QDOBA Mexican Eats — Restaurant in Saint Paul

This review is SPECFICALLY for the St Paul location off of Snelling. First of, if there is a catering order that needs to be sorted on a 24 hour basis. Taking them the DAY of is beyond stupid, I will get into the reasons for that. Ordered my order (picture included) as well as two coworkers. Arrived and counted that there were 15 online orders. Understandably it is lunch time and it is busy, so that portion makes sense. What doesn't make sense is the staffing and the processing of those orders. There is a consistent issue with the 68 Snelling Ave S sorry of having only 2 people on the line and 1 on the grille? Why is this? I know hiring is an issue but being that it is a consistent issue of 2 on the line and 1 on the grille the orders are ALWAYS delayed. If you go to a competitor let's say, Chipotle, there are on average of 10-15 employees at EVERY store. Staff your store so you can handle the business you are taking in.

Now let me get to my order/s that I was picking up. First of, they filled a bunch of catering orders/family orders (I really don't care what they actually are) that took all the food apparently. They ran out of chips (what?) they ran out of steak (huh?) at 11:45am. The store hasn't even been open for 3 hours at this point. So they gave me a fountain drink (yay?) and ONE coupon for the issues. The problem is I was charged (as was another order) for chips and queso and we got NO chips and NO queso....and NO REFUND. I am not going to fault the poor people behind the counter as they were doing what I can. I am going to 100% blame the management and ownership of this location. It is being run like the Pohlad's run the Twins...as cheap as possible and blame everyone else.

I will NEVER return to this locations and most likely the chain ever again NOR will the coworkers that also were flat out screwed over. (Paid for things we didn't get) On top of it the food was very meh, probably because the employees were ready to hang themselves. There were 8 people waiting for their orders when I walked out the door and more coming in.

I am not one to raise a stink at the store as I can tell when people are overworked, underpaid and understaffed. (Plus there was no manager on site as I overheard the employees talking)

Fix your process or you might as well close the doors as it will not remain...

When we arrived at 5pm on a Wednesday, the restaurant was completely empty. The only staff we could see was a girl standing behind the line on her phone. When we came up to order, she visibly looked annoyed that we were there, took a ton of time to put on her gloves, and then just stared at us. There was no greeting or acknowledgment of taking our order. The whole process of ordering with her was unfriendly and rude. She was flicking the scoops of our food into our bowl like we were her personal dread. She missed the flick of guac and it went half off the bowl, and she just pushed it back in with her finger. A bunch of items were also missing from the food line when we got there, even though it was an empty restaurant. When I got to the checkout and said I needed chips and queso, she literally rolled her eyes and looked so annoyed I asked. She asked what size, I clearly said Medium and that is what I received. After I put my card in to pay, she just started to walk away and did not acknowledge the transaction was done or give me a receipt or anything. I was still standing there because I didn’t know if the payment was good to go, and she looked back at me all confused why I was still there. I asked for the receipt and she seemed really weird about giving it to me. I took it and we brought the food home. When I got home, I realized that I was charged for a Large chips/queso. It really seems like this was an intentional over charge due to her entire demeanor and her reluctance to give me my receipt. Highly highly...

There's a review somewhere below this one or around this one by Ryan Thompson. I'll echo everything he said as I had a similar experience.

Submitted an order online. The email said expect it at 6:49. Place had a long line. Only two people working the front. Those two people were generally courteous and apologetic for the wait. I didn't get my food until 7:20, and the only reason I got my food at that time is because I stood in line, and once it became my turn, they started processing the online orders because they knew I was an online order I guess?

I'm not mad at the workers as clearly management doesn't care enough to properly staff this restaurant. I am livid at management. Properly staff your restaurant. Respect online orders or at least coach your staff to tell them that they should wait in line with everyone else. I would've just done that as I would've gotten my food...