Bistro Kabob — Restaurant in Carlsbad

We visited the place on Fri 9/7/18 at about 3:30pm. We were hungry and had limited time for late lunch. We selected Kabob Lounge based on good Google rating, advertising itself as a Mediterranean restaurant and convenient location. We ordered lamb tenderloin and lamb chops plates and told that we will eat in their place. First of all we were surprised that the place demands to pay upfront tips from 15% to 25%. Per our understanding tips are paid for good service and good food and not are paid upfront. The waiting time was above any expectation so after ~ 30 minutes we had to remind the waitress about our order. Waitress didn’t bring our drinks (we asked simple water) and gave two plastic cups for self-service. When we at last got our order the lamb and vegi came absolutely over-burned and looked like charcoal in both plates. As the “compensation” pita was cold and perhaps was never heated. We requested no rice and salad instead of rice but we got the rice and over-burned black onion and tomato with charcoal-like meat that was almost impossible to eat. She never returned back to ask about our food (well, it is etiquette formality in many restaurants but why to ask if customer already paid tips). Unfortunately, we did not have time, were really hungry so we have to eat their lamb. The service and food is disgusting and does not deserve any tip at all / probably that is why they request tips upfront/. I found only few small parts of eatable meat in my over-burned chops (all 3 pieces were mostly bones with small pieces of meat even before cooking) and didn’t eat rice (see photo). We did not have such terrible experience in dozens of fast food restaurants in USA and around the globe. We would advise anyone NOT to go there. We hope and wish that this Kabob Lounge will be out of business soon and another more respectful restaurant will use their good and convenient location. This new restaurant should not hire absolutely unprofessional Kabob Lounge’s cook and staff. Meantime there are other fast food restaurants on the same court where people can get better food...

I usually love this place but last two times i went there was something wrong. I ordered my usually boneless chicken wrap order on lavash w lemon dressing for the side salad and it was like the lady behind the counter did not listen to me at all. She was convinced i ordered a gyro wrap, she was shocked i said no and i repeated what i wanted twice more so i had to wait twice as long for my food. The other time i ordered same again. I thought they had changed the recipe but later i realized that i think they just put the wrong cut of chicken in there. I am pretty sure it was a chicken breast filet. They said mine is taking a while because they have to grill it. It was not as juicy and flavorful and barely had the little garlic sauce in it, it mainly tasted like grill char. It should have been the same chunks of chicken they put on the boneless chicken plate. The lemon dressing also tasted pretty terrible. I was not big on their dressings to begin with but this was the worst batch. I really have loved the food here but lately they seem like they do not know what they are doing anymore. Bad communication going on in training new staff perhaps. I do not want to stop going here but they need to get it together...

GOT RAW CHICKEN!!!

I don't write reviews period for any restaurant, today is the exception. However, I decided to go to Kabob Lounge for a quick lunch today 11 June, 2019. I ordered the Tandoori Kabob (something I never had before). The food came out in a timely manner, salad was good, rice good, THEN I CUT THE CHICKEN.... IT WAS FRIGGIN' RAW!!! I took my plate back to the cashier, which she took back, and the guy that brought my food was there. They both said Sorry Sir. I didn't have enough time to wait for them to make my food again. I went for a refund and the girl (an Asian girl - didn't get her name) told me that the Manager's Manger had to give me the refund. They took my phone number and name. I assume I may get a call to go back for my money. This is 2019 in the USA... not some third world country. I wish there was a worse rating to give...