Taco Bell — Restaurant in Meridian

I honestly dislike giving such a low star review for Taco Bell, because it's top of my favorite fast-food chains, with that being said I have to realize that this review is based souly on this single Taco Bell loction and not any other Taco Bell. Let me start with the positive side first!! The employees here are extremely friendly, well-groomed, and professional. Inside of the restaurant feels inviting with more of a modern look making the store eye pleasing and a destination I can see a adolescent group or a family party hanging out, having a bit to eat, and enjoying conversation. The lobby, main counter, beverage bar, dinning area, floors, bathroom, front customer entrance doors, windows, outside sidewalk as well as the parking lot are kept well maintained, clean, and free of cluttered, no over flowing trash cans or garbage on the floor. The Beverage area, bathroom tissues, an hand soap have seem fully stocked every time I have came inside the building!! So that is where I give them the 2 stars. However the reason for the low star review is that this location truly is the slowest Taco Bell I have ever been to. I love Taco Bell having purchased food via the drive-thru, dine-in or take-out at hundreds of different locations across several other State. No matter what Taco Bell I was at my order has always been ready within 5 minutes or less when dining-in or ordering to go, and when using the drive-thru even if there was a line of cars I never have waited more then 10 minutes and thats probably to large of a estimate. Now this is why they lost the last 3 stars in my opinion... Within the last year I have visited this Taco Bell on 5 separate occasions, making that about 99% less from my past years ( decades) usual purchases/visits at the Taco Bell closest to my home resident of that time. This Taco Bell loction I also want to state that each of those 5 visits was on a different day of the week, different time of the day, several months apart, and I purchased my order every way possible(dine-in, order at counter to go, drive-thru, order in advance) Yet still on all 5 visits I experienced the same problem...EXTREMELY LONG WAIT TIMES, and it didnt seem to matter what time of day I went there. The wait time was excessive during the morning, afternoon, evening and the run for the board between midnight and 1am. On some of orders the food was not what I ordered or I had missing iteams, worst didn't put my sour cream on my food. I don't really understand what's going on at this loction hopefully they can retain the employees. I currently go to Boise Taco Bell or The Taco Bell on eagle and overland, Its sad when even J.I.T.B is faster at giving...

The food is typically great here for being a TB location.

Kudos to the staff for working efficiently, both morning and afternoon.

There are 2 vibes, though.

1 is a more relaxed environment.

The other is a bit tense.

The big factor seems to come from the shift lead or leader lady who happens to be running the shift.

I noticed the staff relaxed, communicating with each other in a relaxed manner, and enjoying themselves while popping out orders efficiently.

Then the lady wearing the blue hat came into the area and the entire staffs mood changed. They all became quiet and focused. Almost timid and overly critical of their own mistakes.

The lead, although running an efficiently tight ship, could use some additional interpersonal skills training. She had a hard tone that was quite sharp and cutting while criticizing them over the littlest of mistakes. Some seemed valid, some seeming more peculiar.

After some time of barking. Then she would lighten up and be re assuring and more pleasant in her tone, demeanor, while also offering praise. She would be polite to female customers, citing that she was training and was really polite and friendly towards them.

Then, a guy came in and had a bit of a language speaking barrier. He mentioned his burrito did not have double the ingredients when he had paid extra for it and described it to the lead/manager in charge. He showed her his phone receipt and had a calm tone while being direct with his words, pinpointing where his concern was.

The lady was immediately combative. She aggressively stated she did not understand, and even though she glanced at his device, he had to repeat himself 2x. He gestured for her to follow him to the self-service machine. To which he inputted the same order. Once she understood. She stated curtly that she could remake it for him.

Instead of stopping there, she proceeded to hold his attention and proceeded to berate the individual over the way he conveyed his words and his sentence structure format. She stated that he needed to communicate that better than the way he did. She waited for him to confirm understanding before proceeding to walk off.

She then shouted for her female employee and made a remark on her error. Then, she proceeded to recite back the exact order with a tone of irritation while checking for understanding from the employee.

This occurred in front of several customers, both eating and waiting for...

We eat at this location frequently. Maybe once every couple of weeks. The service is usually mediocre at best. Tonight, however was particularly awful. Pulled up to the drive-thru about 8:20 pm. It's getting dark and the menu board is unlit, but we always order the same thing, so no biggie. Kid takes my order and for once, gets it perfect on first try. I'm impressed. Even more impressed that he doesn't say they are out of apple empenadas, which they almost never have. Three cars ahead of me in line, goes pretty quick. Kid takes my money and promptly gives me my drinks. Tells me food will be right out. Twenty minutes, still no food. I can see three teenage boys "working". Not one of them so much as glances my direction. Toot my horn. No response. Google Taco Bell and get phone number. Call them. Rings six times and I get a fax tone. Think I mis-dialed. Hang up and call again. Kid answers. Tell him I'm at the drive thru window wandering what happened to my food. Kid says he's sorry. They were waiting on empanadas and they take six minutes. Tell him I've been sitting there for 30 minutes at this point and to please remake the tacos if it's gonna be much longer 'cause I don't want to eat soggy tacos. Kid says ok. Ten more mins go by. Here comes food. No apology. No offer to comp something. No coupon. Nothing. Ask to speak to manager. Manager comes to window. I calmly explain I think he needs to teach his employees to communicate a little more clearly. Had I known I'd be waiting 40 minutes for two empanadas, I would have skipped them. He says sorry, and says he did re-make my tacos. I asked him if he was going to compensate me for my 40 minutes sitting in his drive thru. Expected at least a discount coupon or something. Instead he just stares at me. At this point, I lost my cool and told him that even though we eat there a lot, I'll drive over to Taco Time or to the Taco Bell on Eagle Road. So frustrating!! Avoid this location at all costs!! Food is usually good, but not worth the wait and...