Smokin Chikin — Restaurant in Clarksville

We ate at the Sango location tonight and thought it was going to be a good experience. The girl (dark hair and glasses) who we ordered our food with was great. It was our first time eating here and had a few questions about the sauces and sides (we have picky kids). She answered all of our questions and was extremely helpful and she turned the TV onto the football game that I wanted to watch. After that it started going downhill. We arrived an hour before closing and ordered our food to dine in. The girl who brought our order out to us (different person than who we ordered with) gave it to us "to go" which I thought was not really a big deal, she said she had just misread the ticket. Our sauces that we ordered were not included so I went back up to the front counter. All of the employees were in the kitchen area talking. While I waited 5 minutes for someone to notice that I was up front I heard the girl who brought our food out saying how she wanted to "be outta here at 9". I opened and closed the front door to trigger the bell so that someone would come and help me. I was given my sauces and sat down to eat. The food was good (fries a little cold from sitting there, but chicken was good). Before closing, the same girl who wanted to be out at 9 and gave me the food to go came out and turned off the tvs (that I was watching) and started closing the dining room. She put away the tea without asking if thats what we were drinking, and was dragging and stacking the chairs by the exit door (making a lot of noise). The menu signs behind the counter were even turned off. Again, the restaurant was still open. I used to wait tables in college so I could understand some of this if we walked in 10 minutes before closing. We arrived an hour before close. I dont normally write reviews, but my wife and I were really put off by the experience. It was very clear that the girl (without glasses) was trying to shoo us out from the minute our food was ready so she could get on with her Saturday night. We even tipped, which makes the rudeness of this person even worse. Maybe the manager wasn't there, or maybe they don't care about how their employees conduct business around closing time near paying customers. Im not sure. Owner/managers, if you don't want customers in your restaurant till closing, then close earlier. If you do want customers,then hire some new people (like the girl with glasses) who want to work for their paycheck and be helpful...

We have eaten at both places and usually have no complaints. The exit 11 location is close to our home and have been there several times in the last few weeks. Yesterday we did take out, when we got home we were disappointed with our order. I went back to the store and spoke to the person behind the counter. He said he was going to bring somebody out to talk to me. A few minutes later a gentleman came out, I explained the issues i had with my order and he agreed, it was not to their standard. He apologized and asked if he could redo the order and make things right. I said that would be fine. A short time later he brought the order out to me and apologized again. I have no complaints on how they handled it, and they made up for me having to drive back. I forgot to ask his name and went back inside. I was told his name was John, i was surprised that he was not the manager but a long time employee. I don't know what happened in the kitchen, new or short help something else with everything that's going on. But, John knocked it out of the park with his response to my concerns, we will go back, great save.

After reading some reviews I have a few things to suggest. Speak to them if you have an issue or concern. They do customer service well. I have tried better than half of the chicken flavors, and no I do not like all of them, some do seem salty or over powering to me. However you can ask them for a sample of the sauce to see if it's for you. Its best if you eat there, as sometimes it can get a bit soggy (bread, fries, etc.) if it takes a while to get home, or ask for seperate containers. They will give you some extra sause if you ask for...

2 days ago I purchased some smokin chicken, bc i LOVE the barbque chicken meal. WelI get it home, I don't eat it right away- when I got to tear into it, I noticed there was a piece of hair down inside the sauce on the chicken. Shit happens, right. Ok cool, so i call them and they tell me the ONLY way they are willing to help me is if I BRING THE MEAL BACK TO THE RESTAURANT. 😳 this is bc "a lot of people have been complaining about their food." Initially I agreed and then I thought about it more. I live 15 mins away from them and had NO dinner and then I have to prove that I'm not lying by bringing the meal back? Yea, no that is terrible inconvenient customer service. It will be a very long time before I patronize this business again, if ever. So be sure to examine your food before you leave! Or you will be shit outa luck unless you are willing to bring the food back to them.

I will say the Lead on nights was very nice and apologetic- and it's not his fault. But the GM seems to think that requiring people to drive all the way back there to get replacement meal, is a good idea. It's not- very inconvenient for the consumer. All i wanted was a credit so I could literally buy my same meal at a later time. If "a lot of ppl are complaining" maybe something should change internally not externally for the consumer. Just a thought.

Update 1/24/25: the GM called me personally and decided to make it right. That is really appreciated! I will be by Smokin Chickin tomorrow to get another meal from them. I am very appreciative of them taking care of...