Taco Bell — Restaurant in Vernon Township

I've lived in Highland lakes my whole life, in the same spot forever and as anyone who lives in Highland lakes you only really have two options for hot food, The Lake Wanda Store or Market Place. So, it at first was really nice to have a Taco Bell so close and not have to drive to Franklin but then when Covid hit as well as late fall to early spring that meant all of the fricken Mountain Creekers where swarming and clogging up the town. I understand it is really hard for businesses to operate during Covid and especially that some people are not comfortable going to fast-food restaurants since young kids typically have one of their first jobs there and they don't always care about the costumers. But with that understanding, once or twice me and my family have gone through the drive through and we've had to wait over a half an hour as well as one they said they where out of BEANS, yes BEANS! I understand things happen since I am learning about the food industry but they also where once out of BEEF and TACO SHELLS! I am not the type to complain at all but a Taco Bell out of beans, beef and taco shells? On one hand I felt bad for them but a couple of other times previously I have heard the employees laughing loudly in the background while we are placing our order and one of the times this happened when we where waiting for a half an hour and I completely understand being happy and enjoying your job and talking WHILE working but on the other hand it can slow down business and also occasionally result in injury from not paying attention. I'm not saying be a Grinch and establish a rule of no smiling or laughing but it was pretty rude as well as a half an hour wait? I mean it is called fast- food for a reason. Me and my family will still gladly come to this Taco Bell but I just figured that I'd inform you of our experience but I do thank you guys for making Taco Bell a little more accessible to us people living in the Valley or Highland lakes.

EDIT: I also forgot to mention that a lot of the food from the menu has gotten taken off the menu and I understand if it isn't bringing in money or people have just gotten tired of it but two items my family loved so much one was the Taco Salad and the other, my personal favorite, the Carmel Apple Empanada where taken off. I'd love to see them again someday I understand that they replaced the Taco Salad with the Protein Bowl but what I've heard from my family member it is sadly no where near the same. I know obviously head quarters or the team who plans the menu will never read this but I figured I'd just put...

I placed a mobile order around 11:00 PM and arrived at this Taco Bell location at 11:10 PM—well before their posted closing time of 12:00 AM. When I got to the drive-thru, I was told they were closed. I found this strange, as the lights were on and I saw at least three employees working inside.

I waited at the drive-thru window for several minutes, saw a few ready-to-go orders on the counter, but no one acknowledged me. I then walked to the door (which also said open until 12:00 AM) and found it locked. An employee looked directly at me as I tried the handle, then turned away when I knocked.

After waiting 10 more minutes, I knocked again. Three employees came to the door and rudely told me they had closed early due to being short-staffed. When I asked if my order had been prepared, they claimed they had run out of food—despite visible bagged orders on the counter. When I requested help getting a refund, they told me to do it through the app and shut the door in my face without any assistance.

Extremely unprofessional and disrespectful behavior. If I could give zero stars, I would. I won’t be returning to this location, and I’ll be encouraging others to...

Hopefully the nasty cashier with curly long hair no longer works here. I refuse to come back here after about 6 months, likely never to return. This person was so rude to me in the drive-thru after I had already paid for my food and was told at the PICK UP WINDOW there was not enough meat for my order. Instead of of resolving the situation and giving my money back, the nasty cashier had a bad attitude and actually blamed me for leaving the drive thru and coming back 10 minutes later asking for a refund. I guess I shouldn't have first assumed I would be refunded for an order I DID NOT PICK UP AS THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH MEAT TO MAKE IT. Instead she actually planned to not refund me and go about her day. At least the manager there did end up giving me a refund, but it was basically dangled over my head as they taunted me about the store closing in 10 minutes and that I would be unable to get a refund unless I drove quickly and got there in time. Otherwise they told me to call the Taco Bell hotline for a refund. These people do not care about you or your money. Terrible customer service that leaves a bad taste in your mouth...& not just from the...