Taco Bell — Restaurant in Columbus

Another edit. The Ups and downs in service level qualities compels me to do so. Depending on the time of week, it can be great, other times really, really bad.

For the most part the best experience is when I speak with a woman who works the window on weekday evenings who has the P's and Q's down pat. Very nice and friendly. Her crew seems to have their stuff down and I haven't had any issues.

Otherwise, here are some things that I have experienced when I visited, usually during lunch hours.

The first:

How on earth can your credit-card machine be routinely be down? Or once, bizarrely, not be able to take cash?

I mean, this is literally the core function to allow the trading of money for goods and services. You need to have a method to do so. What would happen if you couldn't do either? Do you make the employees suffer and lose wages while you get your stuff together. It's unbelievable how often this happens.

I'm not asking for someone to hack off some silver from their bracelet or wait for the ship to arrive at the port or anything. I just need to be able to pay you so I can eat my tacos.

This is on your management team 100%. If you can't take payment then someone needs to be shouting into a phone and making clear to the overlords that Moneytown has closed it's borders.

Second: The "Baja Blast™ Paradox". Your signature drink is somehow not available at times. How? Why? Is there something in it that needs routine FDA approval, and you need to wait for the form to clear? Does the soda machine use rare noble gasses and you have to take a IOU from CERN? What gives?

Third: Dining supplies. Napkins and cups. Not once, but twice I was told you were out of napkins, cups, and I guess weekly inventory checks. This should not be possible.

I guess I could go out of my way and provide you with some cups if it's really that dire. I know they still sell those 90s style pastel neon paint stripes aesthetic ones (you know what I'm talking about) and no one would know the difference. It might even be considered "retro" and get a vid. on Tiktok or something.

Although, you'd need to boon me with free Baja Blast™ for my trouble. If it's in stock that is. I would need a firm handshake. And cash, if that's even available. Who knows though given your track record.

Anyway, I am not throwing any shade to the actual team members who are not management. They don't get paid nearly enough to make it their problem. They do their best, and I'm never going to fault them with this silliness. I get it.

All of these issues can and should be the in the management wheelhouse. Fix your equipment and get your inventory in line please. I just want to pay...

I've never experienced such bad customer service in my life. I interacted with two employees during this nightmare visit. The moment I pulled up to pay, I was never greeted. They were shouting and cursing at each other right in front of me. The first employee took my card, swiped it, and then gave it back. Never ever asked if I wanted any sauce, let alone anything at all. The second worker was a Caucasian woman who had an extremely ominous appearance and was overweight. She seemed to be trying to win over the other employee. Definitely seemed to be a predator.

I only got a Belgrande and paid extra for extra cheese and sour cream. When I went to check my food, it was obviously not what I had ordered. I'm not exaggerating when I say there were approximately 5 chips, no cheese, and half a scoop of sour cream. After waiting at the window for five minutes and trying to grab their attention by honking my horn once, I had to turn back around to the intercom because nobody had came to the window. When I came to the window, the obese white woman grabbed my food and demanded additional payment, despite the fact that I had already done so - she was trying to belittle me to show off in front of the other employee. Even the other employee made an effort to assist by telling her that she knew what my order was and she already knew that I paid extra already. She rolled her eyes, grabbed my bag, and stormed off. After waiting for 15 minutes, fatty returned with my order. Once more, it was incorrect. She merely added shredded cheese and another half a scoop of sour cream.

I tried calling them to make a complaint directly, but they didn't answer. The phone just rings and rings and rings. So, I made an effort to contact the Taco Bell's customer service line. They didn't care and provided no reassurance that it would get looked into. I wouldn't dare order your food from here.

Don't waste your money here. They will...

My complaint is that if you come in and are not aware, you probably won't notice that they have two terminals where they expect you to place your order for your food. And I know it's not just me because the bus stopped just outside on the road and the guy ran in and sat there for a couple minutes waiting for someone to come take his order. And I said I'm sorry but you need to order these terminals... And then someone heard me talking to him and telling him that and they came out and took his order.

So just be aware of that.

I rated the food of five but it's Taco Bell five. Having spent a lot of time in nice Mexican restaurants, it's kind of hard for me to consider Taco Bell real food, but I loved it while I was in college and I suspect it's about the same.

So when I call it a five. What I mean is they took the standard Taco Bell fair and everything looked okay and smelled okay and seemed fresh.

The place was spotless. The soda machines were clean and the soda tasted great which means they are keeping the lines clean and up to date. Clearly someone is cleaning back of the house well because you can see it and everything looked clean there.

So if you like Taco Bell want her in the mood for Taco Bell, this is a great place to stop

I don't usually stop here. I usually go up the road to my favorite Mexican place. Taco Bell cannot compete with that, but Taco Bell is faster and you know what you're getting. And for certain...