Chuck E. Cheese — Restaurant in Palm Desert

My husband and I haven't been to a Chuck E. Cheese's in a couple of decades, and boy has it changed! Really for the better and I'm glad. Instead of tokens, it's tap cards. We didn't order any food because we'd come right after getting brunch, but the next table did and the pizza looked delicious. This was our 3yo's first CEC experience and I think he loved it. We let him check out all the games, my hubby and I taking turns accompanying him. He was too little to go into the climbing tubes, and most games were a bit too challenging for him, but there still remained plenty of games that were perfect for his age.

The only thing that bothered me may have actually been something beyond the staff's control. We were being stalked and harrassed by an unknown woman loitering outside (then inside) the restaurant under the premise of being a patron with a party, or rather with us. She kept trying to insert herself into our small family experience as it was just supposed to be my son, my husband and my parents. She had tried to skitter inside after I'd held the door open for my handicapped father and grumbled at me rudely because I'd "closed the door on her on purpose" when she had made no indication she was coming in, nor a paying customer, but had been meandering around outside talking to and yelling at animals and imaginary people around the parking lot as if lost, her tattered appearance and strange mannerisms set off red flags. I'd told the greeter that she was not part of our group, but the employee didn't seem to care, and they stamp families with the same number, so since they did not even acknowledge her existence, I'd assumed she was with another group or party. When my parents went to the restrooms, she saw me sitting by myself watching over my family's bags and purses and tried to sit at our small booth despite a million other empty booths around. I told her no, and to go sit in another booth. So she sat in the booth next to our table, directly behind me. A family with two young girls walked by and she became all goo goo over them, saying the were beautiful and wanted to hold their hands and talk to them and hug them. I shook my head with wide eyes as warning when I caught the mother's gaze, but the mother had stopped and instructed her kids to acknowledge, thank, and entertain the strange woman's requests to be touched. When my parents returned, she stood up, and moved directly in front of the seat my dad was shuffling to, blocking them from sitting in our own booth which I had been occupying in their absence. After a small verbal confrontation where she accused me of not being fair and discriminating against her because I was letting other people sit with me, I had to sternly tell the lady to leave us alone, and stay away from us. There were no workers on the floor for help, and the only employees were behind the prize counter, registers (all of whom were busy helping the lines of customers), and rope greeter, who'd specifically stated he could not leave his post, yet had no form of communicative device for help. So aside from creepy, harrassing, loiterers, and no game floor staff, our experience was pleasant. It may be weird at first, but perhaps there should be extra security personnel to stop sketchy people from coming in, piggy backing on family groups. This woman gave off extremely "off"/bad vibes and made me extremely anxious for the safety of all the children as well as my own self. She did not belong there and her hovering presence did not make me feel comfortable...

My daughter stood at the prize counter for 10 minutes. After peaking my head around the counter I notice a young boy(Anthony) sitting on his cell phone in a chair. I simply asked if there was anyone working the prize counter and he told me no. During this conversation my daughter came up from behind me and walked into the loli pop I was holding. (Complete accident small kids bump into things all the time/she didn’t cry) Anthony then felt the need to yell and tell me I should be watching my child bette and no one was working the prize counter right now. A few moments later we saw him handing other kids prizes with a big smile on his face. My daughter asked if she could get her prize, so I took her back in line. When it was our turn his whole attitude and facial expression changed. He began yelling at me when I asked if my daughter could get a prize. Every comment his voice raised and he made vile accusations like I beat my daughter, in-front of my kids and other families! My daughter walked up from behind me and bumped into me and he created some nasty unnecessary scene out of it when the focus should be helping the kid get their prize regardless of personal emotions or issues. I was shocked someone employed at a children’s place showed such hostility and immature/inappropriate behavior in-front of children. My daughter left asking why he was treating her differently than the other kids and said the things he said….I don’t see why letting her have a turn at the prize booth and enjoy her experience was so hard for him to allow to happen. The immaturity and disrespect was completely uncalled for, the kid just...

TERRIBLE SERVICE AND POORLY RUN. There was no kid check at the front as people kept pushing through. We ordered a pizza and gameplay and waited 50 mins before checking on the food. I was order 52 and a lady with 53 had asked about her food which turned out to be the same order. The worker said it was being made and I asked the manager Andrea what number they were on and she said 51 so I was up next. They gave my food to 53 and when I explained this to Andrea, she mistakenly said the other person ordered first and I ordered at 4:39 when I corrected her and showed her my pager and receipt. She blew me off and said they would have to start making mine and was upset. I explained it wasn’t fair and she just blew me off again and just offered a refund. I had already wasted an hour waiting and my kids were getting irritated so I just accepted the refund. It was not a good experience to waste time and just asked if I wanted a refund to get rid of me. When refunding the order after processing, she asked for the drink cups and voided game card back and I told her they were left on the table. Andrea was not happy with being corrected and could not handle conflict resolution . When leaving , they finally had the nerve to put someone up front to do kid check and I told him they didn’t do kid checks when half the people arrived and the kid looked confused. Not a safe...