Cook Out — Restaurant in Durham

Yesterday on my lunch break I was really hungry looking forward to my meal. Today was a different atmosphere and I had to contact corporate from disrespectful and inappropriate behavior from the manager on shift at 12:06 pm when I arrived to the window to get my order. I had two orders a bbq sandwich, fries, and drink only( not double fries) for my co -worker who gave me her last $20 today. I also had a order for myself and my other co-worker. I ordered a bbq tray with hush puppies and nuggets and a large lemonade( not bbq tray with hush puppies and fries) seasoned fries and oreo shake( for my co-worker). I arrived at the window told the young lady I wanted to pay $20 for the first order( not my money) $7.98and pay with my card for second order $14.30. Well the manager without permission used my card to pay the first order after she was instructed to use for second order. Then she used my co-worker $20 to pay the second order. So I the manager on duty Brittany she stated gave me back $5.20. I asked where is my change from the $20. She stated I used it for the second order and my card for 1st( not listening and I gave good details). She was very rude gave me another $1.00. Didnt apologize and I told her I needed my change for my co-worker. She stated I am the only english speaking person in here. I sat there waiting for my change and to see if she can fix the mistake she made. She told the young lady shut the window she will leave I do not have time for this. I am sitting calmly trying to figure out how the mix up happened and I was in full detail. I honked the horn asked is she the manager she said yes. Kept giving me receipts out the window and rolling her eyes. I said I need your boss she call corporate the number is on the cup they will give your money back tomorrow and can you please leave still rolling her eyes. I left realized she gave only the tea, two trays in the bag, and a bag of unseasoned fries. I went back in said you forgot my lemonade and oreo shake and again I need corporate number. She slammed my drinks on the counter and walked away making a sound under her breath. At this point I am wondering what I did wrong nothing but go to one of my favorite restaurants hungry. I called corporate because when I got back to work all the food was wrong, no straws, napkins, Ketchup,etc. The corporate number I called asked did we want a voucher we said no all three of us was unsatisfied. The lady called back saying the dm said he gave you money back. I said yes $6.20 and I told her I still want a refund and we all agreed we will not eat at this location or cook out no more. We all were hungry and the food was wrong. So I requested the dm reprimand the manager for her inappropriate unprofessional behavior: shutting windows, saying she will leave, slamming drinks down, rolling eyes. She never apologized and was very rude. I requested the dm get back with me and the lady on the phone from corporate stated he is very busy and will get back with you. I need the dm to get back with asap and to speak to regional. I did nothing wrong but go t the restaurant wanting my food. I need action taken and the manager to take her time listen, be more professional, not get me out the way but help me resolve the issue, act like a manager who cares about customers. This was very frustrating and I feel uncalled for. The whole store had one english speaking person in the store. I understand wanting to move the drive thru line but she never took the time to listen and was unprofessional. I am a manager and teacher I know how to be professional and help resolve issues not act out of character. I was not rude to her and held my peace I felt she needed just take her time and all this could have been avoided. I feel the manager should be more polite and called yesterday and did file a complaint. Customer service is #1 and I was treated badly. I had to discard my food and was hungry all day until I clocked out. I need the dm and regional to get back with me asap. I was told the dm is very busy and will get back...

Went to this location to get my children food. Handed the girl working the dr thu a $100 dollar bill. She then kept asking questions. She ask to see my milkshake back.. asked to repeat my order...all while eating oinion rings. An conversating with her coworker about the gentleman that was placing his order. So finally after 10mins an being completely sidetracked. She hands me my order an says have a good night sir. I pull off get 3mins down the street to get gas realize I have no money an that she had forgot to give me my change. I went directly back to the store. An politely informed the girl from the drive thru. That she had forgotten to give my change...which see hastily replied OHH YES I DID TOO. LET ME GET MY MANAGER. after 5min the manager came to the door an immediately said there was witnesses that seen the girl hand me my money. An that I was lieing. I simply asked if she could possibly watch the video or count the register to which she said ha she was not going to stop what she was doing to count the draw because there was customers. That If I wanted to I could wait till 330 when they close to for her to count the draw. An there was no access to the video. So after setting around for the police till 215am. I was told by the officer to return when the day shift manager was there an see what was said. So the next day I return spoke to a manager who told me it had nothing to do with her. Ok I said I called corporate an after a few days back an forth with them was told to return 7pm Friday that the district manager was meeting me there to resolve the issue.

So 650pm Friday I'm there walk in an its the same girl working the front register that was working drive thru the night of the incident...an was told the regional manager wasn't there an he would not be showing up...OK I SAID TO MYSELF. WALKED OUT CALLED THE REGIONAL OFFICE WAS TOLD. She was calling the RM an would call me right back. 15min later no call no RM. I look up an standing at the door was the manager from the night of the the incident that had called me a lier.. waving money at me....I walked over to her thinkin WOW WHAT A SMACK IN THE FACE. An this Bch has the audacity to snobb me an roll her eyes with not even an apology. I'm absolutely disgusted with the level of blatant disrespect I've received during this whole situation. An the level of professionalism from the regional manager. An it really wasn't just about being robbed for my hard earned money. It was more so the principal of being called a lier an the accusations of me just tryna to pull a fast one ..... an the fact the same employees are still working. Especially the girl at the register. I should have not had to fight for MY MONEY. An what about the all the others they have pulled this scheme on that just let it go. I will never return to a cookout. An I will be sure to try my hardest to convince everyone I know to no longer shop with this restaurant. I will be contacting The BBB as well as...

I just. Where do I begin? 🤬😩😔😞🙍‍♀️. How did we get to such a bad place? I wish there were negative reviews to choose. Cook out could be really good if anyone who worked there gave a hoot.

Late night? Go to Waffle House instead. Trust me on this. It will be grease soaked and terrible of course. But at least there is no need to worry about your hungry anticipation becoming anger and disappointment. An ER visit maybe. But at least their staff has always been pretty nice. At least they haven’t been jerks. And no I don’t have any fiduciary connection to Waffle House.

Here at Cook Out they’re uniformly jerks. Like they went to school for it or something. They are just jerks and not interested in doing a good job at all. Everything in the environment let’s you (the customer) know that you are not important to them in any way.

Their food used to be halfway decent for fast food. Back when you could place an order. Back then once you placed your order there was an odd chance it would even maybe come out correctly. It’s true. Now? Never. Maybe it will be okay you hope as you witness the chaos unfurling around you. But it isn’t and it won’t. And then your previously cool night is ruined and you’re writing a review at 3 in the morning. Don’t let this happen to you.

Waffle House at least doesn’t dangle the unreachable prospect of decent food at you whilst ensuring it’s always just out of reach like this joint Cook Out does. At least their employees aren’t jerks. And there isn’t godawful contemporary Christian music blaring while your anger escalates. And then the ubiquitous tipping we have to do for terrible service and terrible incorrect food! Grrrrrrrr!!!! 😡! It’s maddening.

If I were the owner here I would just go directly to Mexico or Honduras and bring a whole truckload of people back with me, pay them each $20 an hour to start, and not even bother trying with any workers from around Durham. Cook out isn’t the only place with this problem around here; It’s pervasive. But, that owner would make a fortune.

The current employees can’t or won’t do their jobs. They suck. Every single time they suck. Before Covid they sucked. During Covid they were even worse. And now their pandemic business model has become permanent for this location. Who cares? Nobody. Why bother? Good question. It’s like your own old teenage/high school fast food job was been turned into a horror film nightmare! Not a bad dream my friend. BGawd I hope my kids aren’t like this. I’d kill myself.

It really is too bad. They had pretty good milkshakes. If you could ever get one. Nothing lasts forever I suppose

Oy vey! Stay away and just go home. You probably don’t need the extra calories...