A&W Restaurant — Restaurant in Florence

We went here for lunch today 5.19.24 around 3:30. Usually we have a pleasant time and food is fresh. And normally I wouldn't complain. However got our food and my Aunt's fries were cold. So she takes them back up and tries to be discreet with the male worker at the register. She tells them her fries are cold and asked if she can get some fresh fries. Guy literally puts his hands on her food and replies they feel hot to me, and wanted her to take them back. I turned around and said "well they aren't". He grabs the fries and announces loud enough for everyone to hear that "Apparently these fries aren't hot enough for her" very rudely. Come on guy, was it a big deal to get some fresh fries? And who are you to put your grubby hands on someone's food after taking money and so on? Disgusting. Also maybe speak more clearer and not try to pretend you are a radio announcer. Couldn't understand what he was saying. I get they had previously been busy with the Rhody Festival, but that doesn't mean customer service goes out the window. We don't think we will be returning to this establishment. His type of character should not be dealing...

Update 2025. Downgrade. I went back last year for root beer floats. What could possibly go wrong with a root beer float? Food poisoning is what. I had a float on my way back to work. Nothing else. A few hours later, I got the shakes, started sweating, and felt queezy. I barely made it home from work. The end result was vomiting and diarrhea. Previously... Update. I won't downgrade for this (but I should). I haven't been back since mid-March 2020 (weds the 10th or 17th). I stopped in on my way home and ordered a chocolate shake with no whipped cream or cherry. It was delivered with both whipped cream and a cherry. Not that big a deal.. I drove off and started drinking it to discover it was vanilla. I went back and asked for another- chocolate / no whip/ no cherry. I drove off and started drinking it only to discover they'd simply added chocolate and beat everything into it- including the cherry. Cherry chunks were blocking the straw. Yes I returned again and had another made. What if I had been allergic to cherries? Somebody's laziness could have sent me to...

While the food is pretty good, the place is horribly dirty. Our table was greasy and had crumbs on it from previous customers, the seats in our booth also had food debris and the floor throughout was gross with huge, filthy spots.

To access the restroom you have to go outside and around the back of the building. The restroom was dirty and in really bad shape with old fixtures, poor lighting and a toilet that made me feel dirtier after using it.

I think A&W relies heavily on the novelty of beving a drive-in (not a drive through, but a drive-in like Sonic, where you order from your car and they bring it to you) so the interior has been neglected to the point that it looks like they have just given up on it.

The only reason I can see to go here (and the only reason we did) was for a root beer float. And considering how nasty the place is, it's not worth it. Next time I'll go McDonald's or Dairy Queen and settle for a...