Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen — Restaurant in Florida

I love Popeyes chicken, their sides, and their biscuits. They are the best in the business, hands down. But this particular Popeyes located at US-301 in Ellenton, FL is the worst Popeyes (maybe even the worst restaurant) I've ever experienced. They are SOOOOOO slow, there is no sense of urgency at all. The customer is a chore that they have to deal with, instead of a valued commodity that they should be striving to return visit. I've been to this Popeyes location many times over the past couple of years since they opened, but my visits keep getting further and further apart until I'm afraid I will have to abandon this location altogether.

I ordered using the app). I chose the drive-thru to pick up my order. When I arrived at the restaurant, there were many cars ahead of me in the drive-thru line (which doesn't surprise me, since I know how slow this location is). I waited patiently, but the cars were just not moving. I debated whether or not to just park and go inside to pick up my order, but since I had indicated drive-thru when I ordered in the app, I decided not to "mess them up" by throwing them a curveball. Finally after 10 minutes (yes, I timed it), when I got to the drive-thru speaker, I told them I had an online order for , and they said I would have to come inside to pick it up! You can imagine my frustration at this point. I clarified with the lady that even though I ordered my food in the app and specifically selected drive-thru and that this was a personal order (i.e. not a Door Dash, etc), that I still have to come inside to get it? She said (very rudely), "ALL MOBILE ORDERS MUST COME INSIDE TO PICK THEM UP!" Absolutely terrible customer service! I went inside (which I could have done 10 minutes ago, but I was being nice to them... big mistake), and there were four or five customers in front of me. (Did I mention how slow this location is?) In fact, the customer in front of me, who also had a mobile order to pick up, asked a question about strawberry biscuits, and the manager literally got into an argument with the customer, saying that they don't honor national advertising or online advertising. Just awful! (Manager was tall, young black man with dreads... did not catch his name.)

When it's finally my turn, I let them know I had a mobile order, and they "checked me in" at that time. What is the point of mobile ordering if I have to check in and then they make my food? I already paid for the food in the app, they should begin making the food, or allow me to check-in via the app and then start making my food.

Lastly, when my order was ready, the lady placed it on the counter and did not acknowledge me or even look at me, so I was not sure if that bag of food was mine. So I continued to patiently stand there (I dare not ask about my order, for fear of getting my head bitten off). Finally, after a few more minutes, the lady looked at me and said, "did you get your order?" I said that I was still waiting on it, and she said, "Oh, it's right here." More wasted time. Lack of personal attention. She did not call me by name (which I know is a thing that they strive to have the workers do). She, and the entire staff, clearly did not care about me at all and did NOTHING to make me feel like a welcomed customer.

I ordered my meal at 1:54pm, and I did not get my food and get out of there until 2:28pm! UNACCEPTABLE!

I hope someone from corporate reads this, and I beg you, please... send someone down to this location and just observe them for 1 day, especially during the lunch shift. The management needs to be replaced by someone who understands that customers come first, ALWAYS!

This location does not represent the good name of Popeyes, and I sincerely think someone from corporate should look into this, as it's going to give the chain a very bad reputation.

To their credit, the order was prepared properly, and the food was delicious, as always. But the overall ordering and pickup experience...

Be patient and read my whole review please…

I am an ex restaurant employee of 20 years in all levels of concepts I have been visiting differently Popeyes for 40 years

I don’t leave negative reviews because everyone has an off experience and there can be 20 good things and one bad and people will focus on the bad

I arrived on a Thursday afternoon, in summertime, after lunch rush. Not at night, during season or a Sunday.

I have tried this location once and a year and had bad experiences. Today is the worst.

Corporate????? Are you reading all of these bad reviews????? Do you care?????

I used to think Bradenton location was the worst. No. It’s this one. Why??? Let’s talk about that.

New facility, about 3 years old now. Building and location are fine. This store could be doing BIG volume and making BIG money for you. It’s not, wanna know why? Read the reviews…….. Management, is it pay? Culture? Something else?

I submitted a mobile order thru the app to try to lessen the wait I knew was coming.

I was 3rd in the drive thru line. First car took 10 minutes to take their order. Than 5 minutes for the 2 nd car. So obviously, the window position was taking one order at a time. I was 3 rd and the app gave me a code. Like other mobile apps do at fast food restaurants. I was told to come inside. Ok, 15 minutes gone. I came inside to wait another 10 to talk to someone. There were 4 employees inside. The place was dirty. 4 sets of people were waiting for their orders. The closing checklist from last night was on the order counter from last night. After 10 minutes, they found my mobile order and started it. I assume the manager was working the window and front register. She had time to make herself a drink and talk to 3 sets of people who appeared to be off duty employees. N sense of urgency or concern for speed. She was well trained and knew her job. Is she getting support? We have many busy fast food restaurants n the area. I understand the challenges. By the time I got my food, it as cold but the order was correct. It took 45 minutes from me placing the mobile order in the parking lot to returning to my car. I read other reviews about locked lobby or closed drive through or closed early. This all screams short staffed. But why??? All the other restaurants have the same challenges. I have never waited half as long at those locations. Or at any other Popeyes…..in 40 years. If you are a franchise, area supervisor….where are you???????? You haven’t solved problems here for 3 years. If you are corporate store, you need to address these problems. You are losing BIG money! The customers are here and your sales could be HUGE and this location. Please fix it now!!!!!!

The food is mostly frozen and it’s not that hard! The product is there, the advertising dollars are spent, the million dollar facility is good you just need to fix the operations of this location. I could fix this place in 2 weeks…… please address these operational problems NOW air the community will give up on you. Ask the 2 McDonalds down the street how their sales are. See you in another year. Hope you...

I try to support businesses in my neighborhood, however, this Popeyes always seemed to get my order wrong. On Monday, March 20, 2023, I ordered a classic chicken sandwich, fish sandwich and a large cold slaw. The young lady who took my order, provided good customer service and was using two registers as not to hold up the car line. My order was brought to the drive through window by a female manager. I asked if the chicken sandwich was not spicy. ( I have colon issues and can’t eat spicy food.) This has been one of the mistakes in the past. The manager seemed to be insulted by my questioning my order and snapped “Check the bag”. I then said “Checking the bag won’t help. The only way to really know is if I bite into the sandwich.” She then proceeded raise her voice with much attitude and continued to only say “Check the bag lady”. I pulled out a bag which had “chicken” on it and saw at the very bottom the word “Classic” had been marked on the bottom. I tried to explain that this had happened before and the sandwich was spicy but was verbally cut off by the manager who began to tell me how she was tired of talking with me and slid the drive through window so shut in my face. I left the lot and thought about what had happened, went back around the corner and parked in Popeye’s lot. I went inside and asked why she had been so rude. She said I had an attitude when she walked up and she wasn’t going to put up with that. As she spoke, I tried to get a word in edgewise but was told I wasn’t letting her speak. I said “Ok you speak and then I’ll speak.” She continued to rant and rave about how I was rude to her which wasn’t true and that now I wanted to be humble with her. I started to verbally make my case of what happened and was cut off with her saying she wouldn’t talk with me anymore and walked away. I’m writing this because, as a customer, no one should ever be treated in this manner and I told her as I left that I would be letting corporate know about her lack of customer service. I will not spend my money with people who act in...