Panda Express — Restaurant in Colorado

First time at this Panda Express. First thing I noticed were several serving bowls with nothing, or almost nothing in them. Two of the three are what I always order, Lo Me in and Super Greens, the third was a premium beef protein. Shrimp was really low too. Beijing Beef was st about 59% and looked like it had been there a while and because I was in for a long wait I did notice nobody seemed to be stirring the food bowls periodically. When I asked the server how long it would be for Lo Mein he said 10-15 minutes and Super Greens 5 -10 minutes. From what I observed while waiting there was one person cooking. At the Parker Panda I regularly visit there is always two coking and sometimes a third. This store seemed to have a very busy drive through line and only a few dine-in customers. I can't imagine waiting in my car as long as I waited to dine-in, but maybe people were just making alternative choices after being told certain dishes would be an extended wait. Once freshly cooked Lo Mein and Super Greens were available I approached the counter and ordered. My typical order is a plate with 1/2 Lo Mein 1/2 Super Greens, Broccoli Beef, and Beijing Beef. I don't eat chicken. I avoided the Beijing Beef as it was looking all stuck together from sitting there so long without being refreshed and grabbed the remainder of what was left in the bottom of the Broccoli Beef bowl and a premium beef. The Super Greens were only partially cooked which was not terrible because they are raw vegetables being stir fried. My concern is that they were rushed from the stir fry line to get them out there rather than giving them the extra minute or two to soften up a little more. I'm not accusing the cook of doing this, just saying the Broccoli part of the Super Greens were very tough to bite through, but still delicious. As always at Panda the food was delicious and hot. The servers were friendly and attentive to everyone considering they had to repeatedly say there would be a wait. The young lady handling drive through on her own seemed stressed, but was really doing a masterful job keeping orders organized and asking for other servers to help plate and box food when it got hectic. From this long post it should be evident how long I waited and observed the restaurant's operation, approx 20 minutes. Worth the wait, but with a drive through as busy as I observed is say two cooks in the kitchen would be...

Manager Vanessa, maybe the GM, was extremely rude in her tone, her overall demeanor was uninviting.

You have a new hot orange chicken and I asked if I could taste it. She immediately snapped back (without cause) “no we don’t do samples”. I was caught off guard and simply asked why, and her response was that they didn’t do samples since Covid. It’s weird as I have had absolutely no issues trying something since Covid at various Panda locations.

Other statements were “it’s very hot” and I said to her “well if I don’t like it, you’ll still replace it then?” to which she replied “No, because I told you it was very hot”

Now maybe Vanessa believes she can read minds because my worry wasn’t heat but taste. I like hot foods but sometimes making something hot also makes it not taste the best. Example Nashville Hot Chicken, I’ve had the hottest but don’t like the flavor at all it’s not a good trade. The less hot versions taste better to me. Same with hot sauces.

I also mentioned to her that everyone’s pallets are different and what one find’s “very hot” another may find to be very mild, as in this case. This was definitely not “very hot” and simply a lil spicy (to me) no runny nose or little sweat beads etc.

Vanessa simply needs to learn how to respond appropriately to customers and not assume she knows the concern.

Anyway, the food was good, service was horrible. Also when I asked for her name and mentioned how rude she was her employees didn’t defend her at all if you get what I’m saying. It seems to be a common theme. Maybe the 2.7 rating on Google relays...

Don’t go here! I now know why there’s all these 1-star reviews. Most unfriendly staff I’ve ever experienced in any restaurant. Used the drive thru, there was only 1 car ahead of me and 1 car behind me, no cars in the parking lot, so definitely not busy, when it was my vehicle’s turn to order, the staff member told me to wait, a few minutes passed until she was ready to take my order. I simply ordered 2 of the same bowl (Beyond Orange Chicken with chow mein) and 1 of a different kind of bowl (Original Orange Chicken with chow mein). Easy enough, right? She attempted to repeat my order back to me, in broken / poor / unclear English, but it was not what I ordered. I said, ‘no’, I don’t understand what you said, but to be clear, I want 2 of the Beyond Orange Chicken bowls with chow mein, and 1 Original Orange Chicken bowl with chow mein. She again attempted to repeat my order back to me, and said something like that’s a plate with a side, and we will charge you for the extra serving of chicken. I said ‘no’, I don’t understand, here’s what I want … She then said she has the right not to serve me, not to take my order. She then repeated my order back to me correctly, and I confirmed it was correct. She told me to pull up to the window. She didn’t say a word to me during the payment process, slammed the window closed, and then stormed off somewhere else in the restaurant. I didn’t eat the food, which was for me and my kids, as I was afraid she spit in it or something else. I’ll never return here and I’ll tell everyone I know not to patron...