The Buffalo Spot - Tempe — Restaurant in Tempe

I rarely write reviews, but after today’s lunch fiasco at The Buffalo Spot in Tempe, I felt I had no choice but to share my experience in hopes they actually get their act together.

What happened: Myself and three co-workers arrived around noon for a quick bite. We placed four different orders—hardly a complicated request—and waited patiently. What should have taken 10–15 minutes stretched into 45. Over the course of that time:

Every order was made wrong. Our combined order was handed off to a stranger waiting at the counter, who walked away with our food. The staff scrambled to remake everything, but still delivered the wrong items to each of us. I overheard the manager snap at an employee, “Stop making excuses and start coming up with solutions,” which only made us feel more unwelcome.

In the end, all four of us walked away with food we didn’t order, a lost \$40 budget, and nearly an hour of our lunch break gone. They did offer a free small order of buffalo fries as “amends,” but frankly, that doesn’t come close to compensating for the time wasted, money lost, or frustration endured.

What needs to change

Order Verification Protocol

Staff should read back each order and confirm names or order numbers before handing it out. Use printed tickets or digital displays to match order numbers, not just verbal calls.

Staff Training & Accountability

Every team member—even management—needs clear training on order flow and customer service etiquette. The manager’s reprimand in front of customers was unprofessional. If there’s a performance issue, address it privately.

Clear Communication

If there’s any delay or mistake, inform customers immediately and apologize sincerely. Provide realistic wait times rather than letting guests stew in uncertainty.

Proper Compensation

A single free fry order is a slap on the wrist compared to the ordeal we endured. Offer a full refund or a complimentary entrée to rebuild goodwill.

Bottom line: The Buffalo Spot’s wings and fries might have potential, but until they overhaul their order-management system, train their staff properly, and treat customers with respect, I wouldn’t recommend stopping by—especially on a workday lunch break. Unless you enjoy long waits, wrong food, and witnessing managerial frustration, save yourself the headache and try...

This is my 1st and probably my last time ordering from this location. I ordered some food for Me, My fiancé, and my 2 year old son on Sept. 9 through Door dash. My issues are as follows:

1st, I paid for a small side of Ranch and I didn't get it.

2nd, I ordered a Large, Normal, and Small of the Buffalo fries. The chicken was XTRA XTRA CRISPY ON ALL FOR THEM! Like the oil that they fried them in should've been changed. The worse part? At least me and my fiancé were able to endure the dryness of the chicken due the sauces making it a little less dry....My son however WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO EAT HIS CHICKEN!!!! My son doesn't like sauce on his chicken. So, his chicken was SUPER XTRA HARD! He could only eat the fries.

3rd, I called the store to tell them that the service I received was horrible, RESPECTFULLY THO! Not yelling or cussing people out but just to make a compliant, and I swear that I got hung up on. I tried calling back but it just kept saying the line was busy. So I waited like 15 mins and called back. The girl who answered said so didn't know what happened with the call but it felt like they just don't want to hear me complain about THEIR customer service.

4th, Lastly this was simply just a waste of my time, waste of my money and a waste of food. I couldn't even go back to the store for them to fix the order. The reason I ordered through DD (Door dash) is because I'm currently having car problems and can't drive ANYWHERE at the moment. So, for me to pay for this food and have it delivered just for it to be super underwhelming and sorta inedible is like a slap to the face.

I usually don't write bad reviews at all but this was truly a horrible and...

I placed my online order at 10:35am, but did not recieve my order until 11:07am. There was only one other person in the restaurant when I arrived. I was not greeted when i walked in. There was no sense of urgency from the workers who were on shift. A manager (the man wearing all black) was at the makeup table for a while before walking away. No order was ready still. Another worker was at the table tossing the same container of flour around the entire time. I did not see one piece of chicken move in that flour. Lettuce was being prepped. When your store opens you need to serve your customers. Prep neess to be completed before opening, after close, or assigned to one designated prep employee who is hired for that reason. I stood there at tge register staring at them dead in the kitchen before someone finally came to the counter to assist, just for her to tell me my order would be completed in while... Well it was a while all right. 32 minutes to be exact, to fry french fries that take under 4 minutes to fry, and chicken that should take under 7 minutes. More people piled in the restaurant, but orders were not being cranked out. The excuse people were getting was " we're just waiting on your shake". I did not even order a shake, so why did I wait 32 minutes for food when shakes were being used a an excuse. My fries were not even crispy like I requested when I recieved them. Just limp potatoes waiting for a pick me up, and lukewarm food after a 32 minute wait. Sad. I wasted my lunch on the wrong restaurant, and I will...