Ray's SoulFood & Turkey Legs — Restaurant in O'Fallon

It was my first time being a customer on August 3rd after church with a group of friends at Ray's.The wait wasn't very long and it is a nice place. My food I had a serious problem with. The taste was ok just a bit salty for me but over all good! But the reason that mostly bothered and unsatisfied me was while eating a porkchop dinner I experienced a box staple in my porkchop. While chewing there was this piece of metal/staple in my mouth. Luckily I felt and caught it before I swallowed because that piece of metal/staple could have gotten logged in my throat and possibly caused a dangerous problem. So after removing it from mouth and showing everyone at my table I called our server to ask for the manager to come to the table so I could address this issue. He never came but sent his mother. I addressed the issue with her and showed her what was in my food. I told and her that it came from the chop I was eating and felt it in my mouth. She apologized and asked if she could take the piece of metal to the back/kitchen to show whoever what was in my food. I allowed her to take it but before she left I asked if my bill could be taken care of because of this issue. She then said she would check about the bill and would be back. When returning she brought me another porkchop saying he I guessed he was the manager said awww he knew what that was and knew where it came from. That was disheartening to me to thick not coming to the table to talk to me himself about it and just sent another porkchop was NOT professional or satisfactory. BUT still willing to drop it by asked again about the bill i again was told that she would be back with a answer. She/mother NEVER came back but I didn't continue to eat. I then asked for a box to put the remaining of my food in it. So when we were ready to leave and instead of me just leaving I asked my server what about by bill. She then went to the back and returned saying I still had to pay for my bill. I was appalled, then I asked for the manager AGAIN. He AGAIN didn't come out to the table about such urgency of the matter but then sent his wife. One of my Bishop/friend spoke to her first explaining the issue and then after she spoke to me. I explained the problem and asked her because of this issue could they take care of my bill that's all i wanted. She said didn't we send another porkchop out. I said yes but what does that have to do with the bill. Do you understand that this could've been a very big problem and is a big dill to me if this metal would've gotten stuck in my throat. All I'm asking is for you all to take care of the bill. She STILL DIDN'T WANT TO COMPENSATE ME. I was thoroughly unsatisfied and upset about this matter. All I wanted was for them to take care of the BILL but INSTEAD SAID WE SENT YOU ANOTHER PORKCHOP as if that's all i needed. "What a insult". This is Poor management and customer service. This bill is more important than my safety in this establishment. If that metal had've gotten stuck in my throat this place would've been sued out of hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. This is issue has put a bitter taste in my mouth about Ray's soul food and Turkey legs. A black owed establishment that I was trying to support. But instead I got a uncaring attitude about my safety in this establishment. In the end after going back and forth about my safety and bill it was satisfied BUT I had to give the remaining of my food back before they agreed. This is RIDICULOUS!!!! I WON'T NEVER BE BACK!!!! A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!!! Please please please be careful with your food. And ya'll need to do better Ray's because if there's a next time somebody could get really hurt!!! A awww I know what that is n where it came from is a poor and...

I have to say that this was my second time trying Rays. The first time was a week ago, I did a to go order. I tried the Oxtails Mac n cheese, greens, and Yams. The Oxtails were absolutely PHENOMENAL the best in the city honestly and worth the price you pay. My Aunt had the fried chicken and Mac n cheese and she loved every bite. Today I returned and decided to dine in with my family and had a awful experience. We were greeted and sat right away. However it took our waitress 15 mins before we were ever approached and she came to the table looking like she wasn't having a great day. She took the order gave us our drinks which two of the cups had food stuck to them and she went to other tables and never returned. We waited almost an hr before receiving our food.We watched every table around us get theirs before us. We finally get the attention of another waitress and she got some food to come to the table but when we got our food it wasn't hot at all. Not to mention they brought out the wrong sides of food to my mom and she returned and said I'm sorry this isn't your Mac n cheese it's someone else's and took it to the other customer after it had been sitting at our table😱. The Mac was also overcooked this time. And the turkey leg and wing was a disappointment for the price it was. It was not very flavorful and pretty bland. And we ended up deciding to leave and just box our food once our waitress finally returned and gave us the bill. The customer service at Rays was definitely disappointing if I could have given the service 0 stars I would have. It's truly only the horrible customer service that turned me away from wanting to ever Dine in again. But the restaurant was clean and had a...

I try my best to support black owned businesses whenever I can. Ray’s food is unmatched…I have zero complaints. However, the service needs serious work! I placed an order online at 525 and received a pick up time for 615. I asked several times for an ETA on my food and was told that it’ll be a few more minutes. At 7, when I still had not received my food, I inquired again. This time I was asked to see my receipt as the server did not see my online order in the system. Lo and behold, they never sent my ticket order to the backend and my food was never prepared. I had to wait all over again and was LIVID!! Not only did they not have my order ready, they didn’t even offer me anything complimentary…THEN they forgot my side of jerk sauce 😡😡😡

EDIT:

To try to police and invalidate my experience is WILD!! First off, I ALWAYS buy Black, but if I have an issue with a service and feel that it warrants a review then so be it! Secondly, yes, I have been to Ray’s several times, but that doesn’t mean that I am familiar with the staff on payroll! I’m just paying for a service, not to become acquaintances. Lastly, I’m not basing this review off of one bad experience. EVERY experience I’ve had here has been consistently disappointing regarding time efficiency, customer service, and accuracy. My SIXTH visit was the last straw.

From one Black business owner to another:

When a customer criticizes your service or product, it’s best to not become offended, defensive, make excuses, and definitely don’t try to insult the customer! Take the criticism in earnest - simply apologize for the mishap and strive to do better. That’s how you retain a loyal customer base and maintain good community...