Extremely Disrespectful Customer Service -- I Will Never Return…read more
My friend and I visited Uno's Tacos last night to grab something to eat after a long day. I was looking forward to spending time with a longtime friend, and unfortunately, what should have been a simple, enjoyable experience turned into an incredibly uncomfortable and disrespectful one.
When we approached the register, there was no line and no cashier or server present to take our order. We patiently waited for a while until a staff member finally came over. While my friend and I were discussing what we wanted to order, another customer walked up to the register, and the cashier immediately proceeded to take that customer's order before ours, despite the fact that we had already been waiting.
I found this extremely disrespectful. We were there first, we had been patiently waiting, and there was absolutely no acknowledgment of us or consideration for the fact that we were already waiting to be served. After the cashier walked away to take the other customer's order, I asked my friend out loud whether she still wanted to eat there. My friend said yes, so we continued waiting patiently.
When the cashier eventually returned to take our order, I respectfully asked why she had taken the other customer's order before ours when we had arrived first and had already been waiting. Her explanation was that she did not know whether we wanted food because I had asked my friend if she still wanted to eat there. That explanation made absolutely no sense, because I made that comment after she had already walked away from us to take the other customer's order. The timeline alone contradicted her reasoning, and I felt that she was making excuses rather than taking accountability for how she had treated us.
Unfortunately, the experience became even more uncomfortable. After this interaction, I noticed the other employees laughing and making loud noises in Spanish, which they had not been doing before. I cannot say with certainty what they were saying or whether their behavior was directed at us, but given the circumstances, the timing made me feel as though we were being discussed or mocked. I do not speak Spanish, and being in an environment where I felt uncomfortable, unwelcome, and potentially ridiculed by the staff was deeply upsetting.
Customer service should never leave paying customers feeling disrespected, dismissed, or unwelcome. Even if there was a misunderstanding, the appropriate response would have been to communicate professionally, acknowledge the situation, and treat us with the same courtesy as every other customer.
For context, I am a pharmacist, and I understand the importance of professionalism, accountability, and treating people with dignity and respect. I was simply trying to enjoy a meal and spend quality time with a longtime friend. Instead, we were made to feel as though our presence and business were not valued.
I am especially disappointed because no customer should have to question whether they are being treated differently or made fun of when they walk into an establishment to purchase food. As a Black customer, this experience left me feeling particularly unwelcome, and I believe other Black customers should be aware of my experience before deciding whether to patronize this establishment.
I will never return to Uno's Tacos, and I would not recommend it based on the customer service I experienced. The food is only one part of a restaurant experience; how customers are treated matters just as much. Management should take a serious look at how its staff communicate with and treat customers, because no one should leave a restaurant feeling the way my friend and I did.