Cruiser's Drive-In — Restaurant in Portland

If you were blind, consider eating elsewhere after reading this post

I visited this amazing restaurant with a group of friends who are sighted, while I am visually impaired. My first friend ordered without any issues. Then it was my turn, holding my white cane, which clearly indicates that I’m blind and might need some assistance. I told the cashier that I wanted to order a bacon cheeseburger. She immediately jumped to asking about fries, and I had to stop her to get the burger order right first. I specified no sauce on the burger, and she acknowledged that. I asked for extra bacon, which she also confirmed. Then, I mentioned I wanted to add barbecue sauce. I forgot to ask to remove the lettuce, but that wasn’t a dealbreaker. I also ordered a large Dr Pepper, and she pointed behind me to a soda fountain machine, indicating that drinks were self-serve with free refills—a great way to pass time since they were busy.

When she asked about the fries, I inquired about other options. She pointed to a menu and said they were listed there. I asked her to tell me what they were, but she continued pointing at the menu. Holding my white cane, I could have pulled out a magnifying glass from my bag to try to read the small print, but it would have been much quicker if she had simply told me the options. Despite my friend mentioning that I am blind, the cashier kept asking which option I wanted without offering any assistance. Fortunately, my friend read the list for me, and I chose tater tots.

When I asked about the price of a medium shake, she knew it off the top of her head. I was concerned it might put me over my budget since I only had a $20 bill. My friend offered to cover the small difference, which was kind of them. When I asked about the available flavors, she pointed behind her at a wall. I felt frustrated—if I couldn’t read the menu in front of me, how was I supposed to read a sign behind her? My friend read the list of flavors to me, and I picked piña colada, but she said they were out of it. The same happened with two other flavors I chose. She then listed off the regular flavors like banana, vanilla, and chocolate, with no issue. This showed me that she could have told me the available flavors from the start but chose not to, which made me feel discriminated against because of my blindness.

I’ve been to this restaurant before, and a gentleman treated me amazingly well, which is why I returned, hoping for the same level of customer service. The first time, I tipped over $20; this time, I tipped less than 20 cents, which was just the change from my dollar bill.

I feel bad about the low tip because the tater tots were outstanding—warm, flavorful, with the perfect amount of salt. I’d give them a 10 out of 10.

The Dr Pepper mix wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, but I’d rate it a solid 9.5 out of 10.

The banana shake was heavenly. I love ice cream, and I often judge it, and this shake deserves a 10.75 out of 10—chef’s kiss.

As for the burger, I ordered extra bacon but only received two slices, which was the same as last time. I felt short-changed, so I’m deducting points for that. The burger, overall, deserves a 7 out of 10. If I had received the extra bacon I paid for, it would have been a 9 out of 10. The taste was amazing, though.

However, I can’t recommend this place to any of my blind friends. I’m part of a group of about 25 blind individuals who dine out together weekly or bi-weekly, and we choose restaurants that treat us well. I have been to select a restaurant for October, and as much as I love burgers, it won’t be this place. If the restaurant reaches out to me and addresses my concerns, I might consider giving them...

Normally, I do not have a problem with Cruisers. They're a simple dinner that makes a good, albeit greasy burger, and my only real gripe was that they skimp on the milkshake mix-ins. Today changed that. I called in my order, like I typically do, and it was ready by the time I arrived. No problem. Until I get home, sit down and begin my meal. I'm missing a party. I ordered and paid for a double and received a single. Like one does, I call the restaurant to see what could be done to rectify the situation they put me in. I was told that I could bring the burger back and they would remake it. I expressed that I don't necessarily like that as it's about a twenty minute drive each way and that would mean I've have been in my car for nearly 90 minutes for a mistake I didn't make. So I asked if there was another option. I was told that on my next order I could "tell" them about the mishap of today and they could "try" to make me another burger. To confirm I asked if my only options were to 1. Spend at least an additional 40 minutes waiting for a new burger for a mistake I didn't make or 2. Hope (because he kept saying "try") that I could get a could that burger on my next visit. He said "yes". Then he proceeded to hang up on me. I never got a change to tell him what I planned to do, I never yelled, I never used and expletive. He just hung up

Like any normal person, I got upset, because that was very disrespectful so I called back several times to talk with the guy who displayed horrible customer service. When he finally answered, I explained how that it was extremely rude and how I didn't display any behavior to warrant such an action. Again, I never raised my voice, called anyone a name, used explicit language. On the way there to replace my burger since that was the only guarantee that I was given, I had extended grace towards the individual who hung up on me because they were on the you get side and as someone who works with folks around his age, I know a lot of them are conflict adverse so by hanging up he probably didn't believe he would actually cause a conflict. My irritation were at management. That went out the window when I got to cruiser's for my replacement.

I asked to speak to management, he cut me off to say they were not there at the moment (yeah, I totally believed that). I tried to explain that I wasn't upset with them as they weren't trained properly. And that set him off because he got upset and said that he is good at his job. I said that he wasn't because he wouldn't have hung up on me if he was (I probably shouldn't have but 🤷🏾‍♀️). He also started to lie (I guess he figured out a cover story after my second call) and said that he offered both a full refund or that I could come and get a new burger. I called him out and he doubled down. When I mentioned that I wasn't nice nor kind of him to hang up on me the first time (he did it twice btw) he said it wasn't nice or kind of me to keep calling back when they were busy. Yeah, that makes sense. All while this is happening one of the line cooks is being kind of rude, but also keeps apologizing. Like in-between the "I'm sorrys" were "do you want the burger or not"

Long story shorter, I got my money (which he never offered over the phone) tip included, because this wasn't whole experience warranted negative tips and stars. I threw the burger away, because they would not accuse me of having my cake and eating it too. I liked cruisers, but I have no problem cutting people and business out of my life so it's unfortunate that I would have to do that to...

I use to like going here until recently. I went here last weekend and was given the wrong order. I took it up front and was waiting for the guy to help me when the cook came over and said what is wrong. I tell him I ordered a Maui burger with two patties this has an egg and possibly only one patty. He seemed very annoyed with me, I tried to over see that and just wait for the correct order. After this incident I decided to return with my family today one week after the last visit. My husband (who is African American) ordered a double bacon cheeseburger. When we get our order he noticed he only had one patty so he takes it up front and the cashier said he had to pay for another patty. As he is about to pay another man (who happens to be white) comes up saying the same exact thing happen to him on the same exact order. He had his money out to pay because he overheard her telling my husband he had to pay for their mess up and she tells him don't worry about it you don't have to pay more, but is still requesting my husband to pay even tho she charged him for extra bacon he did not ask for. He asks her why he has to pay but the other guy didn't for the same exact problem and she says something to the cook in spanish. My husband said nevermind I don't even want the food now just give me my $8 back. So the cook gives him a full refund and my husband said I only wanted a refund for my food. The guy said just take it. So he walks back to the table and sits down so me and my daugher can eat and the cashier comes and takes our food out of our mouth and off the table. Me and my daughter have no clue what is happening at this point and just walk out. I have never been treated so disrespectful in my life to take food from someone as they eat. I will never be returning to this establishment because of how they have treated me...