Cicis Pizza — Restaurant in Winter Haven

My feedback about my first visit experience in this restaurant was not pleasant. I was welcome as soon I got inside the restaurant by one of the crew member; kudos to her. Dining area was well maintained, tables were clean, floor were clean; kudos to KJ. Pizza line was full of crumbs, pizza were looking dry like they were there longer than expected, some of them were cold. Only the cinnamon rolls, cheese and round pepperoni pizza were fresh. Pasta line was a mess which is the first thing you see as soon you come in to the restaurant. I understand pasta sauce can make a mess. But I also know that for the big crew that was working there at that time is for the food line to be looking better than it was. Salad bar was looking not so pleasant only the lettuce looked appetizing. Other toppings were all looking not so good. Tomatoes specially there was 3 wedges and had black olives inside and tomatoes were not looking fresh. Even the olives container had croutons on it. They were missing bowls for the soup, plates was hard to reach because they were far behind the counter. Soda machine nice updated and clean. Great ice tea; love it, napkins and straws were well stock. Utensils well stock BUT and this is my biggest concern and frustration UTENSILS WERE DIRTY. OK... I send my 11 yrs old girl to ask for plastic utensils and the lady at the front said they dont have none. OK!! So I went to the front my self and ask the lady at front (which I believe she was the lead because I saw her doin papers at the end tables later on that night) for some plastic utensils and gave me the same respond and I explained to her the utensils were dirty. She said "Sorry we dont have no plastic utensils" which I follow with Dont you guys carry plastic utensils for to go orders? Her answer was "No" and then she offer me a plastic cup with hot water to take to my table to sanitize my dirty utensils. Hummm!! I dont think this will be the right procedure for this cases. She didn't even walk to the utensil area or send someone over there to change the dirty utensils for some clean ones. It is not like the restaurant was pack and the crew was busy putting out food. At that time there was only 15 people on the restaurant. There was around 10 crew members 6 of them joking in the kitchen with the one I believe was the "Lead." Kj keeping dining shining. There was another hispanic lady stacking plates with an attitude. Another lady with glasses cleaning behind the counter.

I think that for a restaurant to be successful should be having : great customer service, keep all restaurant area clean and organize and fresh food; and this is were this restaurant is lacking specially in keeping food area clean...

8:41 PM - Friday May 10th 2024 at Winter Haven FL

I’m currently trying enjoy my day with my family and dine in at Cici’s. At the moment— we entered the door. The environment of everyone aura of the staff was very far from nice. We walked up and the staff Ignored us for quite a few minutes. We tried catch their attention, no avail until my cousin. Who’s eleven years old said something to catch their attention. ‘ Excuse me? Are we invisible or what? ‘ — Then blue shirt as i understood was a maneger that had a foul mood just wasn’t on right. ‘ I’ll attend you in a second ‘ we waited atleast 15 minutes.

I kept the time.

Once we entered and payed for our entry. We felt nothing but clatter, thrown dishes and bad aura of anger as more customer came in. We even asked if they could make us more soup. The ignorance of their responding to my question was not — Welcoming.

So I sat down. Kept eye on the environment. Seeing how blue shirt maneger attitude was just awful , giving a jerk and mad response from facial expression from the moment we entered through the door, till even when we dined or order something.

Even more people came in on a Friday. Their attitude melted the scene like iron to lava. Horrible addition nonetheless—

I know this cicis ain’t like this. But I’m not letting this slide. Correct your behavior. If you became a worker or maneger of restaurant accept the responsibility of having a rush, full house or administrative customer come in with big groups. Don’t slam pots and pans. Don’t leave food items in out of designated locations. Don’t clean ahead of schedule and make the customer feel unwanted.

This is unacceptable.

Never roll your eyes at customer or attend them with snarky attitude.

Thank you.

Review...

If I could give this place no stars I would. Not 5 minutes after eating my stomach started hurting and I threw up. I didn't even Want to eat it after tasting it but I wasn't about to waste the $16 I paid so I decided I'd just eat it even though it wasn't appetizing expecting that to be the only thing wrong but there was so much wrong! First off when i reached for a plate to start getting my pizza, the plate was dirty, and then when i got a clean plate and got my pizza, the pizza was cold and when I finally got some that was fresh it was literally pouring grease off the pizza when I picked it up which is absolutely isance for as thin as the pizza was. The pizza was literally paper thin. Anyway I decided to eat it, the bread sticks were ok but a little too greasy but they were alright but ALL the desserts were way way undercooked. The sweet tea was actually good though. But right after I ate I started feeling sick. On the way home I felt like I was going to puke which I actually did end up throwing up. And as I'm writing this even after getting sick, my stomach is having severe pains. I really advise anyone not to go here!! I've never in my life been so disappointed in a restaraunt before because I'm like the most laid back person and I just love food so I'm not picky at all, this is the first time having such an awful experience that has left me sick...