McDonald's — Restaurant in Homewood

Big “yikes”. My kids wanted to go to this particular McDonald’s because of its huge play place, but even that isn’t worth suffering the indignity of eating here again.

There is no logic to the layout when you walk in. They’ve removed all drink machines, tea urns, condiment bins, napkin and straw dispensers so that you’re forced to go to the employees for everything, but the employees are aggressively avoidant and hostile when you approach the counter or try to get their attention for any reason at all.

It’s one of those annoying McDonald’s that tries to force the burden of service onto the customer by making you use the automated kiosk thing, but the kiosk has been insufficient every time I’ve been here, often lacking basic options like “cheeseburger Happy Meal” or offering milkshakes that you pay for but then aren’t available because, lo and behold, “the machine isn’t working”.

Yesterday was the worst. We are hungry, the options we need aren’t available on the kiosk, and I am repeatedly ignored by several employees behind the counter over about an eight minute period of going “ma’am? Excuse me?…..ma’am? Can I please place my order..?” and “HELLO? Excuse me? THE MACHINE ISN'T WORKING, may I place my order PLEASE? Sir? Hello..? Can I place my order?” They see me. They hear me. One even goes, “Uh-huh.” But then they turn their backs to continue doing literally anything else.

Other patrons are standing there wide-eyed as the employees continue to refuse to acknowledge anyone except drive-through customers. I finally have enough and start demanding that my kids get out of the play place and put their shoes on so we can leave and actually get food somewhere.

Right about the time that my oldest son starts frantically mashing buttons on the kiosk in an attempt to “help me” place my order, a man wearing a McDonald’s uniform walks in and suddenly the atmosphere changes completely.

I don’t know if he has some kind of authority or what, but suddenly the same person who has repeatedly snubbed me comes over and greets me warmly and takes my order with attentive detail like I haven’t just been on the verge of frustrated tears. It is surreal. It only lasts as long as it took me to pay for the food though, because as soon as I receive it, we have troubles all over again.

The man who gives me the food does so without providing straws, which of course I have to ask for. He mutters something in annoyance and returns three minutes later with a full bin of straws.

After the kids have been in the play place for a while he comes to inform us that a sign is missing, but that the kids shouldn’t hang on the yellow spinning wheel inside the play place because it actually isn’t bolted in correctly and is prone to fall and could hurt them.

Then on the way out, I go to refill my drink and it is another exasperating, ten minute endeavor of waiting to be even be acknowledged (after being ignored several times when I speak directly to them) by the employees.

But since there are no drink machines or tea urns, my only other option is to NOT get the drink (and presumed refill) for which I have paid. Which seems to be what the employees want — for me to leave and never come back.

McDonald’s used to be red and yellow and fun and bright and affordable and happy. Now it’s an overpriced, dreary, gray and white dump that almost never have play areas and the few ones that do, punish the customers for patronizing the place.

Do...

Last night Late night, 9:30 pm waited for more than 1( minutes my big make was sloppy, cold and fries very cold Ordered coke, got dr. Paper I honked so the can speed up or make customer wait On the waiting spot, away from lane like how it's at every McDonald's, whe there is Large order or customized item, When I hunkered employee screened from window that she will cancel my order lol, This place is junk I feel bad for owner who spent money for recent renovations There were children inside the restaurant which seams to be the employee children, they eat for free I am sure!! The car in front of me didn't pay at the window and took two large bages of food and was talking to employees as Frind or family,,,, the employees are stilling from this place .....guaranteed !!!!

Here below another comments from another customer two months ago ,,, You will get honked at by the other customers behind you because they put you on hold. Nine times out of ten, they are "cash only". Two years I've lived close by and same problem. I think it's a way to get rid of customers. Problem is that you're trapped in line. Can't pull out of line if someone is behind you. I have spent 30 minutes in line more than a handful of times. Lack of another option is the only reason that they are still open on...

For the past TWO weeks Ive tried to order McDonalds through the Drive-Thru and gotten the same excuse from the same employee its a young man African American , the time is usually 2AM-3AM since I work overnight and after sitting on the speaker for 5 minutes no greeting he cuts on to say “Our system down” when I asked “how long does it take to reboot ?” I’m totally fine with waiting since there’s nothing else open this late he proceeds to ignore me and I watch him go out the door to smoke . I leave and try again the next day and same excuse . every night they say the system is down whats the point of being 24/7 if you’re going to just close when you want. At least come up with a new lie .They also shut off mobile orders but not DoorDash most fast food places i know if the system is down NOTHING can get through it just sucks i had to go home and DoorDash Mcdonald’s and spend more money just to eat when I was there in line if their is a specific cut off time please post it so customers can know. If its low staff then management needs to step up. It’s getting ridiculous one time they took my order but left out my fries i drive around and wait at the speaker and they instantly yell “system down” I had to remind them i had just left and they said “oh my bad” . Please...