Hooters — Restaurant in Concord

I went to Hooters in Concord, NC, tonight on 10/26/24 around 8pm. I was with 2 other people, and we stood waiting to be seated for about 6-7 mins. One of the waitresses looked at us and just walked by without saying a word. At this moment, I felt the atmosphere shift as if we were unwanted guests. After finally being seated, we ordered our drinks, and our waitress dashed to a table near the bar area to entertain her other guests. Laughter and smiles illuminated the area. After patiently waiting on our drinks, our waitress (Saliah) came by our table hastily and placed our drinks at our table and dashed away to comfort the other guests as she saw fit. I started talking to my other two friends who accompanied me at the restaurant and noticed other groups of people coming in to be waited on, and their wait time in line was much quicker. The first group of people waited for 2 minutes, and the second group of people waited 1 minute before being seated. The funny thing was the same waitress that we saw, who bypassed us was really eager to help these other people to their tables. Something didn't seem right. I asked my friends whom I was with if they noticed a difference in the treatment that the other guests were receiving, and everyone said, Yes! Disappointing! Our waitress finally comes back to our table to take our food order. After our order was taken. We waited for our waitress to come back to check on us, but she never did. I then took it upon myself to walk to the bar and order me another drink since my waitress was still too busy entertaining the other guests she fancied. As I made it back to my table with my drink in my hand, the waitress came rushing to the table to explain that she was in the bathroom and was coming. Excuses! At this point, I was really frustrated at the way we were being treated as paying customers. It's really unprofessional! I then asked the waitress (Rakel), who bypassed us when we 1st arrived if I could speak with the manager. Rakel asked if she could finish putting in an order first, and I replied sure! I went back to my table to wait on our food, which took 38 mins, and still no manager appeared. Before finishing our food, we noticed the guests who were seated really quickly after our arrival handed their food shortly after our food arrived. Wow! And we had to wait 38 mins for our food to come. After we paid for our meals I asked to speak with the manager one last time and Mr. Marcus appeared. I explained to him how we as paying guests were really Dissatisfied by the customer service in this restaurant and never had this type of treatment, which I've dined with them on several other occasions, but the customer service was never awful! The Manager (Marcus )said he saw me go to the bar to get a drink and was wondering what was going on. But, he never once approached me to find out anything! After I finished telling him how Dissatisfied I was, the only thing he could come up with was to give us a free dessert since we already paid for our food. We declined his pitiful offer and left. I felt as if the manager really wasn't concerned about how my friends and I were treated at this establishment, and his staff could care less. Really disappointing experience tonight. A waste of my time and money as well as my friends. This used to be a great spot to dine, but I will definitely be going elsewhere. Fyi: Looks can be deceiving! I always tip where I go! But, tonight was the 1st time ever I didn't leave a tip. No one should be treated like they are an outcast and overlooked! Horrible experience by far!

In response to the owner, I already put my review on your feedback website about Hooters, and the only response I got was sorry about...

We got to Hooters (first time at this location bc we were out of town and only had an hour back home) at around 9:20 pm - with a 4 and a 5 year old. The hostess told us that it would only be a 15 min wait and that were fine with that, as we had planned and prepared to have a later dinner because of our plans for the day; however, after waiting for about 35 minutes (more than double what she told us and no communication or apologizes or accommodations in between) we finally received a call that our table was ready (at 10 at night!) At this point we were all starving and IF WE had made the choice and we left to go to another restaurant, everything else sit down wise would have been closed by the time we left hooters and made it anywhere else. If we make the choice of fast food it would either extremely inconvenient with kids at night mainly because driving an SUV an hour home with food flying everywhere and they can’t see their food and lights on in the car at night is illegal and isn’t very safe to begin with. Thinking back maybe If we werent in a bad area (not from here, again) and even opted to pick up fast food from drive thru which would be last and only other option and then picnic in car while parked so it wouldn’t be dangerous in terms of driving hazards but I wasn’t thinking that far ahead at that particular moment .

I also missed the part wheremy daughter has a brain condition and we have to worry about ALL levels in her body at all times and we were worried about her staying hydrated bc it was a hot day that day so after waiting atleast 20 of those minutes (we technically should have been sat by now for about 5 mins according to her time) I asked if I could just go ahead and get her kids meal drink since we are still waiting and it’s almost 10 at night. She asked if I would rather have a bottle instead and i said to her if that would be more convenient and help you then that’s fine and SHE ACTUALLY MADE ME PAY $3.and some change. Can’t remember exactly! Not only that but her 2nd drink was added to our bill; which really made me angry. I’ve never worked or been to a restaurant where I’ve been in a situation and needed something for my child and was treated like “too extra” or like the customers needs DIDNT MATTER A BIT. In my day and age we were told “you take care of the customer and the customers always right and priority.” I left feeling the complete opposite! The hostess wasn’t busy at this time either (when I asked for a kids drink) the restaurant was half full and MANY tables open bc of the lack of employees wanting to work at EVERY restaurant, so I know that I understand that and that’s why I waited to voice my opinion.

My husband didn’t say anything about his wings being sub par bc it was too late and ready to get out but he said he has had better almost anywhere, they weren’t cooked very long. My girls and I loved our meals so I couldn’t complain ab the chicken fingers!!!!!!!!

Long story short, we were very disappointed and wouldn’t want anyone to feel as small as we did that night& waste as much money for a bad experience ($70 bill plus 20% tip and in which didnt include ANY alcohol or appetizers. BUT did include an upcharge for all sauces!) Insane!

I apologize for the length, I just like to be thorough when I very rarely feel the need to post...

Usually, when I come to hooters the service is good! Whether it is take-out or dine-in but last night I went and the customer service was terrible. There were no hostess at the front so we opted for the bar. It was an hour before close and we sat down for 15 minutes before being acknowledged then another 15 before we got a menu. Then we place our drink orders and our food at the same time and it takes another 15 before we get our drinks. Mind you we had to ask another bartender aside from the one that took our order to make our drinks. Then the drink was terrible, it tasted like cough syrup. I opted to get the pink passion to support breast cancer thank god it was a great cause or I would have returned the drink due to the distaste of it. I also watched the bartender concoct the drink throwing random juices in the drink that were not listed as the ingredients. Then as we are sitting at the bar there is this long spill of liquid which the bartender maybe missed both parties sitting uncomfortably away from the substance we still had to request for it to be wiped as she slings the dirty rag near the drinks she just placed down. Finally I got my food and too my displeasure my fries were cold that cost me $4 of cold fries . I took my food to go and my displeasure with it. if I could rate this experience a zero I would because this was beyond the worse customer service I have experienced in a long time. I understand closing. I work in customer service myself but with an hour of business and paying customers you should have a little more consideration had I not been so hungry and pissed off I would have requested management. I usually don't even write reviews especially to a place I used to frequent so often but in this instance I had to share my...