Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen — Restaurant in Nocatee

I don't know how this particular Popeye's got/gets a 4 STAR. This has to be the worst Popeye's I have ever been in. With covid and all you would think they would be a little more careful with the handling of the food without masks, all three employees no mask covering on their faces! One had a mask on but it was under his chin. I ordered online to pick up at 8:35 pm. When we got there my order was not done and they didn't even have my 2 large sides. They gave me 3 smalls for 1 large and we only could choose mac and cheese and Cajun rice. Figure that!!!! They were locking the door, but they were not to close until 9:00 pm. We were returning home from a trip to TN yesterday, after a nice holiday weekend with our son. As we passed Savannah, GA, going south down I-95, we began to discuss our dinner options. We decided that Popeye’s was an excellent choice, and my wife, as our current navigator, began to scan our route via her smartphone. Jacksonville seemed a good option, as it was far enough away to let us plan for a stop. While looking, she found that the one at 1650 County Road 210 West, just south of Jacksonville, had a higher google rating than most, and was immediately off of the highway. Good deal. She fired up her Popeye’s app and started our order – fairly simple and meant for some leftovers on Monday (today) – the family chicken tenders deal. 14 mild tenders, 2 family sides of red beans and rice, 5 biscuits, and some sweet hot, mardi gras mustard, and wild honey mustard sauces. She requested a pickup of 8:35 pm, based on our google eta of 8:33. The app was convenient and seamless and happily informed us that our order would begin to be prepared at 8:33 and that we had to pick it up no later than 9:00. Pick up only, but that’s what we wanted…no issues. It wasn’t until after we arrived at the location, right on schedule at 8:33, and made it into the restaurant just as an employee (not masked) was locking the door (maybe we took a couple of minutes to park, get masked up, and walk in – but it certainly wasn’t later than 8:40), when things started to go awry. We advanced to the register, where another unmasked person (well, his mask was under his chin) engaged us. After discovering we had placed an order in the app, he informed us that there was no red beans and rice…okay, not the end of the world, we’ll take something else. We were then told that there were no family size sides but that 3 small sides = 1 large side…okay, that still doesn’t look right, though it might be. We were then told that there was no wild honey mustard sauce… At this point, yes, I admit that I started to get agitated…at the very least, my admittedly meager experience with 4-5 food apps pointed me to the fact that other apps won’t let you order what the restaurant doesn’t have…BUT we civilly substituted other sides and sauces and collected our order. At no time was there any offer of compensation or other means to repair any of our concerns as they – barely politely – kicked us out so that they could close 15 minutes early. We headed to the car and rode to the next rest area to wash our hands and have our late dinner. The food, as expected, was good (neither the best or the worst Popeye’s that we’ve eaten). However, as we started on the chicken, we thought maybe they’d given us some extra to account for our trouble…no such luck, there were 13 tenders…wait, weren’t we supposed to get 14? Yes, we certainly were. Needless to say, we will certainly never patronize that particular Popeye’s again – and will think long and hard, in the competitive space of fast/casual food, as to whether we will be patronizing Popeye’s at all...

I am one to always try to look at the whole situation. But my experience at this Popeyes location was terrible. Me and my 12 year old son walked in and upon approaching the counter I overheard another customer trying to explain an order error with the girl at the counter to which she clearly shut him down and he left angry. I don't know what exactly happened but could tell by their body language. When we got to our turn to order, I ordered 2 spicy chicken sandwiches & my son ordered a 3 piece chicken tenders combo. The girl working was very short with us and seemed unfriendly. We got our food, got to the car and discovered we had been given a 3 piece chicken … not the tenders. I very politely went back into the store. When I walked in the girl looked at me and shouted over the customer she was helping "What do you need!?" I went up to the counter and began to explain that we had been given chicken not chicken tenders. She very rudely said "he didn't say tenders, this is what he ordered" I said no, he most definitely said tenders, then asked - can I please get them switched. She said "No, we have no tenders" I was taken aback and quite shocked by the complete and utter rudeness. I was silent for a minute then asked if maybe we could do the nuggets instead. She said once again "No, we have no nuggets either, this is what you have and there is nothing else"

Now I don't know if that was true and maybe it was- but either way the whole situation was terrible. And resulted in a sad child, wasted money and wasted food.

This occurrence happened on Sunday, July 24th...

I was very hungry and hoping Popeys had some fresh mild chicken ready to sell. I walked in, the kind gentleman taking my order was very nice, I always order the same thing every time I eat at Popeys, which is 4-6 thighs, and sub the biscuit for 1 leg. Tonight however was different. The gentleman explained that I could order 4 or 8, but not 6. This was a surprise to me, but I decided to order 8 thighs. Then the young girl named Karmya rudely exclaimed that I couldn't order all thighs, and that I could only get 2 of each split up totaling 8, but needed to get half spicey and half mild. I explained I didn't want spicey, and just wanted all thighs. She then rudely snaps back to argue my order can't be filled my way, and needed to be split up in two's. I was very surprised with her attitude as well as arguing with a customer. I attempted to calmly explain how I frequently eat at Popey's and have never had issues with the same order, and then I asked if I could just please get 4 thighs. She immediately interrupted me with a somewhat raised voice saying I can't order 4 thighs, so I sighed, then told her she had a bad attitude, very unprofessional arguing with customers, while others were waiting in line to order. I shared her actions to me with another employee who mentioned previous issues with her. If I'd witness any of my employees acting touting her snippy, cocky, and argumentative attitude, I would fire them immediately! NEVER ARGUE WITH A...