Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen — Restaurant in West Gardiner

i wrote a long review yesterday but it has disappeared. on July 1, 2025 we stopped at the turnpike service plaza in west Gardiner. we went to the popeyes counter where there was 3 girls at the counter standing around chatting, who looked at us like we were a nuisance to them, one tallish young and thin girl was particularly rude and the other 2 seemed to follow her lead. but there were several other issues. Chk 28387 4:23 pm... 1000037 Nick S #1 they could only take a credit card because the morning girl had signed in to take cash but now she had gone home, shouldn't the morning girl have signed off and an afternoon girl signed in to take cash? or was this just an excuse to be lazy? #2 no chicken. it would take them 45 minutes to cook some bone in chicken--- umm you are a chicken restaurant why isn't there some ready? #3 the area where you could get a drink- there was a drink poured all over the entire counter and down the front of it and all over the floor. there were 2 little brown napkins sitting in it totally soaked, the cup lids looked like someone had shuffled through them and they were all over the filthy counter, i for one do not wish to put a cup lid on that could have been handled by dozens of travelers hands, and then me drink out of it- GROSS! but dont ask the rude counter girl because "It isn't her responsibility to clean that area" #4 we couldn't order the bone in breast or thighs so we settled for a classic Bacon and cheese combo and a 5pcs tender combo . got back on the turnpike and realized they decided not to give us a combo apparently since we were not given biscuits. we paid $28.57 #5 after i pointed out to the girls that the counter was disgusting and the cup covers could not be clean laying in that mess the rude girl informed me that she is not responsible for that area , and the 3 continued to talk and whisper and turn to look at us like we were such a nuisance or trouble makers, this is probably why we were not given the combos. customer service was definitely a bad experience. and the cleanliness was deplorable. the food that we got tasted good and a man that had been previously out back came out at one point and he seemed friendly. I have also worked in the restaurant business and i cant see how the cup/napkin/ soda area could pass any type of a food safety inspection. and if they cant keep that area clean can they handle the other food appropriately, where we cant see the preparations? Scary ! the whole plaza was relatively quiet it was not as though they were dozens of customers to serve, it was the 2 of us and one...

10/04/25 UPDATE: CRAP CRAP! No chicken (2nd time in a row), but you'll have to wait 15 to 20 minutes for someone to let you know there's no chicken, just stupid and a waste of time. Horrible service and staff!!!!

11/09/23: food has gotten better as have the menu items. However, service is worse as are the employees. They still CAN'T GET ONE ORDER RIGHT!!! This is no longer incompetence but pure stupidity. But don't bother letting them know they got the order wrong 'cause you're going to get some dumb excuse. But dumb maybe I'm the dumb one who keeps believing they'll get ONE ORDER right someday. But I've wasted my time and money enough times and returning to this one or any other Popeyes.

Chicken is delicious when you can get the right order. I prefer dark meat, spicey, the people here RARELY EVER get the order right. Additionally, there is always something they don't have, say, mash or slaw, or even the Spivey chicken. Then theres the wait, I mean 7 to 10 mins to get your order, WOW! So, chicken good, staff and service horrendous. I'm a local...

I'm giving Popeyes Louisiana fried Chicken 2 Stars and that's because I do love the chicken. It started out being a great place to go and get my Louisiana fried Chicken, but things have changed. I recently went to pickup chicken around 7:00 - 7:15 but they were closing up and they weren't supposed to close until 8:00. The cashier was pulling biscuits off the pass-through with her hands, my guess is she was taking those puppies home with her.

I worked in the restaurant business for many years and if someone came in 5 minutes till close, we served them anyway. If your sign says open till 8:00 then you should be open until 8:00. This is the second time that's happened to me. I forgot about the first time until after this time. Not at all impressed.

This Popeye's fried chicken is at a rest area on the turnpike and I find it difficult to believe that you would close up shop at 8:00 even in Maine.

Here's hoping that they'll bring a Popeye's to Augusta...