Petro's Chili & Chips - Powell — Restaurant in Knoxville

Fraudulent Charges & Disrespect at Petro’s Emory Rd – Praise for Angelina at Kingston Pike Who Truly Represents the Brand

On March 28, I placed an order for 6 large Vegetarian Pasta Petro’s at the Emory Rd (Powell) location around 8:24 PM—40 minutes before closing. What I received were 6 medium-sized cups, and not only were they the wrong size, they were barely even filled halfway—less than a small portion in a medium cup. Yet I was charged full price for six larges.

When I raised my concern, the shift leader admitted the sizing was off but still stood by the product. She also confessed that they intentionally divided up what little chili was left to avoid opening a new batch before closing. So, let’s be clear: This was not a mistake. This was intentional. They knowingly gave me incorrect portions in smaller cups and still charged me for large sizes. That’s not poor service—that’s fraud.

I asked for a refund and was told to come back the next day. After confirming with another location how the Petro’s register system works, I now know I wouldn’t have even been able to get a refund if I had returned. The shift leader—someone who should be modeling accountability—chose not to correct the order. Instead, she offered me one more scoop of chili like she was doing me a favor, even though she acknowledged I had been shorted across all six cups. Again: Medium cups. Wrong sizes. Still not filled. And I paid for larges.

This woman was not confused or inexperienced—she’s the shift leader. She knew exactly what she was doing. This wasn’t an accident. It was a calculated decision to shortchange a customer, and based on the reviews I’ve read since, it’s clear this franchise location regularly fails to deliver what Petro’s promises.

And for reference—Petro’s mission is to provide “a unique, one-of-a-kind offering to our community” and “foster that family feeling.” There was nothing family-oriented, honest, or community-serving about what happened at Emory Rd.

Now, I do want to give sincere praise to Angelina at the Kingston Pike location. When I contacted her about my experience, she listened with compassion, immediately acknowledged the wrongdoing, and made it right without hesitation. Angelina was professional, empathetic, efficient, and kind. She made me feel heard and respected—something the Emory Rd location completely failed to do.

Angelina is the embodiment of the Petro’s brand and the kind of employee who deserves to be recognized, rewarded, and promoted. If every Petro’s team member operated with the integrity and care that she does, this review would be a glowing five stars.

Corporate: I’n anxiously awaiting your reply from my email. You need to address what’s happening at Emory Rd. This is not just bad service—it’s unethical, dishonest, and exploitative. And loyal customers...

Do NOT and guys, i cant stress this enough, do not go to this location, youre better off driving a few extra mins to the harden valley one or somewhere else because the manager here is legitimately disgusting, her attitude is utterly repulsive, after skimping me on nachos, cheese and everything inbetween to the point a NEW BORN INFANT could have picked the tray she gave it to me in up with its pinky, when i told her i wanted it made correctly she informed me everything is "weighed out" and that it was "going to be the exsact same so i dont want you to be surprised when you see it" and gave me the grosses smug smile, never in my life have i wanted to smack someone so bad, absolutely disgusting like its unreal, i should have took a picture of itbefore throwing it away and asking for my money back cause it was litterally so pitiful, ive met and chatted with the owner before, he told me about how his wife was the one that came up with the orange in the tea he is an amazing guy who cares about his customers, and i just know that had he of been there, it would of went down completely different, this is actually the second time that this location has skimped me of portions to in the last 2 months, which is crazy cause it was the first location i ever tried when i moved here 7months ago and my portions at that time were perfect, to the point i got hooked on petros, now they got this lady there managing it and its no Bueno, every other location actually gives you enough that it makes the price worth it, if every location begins skimping like this thought, i fear ill never have the desire to eat at petros again, and thats just...

We love the food for the most part however they are not open past 9 pm in the evening and this poses a problem for us in that we would love to see them open till at least 10 weekdays and 11 pm on Friday and Saturday. They do not offer a artificial sweetener that I or my wife can use with their unsweet tea or coffee and with us that is a major issue considering that we love their Orange flavored ice tea. One artificial sweetener they offer is forbidden by my oncologists because I am an ongoing Cancer patient and it is a known carcinogen and the other because it is a sugar derivative and we are both diabetics. We have to carry our own sweetener if we are to visit there or buy to go menu items and that just isn't convenient not to mention the sweetener we have ask them to carry is extremely cheap. Further, not all products that we have purchased in the drive thru recently have been correct when we got them home and on two occasions I ordered hot dogs and the buns were just stale to be direct about it. We have all but stopped going now because any complaints or suggestions that you pose to them apparently fall on deaf ears and I for one will not stand for that. I spent too many years in this business trying to please my customers and knowing that your success long term depends on how well you take care of your customers I just do not think they care enough fur us to remain...