Tropical Smoothie Cafe — Restaurant in Town of Brookhaven

TLDR: This location has a lot of potential and hardworking staff but they lack the amount of staff they need to be successful and the management to do so. Minimal staffing will make this location fail and should be staffed like other locations (ref: Patchogue location).

I’ve been to this location 3 different times, once right around their grand opening and twice since using online ordering. The grand opening stretch, also around a holiday weekend, was rough. They had 2 on smoothies, the manager on food alone, a supporting manager floating, 1 person cleaning, 1 person prepping (6ppl). When I went in, the wait was around 30 minutes to get a sandwich and a smoothie. Retail workers were talking to their managers who were also waiting saying “I’ll figure out how to make up the time”. The issue? Not enough staff and the manager was working a station vs expediting and directing.

The second time I went, my online order went smoothing and the food was great, so was the smoothie. It was actually one of the best one I’ve had in years. But I went at an off time to avoid a long wait. They had 1 person on smoothie, 1 on register, 1 on food, and 1 cleaning (4ppl).

The third time I went, which was in the last week or so, was during lunch time and I ordered two smoothies online. The staff had 1 person flexing between register and smoothies, 1 person on smoothies, 1 person on food, and the manager flexing through stations, and maybe someone in the back but it didn’t seem like it (4ppl min). They didn’t have anyone to clean the smoothie blenders so there was a lot of furious water swishing (no shade at the employee - in food service you make game time decisions when slammed). Our smoothies took 20th minutes longer than the online eta (and apparently everyone was ordering online that day). One smoothie came out…meh. The other wasn’t ok due to it not having the modifications requested at the minimum, but instead of making everyone else wait we took to smoothies, tried to drink them, then ultimately threw them away.

To my point, at the same time (lunch time) in Patchogue, I know they have 4 people on smoothies, 3 on food, 2 cleaning, 1 on food prep, 1 at register, and the manager is floating to expedite and handle issues aka 11 ppl. And even then the Patchogue location has a wait during lunch, but around 10 minutes.

My point is that at no point is this location staffed enough to succeed. Either the manager has to step into a role to make ends meet or feels that’s the best use of her time. Corporate and whoever else needs to staff this store or I don’t see it making it. Which is sad because I was SOO excited to have a Tropical Smoothie in my town, but at this rate, I want to Patchogue...

I ordered 2 smoothies and a flatbread this afternoon. Had to run a few errands before my wife and I pick up our newborn from the NICU. Figured a smoothie would be quick, easy, tasty and refreshing.

When I arrived my order was sitting in a cubby. The smoothies had been out melting since they completed the order. When I picked it up, one had exploded or fallen. It was covered in açaí smoothie. The top was barely on. Both smoothies were melted. I now have to wait for them to refreeze.

I have never been to a Tropical Smoothie Cafe that didn’t keep the drinks in a freezer until the customer arrived.

The flatbread looked like someone threw all the ingredient into the appropriate sized bread and called it a day. The way it was wrapped caused most of it to fall out.

This was not my favorite TSC experience. Not that they’re often great, because they’re not, but they’re also not usually this bad.

Update: not only are they melted, but they’re also watery. Both smoothies are watered down and taste disgusting. Glad that I wasted $30 at...

I’m not one to write reviews but today was just inexcusable. I ordered my food and smoothies at 1:40 pm. I showed up at 2:00 and the drinks were ready and the sandwiches were not. I let him know we were waiting on two sandwiches. Another 20 minutes roll by and my sandwiches still were not being made, and patrons that came in and ordered after me were getting their smoothies and drinks before me. I asked again after 30 minutes and still no food was being made. They made one sandwich and when I asked about the other they still didn’t even begin in. It’s now an hour after and I still don’t get my wrap. They tried handing me another persons after I told them at least 10 times I’m not that persons. I got my money back, and the manager handed me the receipt and couldn’t even look at me. I work in food too, I know how crazy and hectic it gets, and even understand when an order is forgotten, but the way it was handled was terrible. They forgot it and just simply didn’t make it. Terrible...