Pio Pio — Restaurant in Charlotte

Worst service we had for “to go” food in charlotte. We have eaten at this restaurant for 10 years or more But recently the service has become worse each visit. Clearly different owners or managers. We ordered a simple, small order and was told it would be ready in 20 minutes. We arrived 25 minutes later (restaurant half full and one person waiting for to go order) And they said “it’s just about ready” we waited another 10 minutes and asked again and they said ”its almost ready” all while seating customers as they walked in . We watched as they filled order after order of to go orders all stacking up on a table but none were ours. We were patient and kind but persistent. One table of 3 ladies walked in after we did and had finished their drinks and appetizers before we finally left with ours, 40 minutes after they told us it would be ready. The phone was ringing the entire time we were waiting and every order they took they said “20 minutes” when they clearly knew it would be at least 60+ minutes (why were they even answering the phone?) When these “to go” people started showing up, the 2 workers (the only 2 we saw outside the kitchen) just kept saying , “it’s almost ready” to everyone, instead of saying “we’re in the weeds and we are so sorry” They told us one last time” it’s almost ready” and we waited a final 10 minutes while the people waiting on orders and waiting on tables started complaining at once. They brought our food out without even an apology, which is the only reason we wrote this review. If at one point in our long wait there, they had acknowledged their problem and fault, we would have just thought “bad night” at Pio Pio. We...

Today may have been the worst customer service experience I’ve had in recent memory. I love Pio Pio. I have eaten here dozens of times over probably at least 10 years. We were seated as soon as we walked in, and ordered our food shortly thereafter. She brought us our drinks, and then we sat at our table and watched food being served to THREE other parties who arrived to the restaurant AFTER us. I don’t know if the waitress forgot to put in our order, but every time we were able to get her to make eye contact with us, she said, “Food is coming,” in an exasperated manner. There was nothing complicated about our order, so it didn’t make sense. 40-45 minutes after we arrived, she brought us our plates, one or two plates at a time. She never apologized to us or even acknowledged that we had sat there for 40 minutes watching other people who arrived after us eat the same food we had just ordered. Waitresses and waiters are humans, and we all have bad days and we all make mistakes. What would have made this entire experience different would have been for the waitress to even acknowledge or apologize for our wait. Her indifference to us was frankly bizarre. I don’t know if it was a language barrier or what, but it wasn’t cool, and it ruined the whole experience. I eat out at least once a week, seated at a table interacting with a waiter or waitress, and this was the worst experience I can remember. The $8 salad I had was delicious, as was the $10 beans and rice. This won’t keep me from waiting here again - it’s one of my favorite restaurants - but it was disappointing. I hate leaving a negative review for a place that I actually LOVE, but this was...

Worst Service ever! We went to the Dilworth location hoping for a good Sunday lunch with the family (4), but we were immensely disappointed in the service. First, our waiter, who wouldn't give us his name or his managers name took our order and decided not to write it down. We ordered appetizers, drinks and main courses. Of course he messed up our order and brought us two arepas less than we ordered, one order had plantains rather than yucca and one chicken order was white meat rather than dark as requested.

Second, when the bill came, they automatically had entered a tip of 18.5% and still had a line for tip below. When we requested that the 18.5% tip be removed because we wanted to enter our own, the waiter adamantly said no and thought that he deserved 18.5%. Third, when asked to speak to the manager and when asking for his name he refused to give us either.

A completely unsatisfactory and unprofessional service on behalf of this waiter. The man working the cashier (Eddie) was very professional and had great customer service trying to diffuse the situation. Also, the waitress that was there seemed genuinely interested in helping.

Ultimately, I have heard that the Blakeny location is better than the Dilworth location, and it must be true because this is the worst customer service I have receives in a very long time. Having a waiter argue with a customer about his tip is unreal.

Needless to say, I will not be back ever, and ill make sure everyone that asks knows my...