Tropical Smoothie Cafe — Restaurant in Sanford

I’ve been bringing my daughter here for a while, and it’s been hard not to notice the decline at this location lately. The açaí bowls are consistently freezer-burnt or frozen solid. I’ve worked with the same açaí base before, and that’s not how it’s supposed to be handled. The base should be tempered in the refrigerator so it softens to a smooth, scoopable consistency! not kept rock-hard in a deep freezer or thawed and re-frozen. When açaí freezes and re-freezes, it gets icy, grainy, and stale. That tells me proper food handling and prep procedures aren’t being followed, and definitely not ServSafe guidelines for cold-hold items. Cleanliness is another issue. When they had the manager with the long dark hair and the nose ring, the lobby was clean, the bathrooms were checked, and the place actually felt taken care of. Now, the lobby usually looks neglected, and the bathrooms don’t seem to be cleaned at all. I had to take my daughter to the women’s restroom a couple months ago, and there is literally the same dead cricket still on the floor today. If a bathroom floor hasn’t been cleaned in over two months, that says everything. On top of that, it feels like the employees who actually worked and cared are the ones being let go, while the ones who look half-awake or on drugs and can’t finish making a smoothie without walking off are the ones kept on shift. It doesn’t come across as well-managed or sanitary, especially when drinks are being started and then passed off mid-prep. This place used to be run well, and I’d like to keep bringing my daughter here, but the cleanliness, food prep standards, and staffing decisions need to get back to the level they...

I was here this morning (5/12) left at 8:03am after waiting several minutes and no one came to the register and took my order. A guy was working then he went to the back...came back and started doing something with a blender but still did not speak or ask if I had been helped. The young lady on staff here just said hello when I came in but carried on doing other things. I am not sure who is responsible for taking orders. I was the only customer in the store. I have gone to plenty other Tropical locations but in my home city, first time visiting, wasn't a good experience. Even as I walked towards the door no one...

I love the staff and the manager Atul! Last week I had placed a to go order on the 4th, got there right on the dot when a member closed the door as she should it was 6pm. She didn't notice me so I go back into my car which stalled.. But Atul contacted me and I wasn't worried about the refund I let him know if it's okay, I can come on my lunch route if they can make the order for me again at no charge. Which he let his staff know and they were so nice and polite! And they threw in a free cookie! Mr. Atul your staff definitely deserve a raise! I...