Chili's Grill & Bar — Restaurant in Tampa

1st and last time eating at this Chili’s. Uncomfortable experience with a rude server and an incompetent manager. Last night was busy which would make sense having to wait a bit extra for food and for a waiter to be all over the place but no. We were a party of 3 adults and a 4 yr old. My brother-in-law asked for his drink to be replaced since he asked for reg. Coke and they brought a Diet Coke. 10 min wait for this exchange. Our waiter didn’t let us finish our order so by the time the food got there my cousin’s order was wrong —she didn’t even gave her a break to ask for specific sides. Mind you that the waiter NEVER stopped by after bringing those drinks to ask how things were, if we needed anything. Someone else brought our fries (which we know it’s common) but then again, no silverwear. EVER. When they brought our food we had to wait for someone else to walk by our table to ask them for these. My niece’s cup had no lid. We asked for one and the waiter said that since they were out of kiddies’ cups they had no lids for the type of foam cup my niece had... 30mins later a party that was 2 tables away from us got their drinks with the same cup, with lid and all. And guess what? They got their food orders fast just like 2 other more tables with 4+ people. My brother-in-law calls upon the manager and when we explain his face expression was as if we were making a fuzz out of nothing. I explained what had happened and he cut my complaint with “I’m sure your food is about to come out”. 3 mins and food’s served. Btw our waiter never smiled, seems like she was upset even before we got there —which it’s not our fault! She NEVER apologized for any the mistakes, not even in a humble way. We spent 2hrs in this place!!! Which it’s absurd. We ordered the 2x1 margaritas and something that included a desert. She stops by asking if everything was good twice... AFTER we complaint to her manager. Everyone but her brought our stuff. When she comes over a last time she says “you guys wanted cheesecake, right?” We never said anything about that, my cousin mentions they wanted a molten to what she answers that it has to be either cheesecake or a cookie. At this point is not about what’s included or not but her “assuming” and decided as a “deal with it” attitude. My cousin then says she’ll have the cookie. She disappeared once again. More people who got there after us already done, happy with their meals and leaving. We were so upset we paid and left. I’m pretty sure that if we stayed we would’ve waited until today to get the...

If I could give this place zero stars I would. As a medical professional in the area, I am always weary of most of the service in this area because I have accepted that it's typically going to be subpar. However, we collectively needed a place close to the hospital to meet and celebrate a colleague's birthday/promotion and regrettably opted for Chili's. The service was subpar as expected, the food was on par with Chili's standards but our waitress was having a horrible night. We cleared our own table twice onto a tray that was left on the neighboring table and after the waitress left said tray twice, we were forced to ask her to remove the tray and the remaining dirty dishes. When it was time to leave, we asked for boxes and to have the staff sing happy birthday to the birthday girl. In my experience as a former server and patron, typically that should signal a competent server to offer the check but not our server. We waited 15 mins, while our dessert melted and not a server was in sight. Finally after singing happy birthday ourselves, we ask who I believe was the host for the check and she brought us the electronic device with our checks on there. The checks were separated correctly! However, two of members of the party were paying cash and after waiting an additional 15 minutes without any contact from the server we decided to leave enough cash to cover the check plus a reasonable tip(despite the terrible service) and leave.

Now this is when the night went from classic bad service to possible stereotyping and biases. we walk out the restaurant and are saying our good byes and wrapping up the celebration and not one or two but several staff members run out the restaurant towards us. Demanding payment and accusing us of leaving without payment. They even took the time to print out the receipts of the order "not paid for," but didn't take the time to look on the table to see the stack of cash to cover the bill and tip. I have never been so embarrassed in my life! We are a group of paying medical professionals and I have never had to deal with such disregard as I did tonight. I will never be returning to this Chili's and will be spreading the word around both of the local hospital systems that I work at to avoid this place by any means necessary. I spoke with Diane the night time manager, who also was apart of the staff members who accosted us and although she was apologetic it did nothing to rid me of the bad taste in my mouth from this...

Could have been much better especially for just a takeout bowl of soup.

To be more specific because they were closing within an hour or less of the time I was trying to place the order the app or website would not allow an order to be placed until tomorrow.

So while driving instead, en route to the restaurant, I was calling the phone line there to place an order to go over the phone that way it would be ready and I would not take a chance on not being able to place the order entirely for the evening. Making the entirety would have been a complete loss for myself. So my phone call lasted approximately 34 minutes or so, and mind you, about every 3 and 1/2 minutes you have to press the number one to continue to hold for the next available team member. Otherwise it just hangs up on you.

Short story long LOL obviously. After all the nearly 35 minute phone call on hold pressing one every three and a half or so minutes, when I get there I explained to the very polite and helpful beyond measure young gentleman that was working the to-go counter what had occurred and that I was interested in speaking with the manager regarding the matter as apparently something was wrong with their phone system.

However that was not the case at all but they were a bit busy tonight and when there are busy they are instructed and I guess from what Young Buck told me it is standard operating procedure / and guidelines to absolutely 100% not answer the telephones!! No matter what

Women repeat that one last time.

"WHEN WE ARE BUSY WE DO NOT ANSWER ANY PHONE LINES IN CUMMING CALLS ETC"

MAYBE JUST MAYBE, CALL ME OLD SCHOOL OR OLD-FASHIONED, BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS RIGHT NOW NOT ONLY ARE YOU LOSING VALUABLE BUSINESS POTENTIAL PROFITS BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOUR POTENTIALLY LOSING BOTH REGULARS AS WELL AS NEW CUSTOMERS / TOURIST AT THE END OF THE DAY! WELL I GUESS TECHNICALLY AT THE END OF EVERY DAY THAT GETS BUSY FOR THAT MATTER.

MY MIND CAN'T REALLY WRAP ITSELF AROUND THE THE STAGGERING AMOUNTS OF WHAT ESSENTIALLY AND SURELY WOULD ACCUMULATE TO, COMPOUNDING / SNOWBALLING AMOUNTS OF TOTAL NET LOSS AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE, WHENEVER THERE HAPPENS TO BE A "BUSY"...