Fazoli's — Restaurant in Memphis

Oh, where do I even begin? Let's talk about the elephant in the room, this so-called "renovation" situation. The lobby has been closed for over three years, apparently undergoing a transformation that would make Michelangelo himself weep tears of joy. Well, surprise! No renovations have actually taken place, unless their idea of renovation is removing tables and art from the wall. Ah, the avant-garde minimalistic approach—how groundbreaking!

Now, let's discuss the food. I have to admit, Fazoli's does manage to serve up some tasty treats. Their Italian dishes are good, making it all the more tragic that you have to enjoy them in the confines of your car like a peasant. Yes, folks, forget about dining in comfort or experiencing a touch of class. Fazoli's has decided that eating inside a building is an outdated concept. Who needs ambiance or a dining experience when you can savor your meal in the cramped confines of your car seat?

And let's not forget about the employees. They're somewhat nice, or at least slightly above the Memphis average of subpar service. It's almost as if they understand the misery of their patrons and try to compensate with lukewarm friendliness. But hey, they're probably just as frustrated as we are, having to serve lasagna to customers in their vehicles day after day. I personally blame the owners/franchises, thinking their customers will believe that "we renovating".

All jokes aside, it's genuinely sad that Fazoli's has become a symbol of dashed hopes. The dream of sitting inside a restaurant and enjoying a delicious Italian meal has been cruelly snatched away. Instead, we're left to reminisce about the good old days when dining wasn't synonymous with cramped spaces and the lingering scent of car fresheners.

So, if you're in the mood for a decent Italian meal but also enjoy the thrill of eating like a nomad, Fazoli's is the place for you. Just don't get your hopes up for those renovations. It seems that the only thing Fazoli's is renovating is our expectations of what a...

The original concept of Fazoli’s was to be fast food that resembles the classic Italian restaurant feel as close as possible. You would order your food at the counter, collect your condiment and pour your drink, then go to your table and wait for them to bring it out to your table with a smile. Then, the staff would come around to your table occasionally to offer free breadsticks. This Fazolis has lost that concept for the time being. They claim dining will be back after renovations, or at least so they have been saying for three years. They allow people to come inside and order carryout. Please note some menu items such as Cesar Salad had a sticky note on them saying this item “Removed” in case you make an online order. I made my order and the food came out hot, fresh, and fast. Cheesy, meaty goodness and chunks of strawberries in my Italian ice as you would expect at a Fazoli’s. When I got my meal, it started to rain so I asked if I could stay in the carry out area until the rain let up. The tables and chairs have been removed, but there were existing booths and chairs set aside for carry out customers. There was no other customers inside. He said he couldn’t allow me to stay. I hid out in the bathroom for a few minutes, but by the time I stepped out, it was in a full on downpour. The clerk said he checked with his manager and I have to leave, so I got soaked...

I’m leaving this review in hopes that a few things get fixed before we lose another place around here due to service. The 5 stars is based on all of my experiences before tonight, but I wouldn’t give tonight 5 stars.

First, fix the speaker. Cannot make out what the cashier is saying.

Second, if someone is going to have to wait. It’s okay, as long as my food hot, I won’t be mad. BUT open the window and let someone know. 5 of you walking around, not one came to the window for about 10 minutes. I was about to drive off. A young male cashier finally came and he did apologize about the wait, but what if I got tired of waiting and drove off??

3rd, check my order. I hate going to places that I have to check my order before driving off. Didn’t think I had to because again, anytime before this it was always perfect! Missing breadsticks and food looked halfway presentable, was not worth almost $20 meal for one person. Made me want to cook at home.

4th, I think you need somebody’s auntie/uncle with the knowledge in there to push everyone along, they need some guidance. Your staff is not bad, I see everyone moving and working, but these small things make people not...