Quiet Sunday evening. I arrived about 2050. The location probably was probably 1/3 full. Staffing seemed adequate to handle that many people. I was seated promptly and Helga (name has been changed) greeted me and took my drink order. She came back about 15 minutes later with my drink and took my food order. I ordered buffalo shrimp and wings. She came back a few minutes later to inform me that I had missed one of the specials by 15 minutes. (I had waited on her for 15 minutes). I told her I would still take the food as ordered.
Apparently the shrimp were already prepared. She brought them right out. They tasted as though they had been sitting for a while. Two of the shrimp were not warm. The rest were room temperature. Taste was not quite right despite hot sauce covering it up. I figured it was just me. Wings came out about 15 minutes later. The meat quality was poor. The taste was off, the breading was not consistent, sort of pockets of breading and bare skin, almost as though they had breading mange. I realized that I was right about the shrimp tasting funny and the wings were even worse. Helga forgot the dressing and did not return to my table for a considerable amount of time.
However, she did manage to go to the front and talk to a co-worker for about 10 minutes and sit down at a table and chat with a customer for another 10. In case you are wondering, no my drink was never refilled. I saw the manager walking through and asked him for my dressing. A few minutes later he gives me a tiny shot glass sized plastic cup. As though I could dip my wings in that. Later, I did notice I was charged 0.53 for the shot of dressing. Way to go guys!! Of the 10 wings, I could only eat four. They were with out a doubt, the worse wings I have ever had. The food was not even mediocre. It was just terribly pathetic. The wings had that cooked in old, burnt oil, set aside, then reheated taste to them.
I was going to order chocolate cake. However, based upon the shrimp and the wings I decided to not risk it. Helga asked if I wanted a box when she stopped by my table. I told her no thanks. She didn't think. "Hmmm there is a 6'4" 270 pound guy here and he has a 10 wing order and 6 are left....perhaps something is wrong." Nope. She didn't ask, and apparently didn't tell the manager. I know she talked to him. More on that later.
She brought the bill and disappeared. Didn't see Helga I waited 15 minutes, still no Helga. I put on my coat and waited some more. I stood up and looked around and waited. No sign of Helga. I walked up to the bar cash register and asked the server there to cash me out. OH. I had to have Helga to do that. Guess where she was? She was on the other side of the bar, out of sight, chatting with the manager. He didn't even ask why I felt it necessary to come to the bar to cash out. This place is in serious need of help. I have gotten decent service and food here in the past, but that was over a year ago. I doubt I will return. I also will probably not visit another Hooters.
There are too many other options out there. Oh, and Helga, is just a small part of the problem. You can have a bad server, or someone incompetent. I get that. However, food and the quality is what brings people in. Sadly, Hooters is not what it used to be. I did write Hooters on their website for feedback, and, like Helga, that isn't working either. read more