QDOBA Mexican Eats — Restaurant in Battle Creek

You’ll never hear me say anything bad about Q’doba. If you look at the rest of my reviews, they are less than stellar regarding other restaurants. Coming from a family who owns restaurants in the Battle Creek (and at one time, Kalamazoo) and growing through high school and early college working there you learn a few things about Customer Service.

That’s what I’d like to touch on today, because we already know that Q’doba’s food is very, very good.

I say Customer Service because here is what just happened to me for lunch today. I ordered through the app, as I always do. The app has been update (and although it seems your saved favorites have been reset or I just couldn’t find them) they’ve upgraded the app to ask if you’d like “regular”, “light”, or “heavy” of any ingredient you add to your base item. Very cool.

Here’s today’s story: I was running behind and left quickly to grab my food. I arrive to see my order isn’t sitting, ready to go, as it normally is. I think about how why it isn’t ready, clearly giving them at least an extra 10 mins since I was running behind. Then it dawned on me, I never finished the order, I never ordered what I wanted forgetting to finish the payment section on the app - hence no food, they never received the order.

John, the manager, sees me standing there, angry at myself because now I have to drive all the way back to my phone I had forgotten on my desk, in my hurry to leave, right next to my wallet. I ask John if he’d be willing to trust me and make my order, I would then return to my phone, complete the order, and a notation, “not to make it, it’s already been made, Ryan”. He said sure. Then he said he’d do me one better and just made it, to my specifications (and it looked beautiful) and COMPED me. I argued, but he insisted. Ladies, and gentlemen, THAT’S Customer Service. He could have just as easily said, sorry but I can’t do that. I wouldn’t have blamed him. But instead, he saw the value of making his customer happy and guaranteed I’d be a returning customer.

Also, again referencing other reviews of mine, John put NAPKINS AND A FORK in my bag!!!!

So, long story, short, Q’doba is worth your time and your money. If their staff is being trained by people like John, Q’doba had nothing to worry about.

Now, I think that’s a $10 review. Ha, ha. I hope we’re square now, John. Thanks again. It’s been really difficult writing this review while my lunch is sitting in front of me,...

I used to be a loyal customer at this location. I never went for the stellar service, just for the burrito bowls. Unfortunately, my last visit left such a sour taste in my mouth that I will never visit that location again.

I ordered my usual, a burrito bowl with fajita veggies. There was a new girl, and she was rather stingy with the toppings. I didn't think it was a huge deal, but I was used to a little more for the amount of money I paid. The part that was truly upsetting was regarding the fajita veggies. A different woman was doing that portion of the toppings. When I asked for the veggies, she audibly sighed, tossed the tongs that were in her hand, rolled her eyes, and walked to the back. I thought that was a little much for asking for veggies, no? She returned and with an annoyed tone of voice informed me that it would be a few moments. That was fine. I had time to wait.

The veggies are normally grilled to the point of being slightly charred, and they have a buttery taste to them after they're grilled. When I was told they would need to make more, I expected to look at the grill in back (which was clearly visible from the front counter) and see vegetables cooking. I did not see any, but perhaps there was another part of the kitchen in which they were being prepared.

After about six or seven minutes of waiting, I was given my bowl to go and brought it home. I eagerly opened by bowl when I got home, expecting my usual, when I saw raw bell peppers and onions sitting on top of my bowl. So, after being so dismissive and rude and then making me feel bad for ordering one of their items, they thought they pulled one over on me by giving me raw vegetables. I could have done that...

I’ve loved the taste and portioning of qdoba since day 1 but they’ve had some issues lately that are going to result in me no longer eating here.

I regularly come here for my company to grab lunches for anywhere from 5-15 people and I’ve seen varying degrees of service and consistency in food qualify as well as portioning.

As of this year I’ve went from being able to get 4 scoops of queso with my nachos to 2 while being told 2 was always the limit and now there’s be a charge for additional servings. I’ve visited on days where the staff has let all of the moisture in their beans completely evaporate to the point they resembled refried beans more than black or pinto. I’ve received servings of chicken just the same or worse burnt to a crisp and inedible. I’ve also experienced chip portioning to a point that I’d have to pay for additional chips sufficient enough to each my nachos and these can also be extremely good or taste days old at times as well. The final nail in the coffin is the changing of their serving dishes which look to greatly reduce portion sizes as if I wouldn’t noticed.

Overall, day 1 qdoba is the hands down best fast food restaurant I’ve ever eaten at. In its current state id put it up with there with subway. Becoming over priced while reducing serving sizes...