Joey's House of Pizza Catering — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

It was the single worst experience of my life. I've had to think a few days about what to write. I have never actually experienced such pathetic customer service, so I have to give an honest review. I ordered lunch for my staff from here by request for my co-worker's birthday. I had never been here before. I called that morning and was told they couldn't take any orders but whole pizzas by phone. So, I went in person when they opened, waited in line, to be rushed and told I couldn't order pizzas in person. I was rolling with it and just asked for several slices of what people ordered as a pizza. I had several orders, which I understand now isn't what they are set up to do. When I got to the end of the line, instead of asking for my name and letting me pay and then wait, like everyone else, the cashier (older lady) told me to "stand over there". I kid you not, I waited for almost 45 minutes, watching them take names, payment, and fulfill about 35 orders behind me. I once asked for an update, and the person nodded and walked away. There were three ambulance drivers that ordered as big an order for take out as I did, and they ordered after me and were served far before.

I finally called my boss and told her I hadn't paid, been updated, or seen any part of my order, and we decided I would just give up and pick up a back up plan. I stepped up and told the cashier that I was going to leave, and SHE YELLED AT ME...in front of the whole small restaurant. She exclaimed "You can't leave! What, do you think you only ordered one item!?!" I told her that I have watched them serve every customer behind me, I haven't been allowed to pay, and I couldn't get an update on my order when I asked. Her response? To tell me "We don't have to give you an update! We are doing the hard work!! We are almost done" Again, loud enough for everyone in this tiny place to hear. Finally, the manager started talking about my specific items, so I knew it was finally getting ready, and then they kept calling me "baby" and "sweetie" after all of that.

In addition to how the cashier spoke to me, the staff was yelling at each other. I do not care how good your food is, but the service was insulting and pathetic. I will never go back, and my staff was completely disgusted by the little they knew about my experience. I wouldn't even have given it a star if I could. I will make sure to tell everyone I know about my experience, and you couldn't pay me to ever return. Don't ever yell at your customers....

I want to preface this not-so-great review by saying that the pizza and the customer service are excellent. The pizza is probably the best I've had in Tennessee (even better than many NYC joints that I've eaten from), and the staff are incredibly friendly.

But what brings this place down is the wait time and the reasons behind the ridiculously long wait.

I decided to visit because my 2 year old daughter wanted pizza, and I saw they served slices. "Cool, should be quick," I thought. Nope. I was in line for close to 45 minutes before even seeing the counter area with all the food. It was then that I saw why the line was so slow. There were 4 staff working behind the counter: 1 man stretching the dough and putting on toppings, an older gentleman who occasionally took orders from the non-pizza area as well as ringing people up, an older lady who I didn't really see do much except ring up a few customers sometimes and hand food to customers, and a younger lady who did everything else from rotating pizzas in the oven to taking them out to putting on extra toppings to slicing and boxing to taking orders to instructing the others on what else to do. As someone who used to work in a pizzeria, I feel as though their distribution of duties is one of two things killing their efficiency.

The last thing killing their efficiency is the actual setup of the prep/cook/pay area. Most NYC pizza joints have the order/pay area on one end (usually close by the door), and the prep and cook areas in their own distinct areas behind the counter. At Joey's, the prep area is directly behind the pay area (there isn't a designated order area since you're getting your order taken as you slowly make your way to the front). The current setup means that there was a choke point in the busiest and most dangerous area behind the counter.

In the end, I waited nearly 90 minutes from getting in line to getting my order. I know this is a long review. But waiting that long for 2 slices is unacceptable, regardless of how good the pizza is. Slices are supposed to be quick, and there are fixes that can be made to make the line move faster. I will come again in the future for a whole pie, but I'll call ahead first (an hour for a pie is understandable, but 90 minutes...

(Update) I gave it another shot... they totally redeemed themselves. Pizza was made on time and even better than the first go around(I might of been salty). I highly recommend eating here. The fact they they went out of their way to make sure I was happy speaks volumes.

Pizza was good, service was crappy. I was yelled at. I guess it is authentic... even give you the New York attitude... Screw me tho right? I'm just the customer. I am new to the area and heard the pizza was the best. Also was told that there is always a line out the door. Hearing this I wanted to give it a go. I called at 12:27 pm and put in my order letting them know that I didn't need to pick it till 2:30 pm. I thought it would make life easier for both of us. I showed up at 2:20 and there wasn't a line out the door, but up to it, which wasn't but 5 ft away from the counter. I paid for my order at 2:34pm and waited till 2:48 before inquiring to the register lady as to why my order wasn't ready. I was yelled at by her, "earlier today the line was wrapped around the block five times", I responded saying that I had called the order in 2 hours ago for their convenience. She said "it didn't matter that I called it in". (What the F???)I said it was suppose to be ready at 2:30. She turns back to look at the clock which says 2:50 and then responded with more anger "ugh, I don't know then" and preceeded to help the other customer in a polite, playfuly voice. I went back around and asked the owner about my pizza. He called out loud about it. Both girls at the front yelled at him back "to get off their back". Turns out my pizza was in the "poofer" or "proofer" to keep warm. They had to put it back in the oven to make it warmer. They need a better system so they don't lose orders, and more importantly better attitudes. Especially the lady at...