Gossip Shack GRAND AVE — Restaurant in Texas

My wife and I took a trip over to Gossip Shack number two in Pflugerville. This was the day after they appeared on KVUE News Foodie Friday.

I don't believe you could have found a more terribly run restaurant anywhere on Earth.

The decor isn't anything to write home about. They have 2 large TVs, neither was on but they had music on and it was obviously tuned into a station that the staff likes and it was too loud for the space. Also, what the heck is the "Ask Momma" thing doing there, anyway?

Not sure who their graphic designer is but the menu looks like it was designed by a 12 yr old. Not very professional at all. I was really surprised that there was no menu on the wall. They only had a SINGLE laminated menu at the order counter. People waiting in line to order have no idea what they offer to be able to order when they get to the counter so further delaying the customer.

While the staff seemed initially helpful when taking your order, you essentially disappeared to them after placing your order. I ordered 2 drinks that never came.

When we arrived, there were approx 16 people in the restaurant and only 2 had food. One couple that I spoke to said they'd been waiting over 30 min. Another got their order and said that they had waited over an hour and a half.

I went over to ask someone why it took so long to get out FRIED CHICKEN, FRIED CHICKEN WINGS and waffles/waffle fries. They said that when they run out of chicken they have to get more out of the freezer and wash and season it. Very unprepared for a rush, for sure. I explained that I could take a live chicken, pluck it, cut it up and fry it faster than that.

I eventually asked for a refund after waiting 45 minutes; I might be willing to give this place a second chance because a lot of people have said their chicken is very good but I will be calling in my order and getting it to go.

Replying to the reply: If you knew you were going to be on the news, you should have expected the rush. For your staff to claim, or rather offer up the excuse, that "we've got 80 pc's of chicken to cook" is just unacceptable for a public restaurant; you don't see Lucy's whining about crowds.

I chalk it up to either horrible management or ownership or actually both.

Update: Well, I've been able to go by the Domain location for lunch.

I have actually upgraded you to 2-stars.

The food was actually fairly good. I ordered the Jerk Wings & Waffle Fries. My associate ordered CPR Wings & a Waffle.

The Jerk seasoning is phenomenal, the chicken was cooked well and served hot. The fries, meh, standard seasoned waffle fries you can also get at Arby's.

My associate said that the waffle was excellent, he may even order just that by itself but he didn't care for the wings. He didn't listen when the server stated that the "P" in CPR meant Parmesan. Not a big fan...

Also, the menu states Chicken & Waffles but you only offer Wings. I'm glad I didn't take my wife, she is a dark meat eater and wouldn't like only wings. Plus, my order was for 4 wings & fries, add a bottled soda and it came to around $11.

The decor in the "Detour Bar" isn't what I would call acceptable "restaurant decor", I think they can't decide if they are a bar or a restaurant. You order your food at the bar, again, off the paper sized, amateur, kiddie designed menu. The "are they legal" slot machines behind you at the bar are a nice touch...FOR A BAR.

The server was very nice but it just wasn't an atmosphere that I feel good eating my lunch at.

I will say that it seems that while this place has got their food in a right place, their attention to details, such as the menu, and, it's kind of obvious when you are trying to find the place, SIGNAGE, it may overall make it. A good restaurant mento with a stylist or decorator could do this place some good.

I don't know how their dinner crowd is at this location but I may only order my food TOGO from this place...

Update July 23: Dope 5 star wings and onion rings. Dropped a star for ridiculously high prices and extremely confusing flavor options. One sentence or even just a word would go a long way. What the hell is Kenya, WWW, Monte Cristo, Bustdown, GSO, Bomb etc?? Which ones are saucey and which ones are dry rubs? Wouldn't know from the menu.

Btw, Bustdown is a wet BBQ sauce and Kenya is a wet hot sauce type. Both are pretty good.

Previous review: Huge wings! Incredible! Loved the "Rumble N Da Jungle". It was a wet sauce. Not sure what's in it but tasted like peach/mango habanero sauce. We also tried the "CPR" dry rub and that was tasty as well. I believe that stands for Cajun parmesan ranch but I could be wrong.

Best waffle fries. We had them regular but I was told we can season them in any of their wings sauces so that's a nice touch!

Tried that purple drank per the reviews - not my thing. It was way too sweet for my liking.

The menu that we looked it was pretty confusing. My wife and I are partial for the wet sauces but it's hard to tell which ones are dry and which ones wet. There are flavors such as Rumble N Da Jungle, the Kenya, the Bomb, Herdy bird, GSO..and I have no idea what to expect as there are no descriptions.

In another menu, it states a few signature flavors and basic flavors with none of the above flavors but with the disclaimer "too many to list". Perhaps they are still working on finalizing the menu.

We were asked if we wanted ranch or blue cheese with our wings and we picked blue cheese. It was not the best blue cheese I have had but it wasn't bad either. Personally I like a good mix of saucy and chunks of blue cheese in my dip and this was completely saucy.

In any case, the wings were delicious and I will be back to try some of the other...

The people were good, the chicken not so much.

Price: $$ 20 chicken wings, Friend pickes, Jalapeno poppers and water was about $55.

Food: The breading on the wings was actually really good but the seasoning was just heavy as heck. I paid a lotta money, so we ate what we could.

But now I as I write this, I still taste salt. I was hoping for the Kenya wings to be really hot, but they're somewhere around the medium spice level of most places.

Most their sauces and rubs are just names that you don't really know what they are because there's really no description. The person at the counter tried to tell us, but I'm sure it's hard to remember all the flavors off the top of your head.

Their drinks were water, blue koolaid or red koolaid. I mean I like koolaid, but for the price you're charging for the wings, I guess the expectation is there that you'd at least have soft drinks.

Atmosphere: I liked the music, I enjoyed watching the Xgames on one of the 2 TVs there. Had a hole in the wall vibe. Just not a lot goin on compared to other places.

Overall: I really wanted to like this place, and I really liked the staff... but the food and price are still...