Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe - Montgomery — Restaurant in Montgomery

Now, let me just start off by saying that I've been to Tazikis at least three other times with a very close friend of mine, who has been a loyal customer for years, now. I've never had a problem with the customer service or the staff. That's why I was absolutely shocked by the treatment of my friend and me, tonight. When we walked in, we took probably two minutes to decide our orders and tried to make our orders known when the cashier who was at the least, a middle aged White woman in a dark grey shirt with blond hair tied into a ponytail, stops us and tells us to wait a minute before we can place our orders. We watched her walk around the tables and only the White tables (there were at least two other Black tables, there) and collect empty plates and check up on people and she certainly took her time about it! So much so, that another employee who was a young Black woman wearing a light grey shirt with long dreads and glasses tried to take our orders because we were literally just standing in front of the register for a while. Just as she's talking, however, the White woman comes back, interrupting the young Black woman and the latter steps away; quickly, leaving us with the first woman, once again. We order two Beef Tenders. One with a side of fruit with no watermelon and another with a cucumber and tomato salad. The White woman asked if we were ordering to go, or dine in. I clearly said that the two of us were dining in. After we ordered, we sat down and waited on our food, occasionally talking about idle things in our lives, to pass the time. I believe fifteen to twenty minutes went by before received our food...bagged up and ready to consume outside of the store, to-go style! The young Black woman from earlier had brought it out, but when I corrected her on how our food was supposed to be prepared for eating inside of the restaurant, she looked completely taken aback and scrambled to correct the error. Her face, alone, told me that this was not her doing. At least, intentionally. I have no idea if she or the White woman bagged our order, but I can't see how the cashier would either make that mistake, or allow for her co-worker to make that mistake. I felt like I was unwanted, there and my guest felt the exact same way. While I seethed, she boiled. "I will never come back to this restaurant, again." Were her exact words. I sat there, awkwardly. Embarrassed and flabbergasted at the blatant racism that we'd experienced over the span of about an hour and a half, picking at my barely half-filled fruit cup. My friend was right. What's worse, is that horrid meal was supposed to set the stage for her helping me celebrate my birthday! I thought that Tazikis would be a cool place to introduce her to, but instead, it left a very bitter taste in both of our mouths and memories, concerning the much too current and normalized issues of the world that we live in. After tonight, I don't think that I will continue to support this restaurant anymore, either. I didn't know that my skin color or the way that I dressed, measured how my company and I were to be treated! My mistake, I thought my money or simply being a guest in this establishment, warranted how my treatment should go! I thought this was 2018, not the 1950's or during the Civil Rights Era! If you hate us, then why are you even there? I've never been so humiliated in my life! Such treatment should be inexcusable, to say the very least!

Update: I went back the next day, and I did receive a full refund for the previous mistake. At least they are willing to correct their mistakes, though. I will...

1st visit when moving to area was wonderful!

2nd visit the veggie gyro’s were made different with a spicy sauce instead of the creamy option and couldn’t eat it

3rd visit talked to guy about last visit and asked how the veggie gyro is suppose to be made as I loved the first time but the spicy sauce second time was a bummer and not what I expected…. He confirmed pesto sauce or tzatziki is used so I ordered a 3rd time and asked if they sold JUST the soft pita bread - he said yes and added it to the order.

So I expected to get 3 extra soft pita breads for my son, I even explained that’s who it’s for to make his own with…

I didn’t get a receipt when I placed the order as I clicked on screen no receipt (later got the print out in the bag of the ticket for my order which said baked pita not soft…. Wish it distinguished “pita chips” vs “pita bread” so it was clear for those ordering… I didn’t want chips.

Got home an hour later and opened the meals to discover 2 containers of BAKED pita CHIPS 🤦‍♀️ super disappointing.

Called back and asked if I can switch them out as we weren’t expecting chips but soft pita as when I ordered I explained my son makes his own due to his allergies/diet….. the girl who took my call @ 3:40 pm said she can NOT help me in any way shape or form, I can NOT switch the chips out for the soft pita bread I had ordered, and that I can take the time to call back another day when the manager is in, to discuss if I truly want to follow up on this.

That’s frustrating, as in the meantime I am out what I ordered for my son and it’s disappointing that not only is it a huge inconvenience to drive through rush hour again on Friday afternoon like I offered to do, but they won’t even switch it out for the soft pita bread for me if I did return chips for bread.

We are talking $3 worth of pita it’s that simple. But instead, it’s become such a hassle and rubbed me the wrong way despite the kindness of the gentleman who was there today… the way the messed up order by simple no-fault miscommunication was handled was NOT right. So because of the 2 out of 3 orders being wrong and NEVER has it been made right but just lost food & lost money at my expense, I am not inclined to return unfortunately.

Maybe here in Alabama that’s just how things are run and people just lack empathy or don’t treat others right, I don’t know, but we come from a different state that appreciates their customers and make lasting relationships and have an ethical way of doing business and making things right.

I’m not trying to keep the pita chips either I offered to make the drive back. Return them, and pickup the soft pita bread I had asked for. I just want what I had ordered and not something that isn’t an option for us to...

As a Birmingham resident for many years, I loved Taziki's. The food at all the locations was consistently delicious and the service consistently prompt, courteous, and competent. Unfortunately NOT so at the Montgomery location. My first visit, a to-go order, not only took 25 minutes, but sitting on the bench that I assume to be reserved for people WAITING on to-go orders was occupied by an employee and his drink, texting the entire time. The food, however, was, as usual, wonderful! Sadly, my next visit was equally as frustrating regarding the wait time on the to-go order. The restaurant was almost empty and after 25 minutes of sitting right in FRONT of the "to-go" counter, I approached an employee, asking if there was a problem. He looked around and sitting ON THE FLOOR behind him was my order! YUCK! I asked if there was a manager and he pointed to a man sitting at a table across the room, obviously engaged in an intimate conversation. I decided to forget it, took my food and left. The food was AWFUL at best. The beef "tenderloin" meal I ordered was NOT tenderloin... I would describe it as rawhide, my husband said it was more like shoe leather. Our salad was hot and wilted. The only redeeming part of the meal was the basmati rice and my husband's salmon. PLEASE consider new...