Dave's Hot Chicken — Restaurant in Wake Forest

Upon entering the establishment at 9:53 AM, I noticed that the store hours were listed as 11 AM to 10 PM. However, I was not greeted and instead, Lilly inquired if I had an online order. I responded negatively, and she informed me that the store was closed. I inquired about the discrepancy between the listed hours and the actual closing time of 10 PM. She reiterated that the store was closed, and the kitchen was also closed. When I asked how the store could be closed at 10 PM given the listed hours, she advised that the manager had informed her of the closure. She then proceeded to answer the phone and, based on her demeanor, suggested that I speak with the manager. Shanita arrived and I repeated my inquiry. She explained that the kitchen had run out of chicken and, as a result, had decided to close. I expressed my skepticism regarding the chicken shortage as a valid reason for the closure. I informed her that I would be contacting upper management, including President Jim Bitticks, to address this issue. I emphasized that this was not the first instance of inadequate service that I had experienced at the establishment. When I inquired about the inability to place an online order, she informed me that the cutoff time was 9:30 AM. However, I did not see this information listed on the website. I explained that I had never encountered a cutoff time for online orders. Instead, the customer receives a message online indicating that the restaurant has received an excessive number of orders. I am confident in my understanding of the situation and the potential actions of the staff near closing time. I believe that the staff interprets the 10 PM closing hour as the time to depart, rather than the time when the business officially closes and the remaining tasks are to be completed after the business’s official hours. My recommendation to the relevant authorities is to identify staff who genuinely care about fulfilling their job responsibilities to the best of their abilities without displaying attitude. Hire individuals who are willing to represent your business as if it were their own. Investigate the recruitment process employed by Chick-Fil-A to identify and retain their top-tier employees, who consistently excel in the fast food and customer service industries. My son has already dismissed this establishment from consideration for any future business ventures due to the prolonged wait times experienced in the past. Consequently, I am now the next family member to express our disapproval of the restaurant and any potential business opportunities. I am diligent in managing my finances and value my money, which is why I choose to patronize businesses that treat me with respect as a customer. Unfortunately, I did not feel that way tonight. It is worth noting that another family arrived at 9:59 PM intending to place an order and contribute to the establishment’s revenue. However, Lilly also declined their request. Given the current economic climate, it is uncertain whether any food establishment can afford to lose customers. I urge you to improve your...

I have eaten at multiple Dave’s Hot Chickens in Texas, multiple times, Holly Springs, Alabama, South Carolina, and always have had excellent food and decent service. I was very excited when I went to the Wake Forest Dave’s and ordered my lunch. I waited in a line, which having been to Dave’s before I expected, and then waited for my order, to go. A gentleman came up and the worker handed them a bag. He proceeded to go to his table, open the bag, go through the bag and then brought it back up and told the worker it wasn’t his. She looked at the receipt and she said oh this is yours. I told her I would like it remade as the other customer had gone through it and I didn’t want food that another customer had handled. She seemed so confused by this request, went to the people in the back and told them and everyone acted so confused by my request. SERIOUSLY? They all acted put out and a little angry. Now this other customer had his hands on MY food and Dave’s is not cheap. I got my food after a very long wait and much discussion in the back and more anger and I wasn’t even sure that they had remade it, as it was cold, so I ended up throwing it away once I got home. Total disappointment. Last week I decided to give them another chance because I assumed any ‘bugs’ they had in their system had been worked out and the staff were better trained. My son and I each ordered 2 meals and the front counter cashier was very nice. The counter person was very nice. Both times I’ve been to the WF Dave’s I ordered extra seasoning on the fries because it’s so good!! I also love them dipped in the cheese sauce. I had forgotten this time to order the cheese sauce and they let me sneak in to order it. I wanted 6 as we had 4 orders and I had again asked for extra seasoning on my fries. When the counter person told the worker in the window that I needed 6 cheese sides she acted soooooo mad. Complained to the counter worker and acted super angry while she filled the containers. Also while I was waiting I tried a fry and it had no extra seasoning so I asked for a side of the fry seasoning, which I’ve done multiple times at every other Dave’s I’ve been to successfully, and they said no. I told them I didn’t want chicken seasoning because I understand their need to protect their brand but it was the fry seasoning which I’ve received multiple times from all of the other Dave’s that I’d been. When we got home the fries were old and very very gross. I threw mine away as did my son and my other son who I’d brought a meal home for. The sandwich was delicious!! I also ordered a chocolate shake with Oreos on top. It tasted good but was pure liquid. I love fries and was so disappointed in both experiences and won’t be back to the WF location. I feel that the drive to Holly Springs is worth it for good quality food. I wish they would get someone into this location to re-train this staff and require respect to the customers through their service as well as their food quality. Sorry it’s so long but I am just so sad that we finally got our Dave’s and...

Decided to try this new location a couple weeks after opening. Arrived at 11:45 am to about 10 people in line. One person at the register handling in-person orders and bagging up (multiple)on-line orders. Very slow. Finally ordered and given a pager. When the pager went off I went to retrieve my order and was given a bag with only one of the meals. A second employee (who looked like a manager in a black apron) checked and said that's what you ordered...I had to show her my receipt to prove it wasn't my order...I told her it was what she gave me. She checked my receipt number and said we aren't on that set of orders yet and acted like it was MY fault. I told her the beeper went off and I came up for the food. She then walked away. She seemed annoyed that when I checked the bag and opened the box it meant she now had to have that meal re-done for the person it was supposed to be for. Again, not my fault I was given the wrong order. I got her attention again and she said she would call out the order when it was ready. I asked for pager again as I did not want to stand up by the counter with half of Wake Forest waiting to order....she handed me one that had just been left on the counter. Didn't even try to program it with my order number even though I questioned her. I went back to my table and watched as the people who had been ahead of me in line went up for their food. After waiting for a bit it became clear my pager was not going to beep and I went up to the counter just as they were bagging it up. A different worker slid it onto the counter and yelled out the order number. She did not try to beep me.

Restaurant has very limited seating inside (a bit more outside but was cold and raining) so difficult to get a table, no napkins at the convenience area, 2 of the soda options out of service at the soda fountain, hard to find utensils and condiments (both at the front counter facing the employees), and garbage overflowing in both receptacles as we left around 12:30. Giant stack of boxes with supplies piled up by the front door near the counter. Overheard someone else saying the paper towels were out in the men's bathroom....he let the front counter know. Looked like they wanted to have him re-stock a big roll of it but he had walked away with his wet hands. Honestly, won't be back. Decent food but expensive and the customer service was non-existent and actually rude. Restaurant was not stocked or taken care of. We arrived within an...