Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen — Restaurant in Maryland

Popeyes guest relations was sent an email about my experience, but I haven’t gotten a response a week later so I need to post it here:

I just had the worst experience at a fast food restaurant I have ever had in my 30 years on this planet. It started with disappointment for not having the new sandwich in stock, again, which I was fine with. Followed up with ordering a 4 count spicy chicken drumsticks. We received 4 non-spicy drumsticks. My girlfriend noticed one bite in and I went back to exchange them out, calmly since it was an honest mistake. Since they were completely OUT of spicy fried chicken I waited patiently for them to make them, maybe 5-10 minutes... Rudely given the food as if it was my mistake, I bring back to the table 3 spicy drumsticks! Ok, fine, no big deal. I laughed, went back to get the remaining 4th spicy drumstick. The lady apologized, but didn’t give me the food immediately, but actually waited to finish packing another gentleman’s to-go order. Now I’m starting to get upset. I don’t show it but I take that last drumstick back to my girlfriend. She goes to take a bite and THERE WAS BLOOD ON IT OOZING FROM AN UNCOOKED VESSEL. I say you got to be kidding. There is no way this is true. But then again this location ran out of chicken, their most common item. So we abandon our dinner, and all hopes of eating here tonight. We go back to the lady and say, there is blood in here. She replies, “We cooked it for the right time- what do you want me to do?” I know empathy isn’t taught in fast food but wow. Just wow. The manager intervenes and wants to give us a refund. He isn’t very respectful either and why would he be... she THREW the evidence of the drumstick covered in blood and MOVED ON with her day before showing the manager!!! My patience was tested to the fullest. I step away only to hear the manager say their system won’t work and they can’t give my girlfriend a refund on our credit card so he offers cash. We take the cash and ask for the receipt. HE REFUSED TO GIVE ME BACK THE RECEIPT SAYING HE ALREADY GAVE US THE CASH. ARE YOU **ING KIDDING? THEN I HAVE NO RECORD OF MY CREDIT CARD PURCHASE. What if I leave and one day see $50 spent at Popeyes with no proof of what I actually bought? Is common sense also not taught along with empathy? A sorry under their breath won’t suffice.

We calmly exited the restaurant after this, but honestly tell me...

I'd give this spot 3.5 bordering 4 stars if half stars were allowed, placing it on the higher end of "good" fast food places around town. I hadn't eaten at a Popeyes in a few years, so this satisfied my craving to dip those fries into the mashed potatoes and gravy. Note: it snowed four days ago and the parking lot still wasn't plowed, so I wouldn't recommend doing anything but the drive thru right now, which had a melted path. I certainly wouldn't try to walk in the parking lot. They put an extra meal on my order, which probably came from my being hard to understand with my cold, but my dog ended up being happy with the extra meal. They forgot to give us straws, but luckily I had some. The spicy chicken tenders were pretty good. The fries and mashed potatoes were very good. No complaints there! The biscuits were sadly smaller and harder than I remember, and hard to eat this time, even after dipping them in gravy. Drinks tasted fine. I was happy with the amount of sauces they gave us, a rarity in fast food these days. The drive thru personnel were prompt and professional. Overall, a solid experience and I'll be back again. This will probably be my Popeyes location of choice. But there are a couple new chicken spots opening up around town, so this place will soon face some...

I give only four stars for food because of 2 things First, I had never seen chicken parts so small until coming to Popeyes, but this is out of the individual restaurants control and has very little bearing on my review. Unfortunately, I often eat late. Though it is great that this location has late hours for a post pandemic restaurant (11pm most days), if you come after 8pm, forget having a full menu to choose from. Its not obscure menu items either. I mean things list Canjun(spicy) chicken, how much more of a main menu item could there be. Often there is no mac and cheese or cole slaw. I always have to cross my fingers when making an order and often ask anyone that is having me pickup food for them, to have a backup choice and if possible a backup for the backup. Having said that, i must also say that, depending on the people working, they may choose to compensate you with extra food when this happens. I would say about 1 out of 4 visits this happens. 4 out 5 visits they dont have 1 or multiple menu...