Original Hooters — Restaurant in Chicago

I never thought I would ever leave a bad review on a restaurant. Especially not one that I worked at for 2 YEARS. I am STUNNED at the horrendous service me and my two friends received last night. I worked at this Hooters location for two years a couple years ago and never in my life would I dream of giving the unacceptable service our server gave.

To begin, we had a reservation at 8:30 and we arrived at 8:15, and they sat us fairly quickly. Our server Andrea was the worst server imaginable. She took our drink order and that was fine, we got two out of three of the drinks from the bar. After about 10 minutes, she took our app order. Then 20 minutes later, she told us there was no more buffalo shrimp, which was fine but not sure why we didn't get told sooner. It took my friend even longer to get her drink and it was another server who actually brought it. After waiting 30 minutes, she came back and finally took our food order. We wait and wait and absolutely nothing. By now it is literally just past 9:30. We have been here for over an hour and haven't gotten any food. All the while, other people who came after us were getting their food. I ask another passing server if she could kindly ask a manager to check on our food, as it's been over an hour. After another 10 minutes, I see the manager sweeping and flag him over and ask him to check on our food. He says he will, and then finally we get our food at 9:50. So I know the rules of Hooters. Like I said, I worked at this location for two years. They have a rule to check in 30 seconds to a minute after you drop off the food to see if your table needs anything else. Andrea did not check on us ONCE. We would like to have asked for ketchup, but no one was around to ask. I am absolutely appalled she did not check on us. Finally, at about 10:35, we ask for our check and a box. She has not come by. My friend asks another server if we could please get our check, to which she RUDELY replies "I'm not your server." When I worked here, I would never DREAM of saying that. I would kindly say, "Sure, let me get your server." Eventually, Andrea brought the check and I asked also for a box and gave her our cards. She returns after 8 minutes with the receipts and no box. So I just went in back and got the box myself, as I know where they are.

We went to the front to ask to speak to Jazz, the manager, as she knows me. They said she was gone for the day so I spoke to Antonio instead, and explained the situation. I asked him to please relay the message to Jazz and mention my name, Kayla. ALL THIS TIME, Andrea was standing behind the bar listening. I don't know why she was listening, as she must have known what terrible service she provided. I also know servers have no business behind the bar. I truly hope something is done about this server and the other rude server who was there as well. We left a small tip because I can never bear to leave no tip. I truly am disappointed in this experience and I hope proper action is taken against...

May 2024: Let me preface that our family and friends frequent and support the establishment/chain and go to multiple locations (Chicago, Lansing, Oak Lawn, Orlando, etc) We arrived at this location 9:30pm after we called in to inquire what their wait was looking like since it was a Friday evening. We walked in and got seated immediately with no other wait and with multiple tables open and 6 tops seated with 2-4 people. We asked the host to help us change the channel to watch the games that night and we were instructed to “ask our server”. Who didn’t get over to us for 10/15 mins and had to ask a different server for water who said she would send the server over. We ordered all of our drinks, apps, and meals all at once we did get a server as we got a glimpse of how this may go. We had my a child with us who we ordered a burger and fries. It had been 15/20 mins by the time our drinks (3 draft beers) made it to the table, which by that time we were hoping was the kid’s meal. At that time we requested to expedite the kid’s meal so we could at least feed him. The server came back and said it would be 10 mins. 10/15 mins pass just for her to come back to say that the burger was not even put on the grill. At this point we asked for the manager (Bianca) who stated “she doesn’t even know what’s going on” so she left just to come back with the burger saying “it [the burger] was right there”. No apology. Our food finally comes and the manager (Bianca) has some nerve, with no apology still, to say “it’s Friday we are real busy on the weekends and even busier on Saturdays”. Okay well how busy could it have been when the six high top next to us had not been seated at all for the duration of our visit (1.5 hours) and most of the 6 tops were not filled up. A lot of excuses versus accountability/consideration. As management or owner who read this, your manager may need to go through some hospitality and management training. Kareema was our server who eventually was very apologetic and accommodating which sadly shows that staff needs a lot more support and leadership from their management team. It’s unfortunate that their tips are affected by poor kitchen staff and management.

1/24/25 Update - We returned to this location and had such a wonderful experience. You can tell management has changed and Jas has noticeably turned it around. The kitchen staff was ON POINT TONIGHT. Kitchen staff was making sure food was coming out hot! Star was our server who shined ! And was very attentive and was so pleasant! Always appreciate when I can update a review because credit is due to the right people! Kitchen staff who was on tonight , Star, and Jas restored the standard of...

HORRIBLE HORRIBLE! Everything about this place was HORRIBLE! Table had for sure not been properly wiped or cleaned. Was very sticky and had food crumbs all over it. Entire place had 11 customers (with 7 visible employees) and yet somehow we sat and waited for 15 minutes to be acknowledged. 2 separate groups of people (a group of 4 and separate group of 3 BOTH of which arrived at least 15 minutes AFTER us but somehow received their food WAY before me and my guest) Waited approximately 15 minutes for a beer to arrive and an additional 25 minutes for a small order of wings and crab legs (AFTER 2 other groups that ordered their food 15-20 minutes after we did and somehow received their larger orders WAY before us) FINALLY got our food (crab legs, fries and 10 boneless wings) with no offer of ANY silverware or even an offer of water and were disgusted by the sight of it. (Please see photos) The glass of lemonade had chunks of 'something' floating in it (was NOT pieces of lemon) and there were black spots all over the cup it was in, the cup of 'butter' that came with the crab was utterly disgusting. It had a brown substance at the bottom of the cup and appeared to have been sitting around for a long time (by no means was fresh or even looked to have been prepared that day!) The boneless wings were sitting in a pool of grease and even worse some yellow-ish substance was floating on top of that! 2 of the boneless wings contained no chicken. It was just a mass of greasy fried breaded nothing! Then to top off a horrible dining experience, had to wait forever to get our check. By this point, there were still only about 10 other people in the place and at least 7 employees.

Our experience lasted well into the night and unfortunately the morning as we both suffered lengthy "stomach related issues". How is it possible for a staff of a food establishment be so lacking of ability, common sense, knowledge of food handling and health code laws and procedures, and training? Absolutely unacceptable on so many levels. Zero...