Twisted Taco — Restaurant in Conway

In general, have always loved this place, and I remember how friendly the workers were. Last visit was incredibly disappointing, however, and has prompted me to knock this down by a few stars as one of the new workers has been INCREDIBLY unprofessional for seemingly no reason, this last time especially. When the other worker was scooping up my beans, he hit the scoop's handle and caused her to spill some, also causing some beans to spill into the rice. He laughed hysterically about this. This was slightly annoying, seeing as it delayed my order slightly, but I figured it was only a few seconds. Unfortunately, he'd go on to repeatedly focus more on chatting with her instead of doing his job. This was one of the more minor things mostly, but it wasn't really "chit-chat while working" and more "loudly talking to the other waiter while she tries to work" sort of thing. More concerning though, he was whispering something to her, and while I didn't hear ALL of it due to initial lack of focus, it also wasn't actually that quiet and I was completely jostled out of my thoughts when I clearly heard him say that someone "won't know the difference", which is really worrying to say the least. When he went to ask for my toppings I told him sour cream and shredded cheese, and he asked me "That's it? JUST sour cream and cheese?" I repeated yes, and he asked me AGAIN. Apparently I'm too stupid to know what I want. Not only that, but this is something he did the last time I was here too, which made it even more tiring than it would have been otherwise. I told him "yes" again, not even bothering to hide the exasperation in my tone at this point, but didn't say anything else. He asked me something (I believe he asked again if I wanted chicken?), and I gave an absentminded "Mhm", which wasn't even prompted by annoyance or anything, that's literally just a default shorthand "yes" I tend to automatically give sometimes. He responded by telling me that my food is coming in a chiding voice, as if I had been super unreasonable or something. I didn't even say anything about having to wait. Heck, I didn't even THINK much about having to wait other than the thing with the beans, especially considering I've gone to pizza places fairly frequently. I never said anything at all in fact, all I did was sound justifiably put out. Excuse me if I was getting a bit irritated. I'm tired, (have BEEN tired and low on sleep this whole week in fact), hungry, and have homework coming up really soon on my plate, and I just want to get my food and go home. I didn't go here have to deal with an increasingly passive-aggressive person disrupting my order and then treating me like an idiot. In fact, I was being as patient as possible and made it a point to never outright verbally complain once throughout the entire thing. I was asked if I wanted a drink, and after saying no, he asked me "Are you suuuuuuuuure?" in this weird condescending voice. At this point I started wondering if he was trying to treat me like a moron, pressure me into buying more, or both. Still don't know. Don't appreciate it either way. When gave me my food, he thanked me and wished me a nice day, which I know SOUNDS polite and is indeed something I would normally appreciate, but the thing is that it wasn't in a genuinely friendly way, but with a blatantly fake, exaggerated "happy" voice and smile that sounded forced at best, and smug and sarcastic at worst. I'll give the other worker props though, she wasn't like this and seemed like she was actually focusing on my order. Do wish she didn't humor the other guy, though, but I digress.

I'll reiterate that I've seen some genuinely friendly people of all sorts working here at the Twisted Taco. They were helpful, polite, friendly, SINCERELY sociable with customers, and above all respectful towards them. I got none of that tonight. Here's hoping my food wasn't messed up. To paraphrase one Sir Reviewbrah - "My disappointment is immeasurable, and my night is ruined."

And to whoever the manager here is, I do sincerely hope you see...

The first thing I want to say is that they had a new employee with a Pizza Hut shirt on, I think his name was Crunk (or Crump), and he was excellent for our group, friendky and helpful. Unfortunately he had a manager on duty, Benn, who was not so great. First we came in as a group of five and the rest of our larger group hadn't arrived yet. This wasn't a problem because you order person by person and you pay person by person, with open seating. I first noticed Benn when he came out with a container of chips and told crunk that that was all they had. I heard that from just behind the glass. I would have been the first one to order, but I'd never been there so I was looking at the vegetarian options and let someone order ahead of me. She gave Crunk her order, and he started to make it and near finish, Ben took over and had all these questions about what she ordered. The questions weren't the issue, it was that she wanted extra meat, and said she understood that it would be extra, but Benn insisted that the thing was usually made only one way until saying he would have to charge her extra, which she already said and understood. He didn't really look at her, moved curtly, and had a visable attitude. While I was looking, I was like, "oh they have tofu; that's what I'll get." Crunk said almost immediately, "I'm sorry we don't have any tofu." When I said "okay" he then explained that they don't carry tofu in the months that students aren't there. So then I said I was getting the shrimp. Crunk shook his head, said he had to go in the back and came back out and said that there wasn't any shrimp either. Around that time about four or six more people walked in. Only one person from our group had been fully served and paid. Benn said to Crunk, which again I could hear, "I can tell you right now we don't have enough food to serve these people." He said it with an attitude and as if he was annoyed we'd chosen Twisted Taco for lunch. I ended up ordering after a second person because I had to regroup. She ordered something simple and Crunk started making her dish and Ben took it from him , so he started making mine. Ben took that from him, and started it all over once he realized what I ordered because he was confused. Now I will say, once been started asking questions and preparing my order his attitude was calmer, but he still had one. He cashed me out and proceeded to help with the remaining customers. They took a whike to get through the customers, and you could see Crunk on the line. Sometime after I sat down, whole there were still 7 people in line, more had come in not with our group, we noticed Benn come out to the fountain and grab a drink and go to the back. We don't know what was going on, but it appeared that he left the new employee on the line alone, backed up to go to the back. When more from our group sat down, they all commented on Benn's attitude and demeanor. We all agreed to submit reviews through theit QR solicitation. I also review on Google. So here are my thoughts, if you disregard the not so great service from the manager, the employee that greeted and helped us, Crunk, was polite and friendly. Everyone really liked their food from all sides of the table after we all sat down. I wasn't particularly happy about having to only get nachos and veg, but i was offered black beans and that was a good protein sub. It does bother me that the two non meat protein options outside of beans were not carried because students aren't at the school. Students and young adults aren't the only people who are vegetarians pescatarians are vegans. The atmosphere and the restaurant was pretty chill too , there was only two other tables and it was fairly quiet until us. Unfortunately, they must not have been informed of the not one but at least two groups visiting the campus for the week, ours with almost 200 people. And we shared our experiences with...

1st time in this place. Food was very good, had a steak bowl. Employee's were all very nice. We were the only customers at 11:15. Took a couple of minutes for the prep person to get to us, manager (who was in the eating area on the phone) let us know someone would be with us in a minute. Two employees working the line (one on register (eventually), one on prep). Got our food within expected time. Didn't take Discover or AMEX, they do have signs at register stating ONLY VISA/MASTERCARD (may have that info at the door, but didn't notice if it was), luckily I had cash. Only one napkin was given with the meal, if there was a dispenser it must not have been put out in the dining area or it too was restricted by their "COVID policy". The portion size compared to price was pitiful. What $12.50 got me here will never bring me back again. Comparing to locally owned Don Pepe's, $10.00 there will give you enough that you might have enough left over for lunch the next day. You can definitely tell they are watching their food cost EXTREMELY close, possibly cause they aren't doing as much business as Don's. Happy and full customers bring in lots more folks by word of mouth and Google reviews, just saying. Their tea was not out with the rest of their drinks for refills, you have to ask for a refill of that (soda comes from a machine with the touchscreen for multiple choice of soda). You will get a new cup for tea as they will not touch your used drink cup as it's their "COVID safety policy" (and yet the touchscreen for soda?????). Also their "COVID safety policy" of come IN one door, leave OUT the other door was a bit annoying and seemingly overdoing it, but we complied none the less. Larger businesses don't seem to follow the same rule (wal-mart, car parts stores, other restaurants), so this was just icing on the cake for me for this place. They did have FOXnews on one of the TV's which was a bit of a confusing message by all the "COVID Policies" in place. I can see the draw for some students who can afford the place due to it being on campus and close also due to the alcohol they sell there, but outside of that, I can't really say I'll be suggesting this...