I feel generous giving this establishment two stars. But this restaurant is problematic to me for a few reasons Food Quality, Food Safety, and Service Level.
Food Quality / Prep - When I'm thinking about mac and cheese, I'm thinking a rich comfort food where the elements meld together and every bite is transportive. Here it doesn't feel like any flavor creations or presentation are taking place at all where it definitely should at this price point. For me, I had a Buffalo Blue concotion with breaded chicken. The chicken pieces were so low end, I wouldn't serve them to my dog. Once I peeled the thick layer of breading off the cheese soaked thumbnail sized nugget, the inner chicken core can barely be called a chicken blob. The bowl really didn't have discernable beats of Buffalo OR Blue. The dish was super-bland. For what we ate and the number of sit in customers, it should not have taken as long as it did. They don't feel ready for any kind of customer surge. Again, I'm not expecting michelin star culinary experience, here. But I would feel like returning if what we had put in front of us weren't just flat out gross. The tater tots had less of a cruncy coating and more of what I might describe as a "film", also bland. Just a frustrating experience.
Food Safety - Staff wear gloves when handling food. However. They indeed are young and dont realize that you have to wear both gloves when handling food, not just one glove for the hand youre handling food with. And not to touch the glove with your ungloved hand. Also do not scratch yourself or wipe your brow with your gloved hands and then handle food. If these are the visible issues, I wonder what the invisible cross-contamination issues are at play.
Service - The kids are nice enough, but in my experience you can't act like you're too good for the food there. Especially if I ask for a recommendation. Staring down your nose at me and saying "oh i dont actualy EAT the food here" isn't a good look and an immediate red-flag. If the person I brought wasn't insistent on eating, I'd have turned heel and left immediately. If you're going to participate in table talk at the end of the meal, you should notice that we barely touched it.
This is a chain so there are limits to the improvements that can be made, but I would start by simplifying the menu, do five or six dishes really well instead of trying to be the mac and cheese quick-service version of Cheesecake factory. The menu board is so long you can't even see the end of it.
I'm unlikely to eat here again. The place felt like all schtick and zero substance, where it could have been the opposite. There are too many options in town to feel like you wasted your money, and unless they make some major improvements to their operation, they won't last a year. (But I've been wrong... somehow Panda Express continues to operate at their Wake Forest Road location). read more
