if she was going to put out more pizza/desserts. Well, I walked up to the bar and asked if I could assist with anything, and the lady became really crass and rude. I let her know that we were patient, and that there was no need for her to be choppy and exhibit such an undesirable attitude. The manager (We'll call her "bob") on duty, came from the back and asked if she could help me. She was very professional, and assured me that the dessert bar would be replenished in about 10 minutes. Right after that interaction, Jheri curl put out three burned pizzas on the bar. Several people started complaining of how wrong she was to put those burnt pizzas out. Well, Jheri curl, continued to be really rude, trying to argue, so I just asked to speak with the manager. "BOB"was really nice, and tried to assure us that everything would be better once the other manager (We'll call him "Late getting to work") gets there. We'll, I can say, their production never picked up, and the service still sucked after "Late to work" got there. The pizzas continued to look unappealing, and the dessert still took a whopping 30 mins. to be placed on the bar. Once I'd had enough, I told the girls we were leaving, and upon walking out of the door, I asked for Jheri curl's name, and "Late to work", refused to give me either of their names. I WILL NEVER to take my team to CiCi's again, especially not thw one at Kirby-Whitten and Stage Rd. (Memphis), and have encouraged the families of my teams, as well as our school, not to visit that location again. In my opinion, this is the type of service that costs companies millions of dollars and cause them to go out of business. From the looks of the the handful of people who were inside there besides us, they will not be in business...

Manager Nate (if that's what his name is) really needs to work on his customer service skills. As we arrived I asked the very polite young lady at the register if it was possible for me to order a pizza to be delivered at my table. She said yes. But you'd have to order it where you pick up the food. Then I proceeded to walk around the cafeteria line. As I walked around I polititly said excuse me to Nate. I know he heard me because I made eye contact with him and gestured with my hand. He purposely ignored me. Not sure why. Maybe Nate's having a bad day or maybe has a problem with how I look. I don't know. So I then raise my voice and say excuse me. Nate still didn't respond. He just looked at me I assumed that was his acknowledgment to me. So I say may I order a pizza to be delivered to my table. He first says we don't do that if there's some out as he's placing the pizza I asked for right in front of me at the buffet line. I then say well ok I was asking because the young lady informed me that we could. Here's where I have a problem with Nate. He says she's new and doesn't know what she's talking about. I say excuse me. Trying to hold my cool because I didn't like the way he just down talked this nice young lady. I proceeded to say that in the past you could do this and that's why I asked he then starts to give me an unnecessary history of CiCis in a very condescending way and I simply say I don't care to end the conversation. Then I say look just be sure you don't reprimand her for her telling me this. He may be a good guy he may be a racist I don't know. Definitely not polite and doesn't know how to take negative criticism or speak to customers...

Much to my surprise, at about 11:30pm today, I actually walked back through the doors I'd personally bared about 5 or so years ago. Bared because the food and service had gotten so bad. BUT TODAY'S EXPERIENCE WAS somewhat REFRESHING! First, I saw FRESH HOT pizza on the bar. Walked over to the salad bar to find FRESH CLEAN lettuce (not wilted). The air conditioner was actually working. Food trays, utensils, plates, tables, food bars, drink bar and main floor were clean and service was quite impressive and fast. However, the sneeze guard was so dingy I couldn't see through it clearly to identify the food.

The only draw back was the bathroom and entrance hall to same. The bathroom entryway floor was very dirty including the rear emergency exit door. Found this strange as it didn't add up to the demand for wearing a mask (so "I" don't spread germs, you know). However, I did see others come in WITHOUT A MASK and were served anyway (DOUBLE STANDARD?)?!?! 🤔

Okay, back to the bathroom: the soap dispenser was disassembled. No soap readily available. Paper towel dispenser wasn't dispensing due to a dead battery? I alerted the gentleman in the dining area and he thanked me for letting him know and went to take care of it.

When asked if this location were under new management or ownership I didn't get an answer as they claimed not to know. Overall, I was pleased with...