This review is for the OVERALL experience at Dave's Hot Chicken, not specific to their food and/or…read moreservice. If you are looking for a review specific to their food or service, you may want to skip this particular review.
As you know, there are two groups of people that dine at fast food counters, 1) those who are fine with contributing 18%, 20%, 22% or Other on top of prices posted on the menu or 2) those who do not. I am in the latter group. If you are in the former, this review is not for you and I again recommend you move on to the next review.
I stopped in for a quick meal on my drive from Phoenix to San Diego. This particular franchisee is conveniently located off the interstate highway and having enjoyed their food in the past, I stopped in again.
Upon completing my order at the counter for a $16.88 combo meal with small drink, this time I was charged $22.36. The $22.36 for a posted $16.88 price, included the exorbitant State & Local Taxes and a 22% gratuity.
On this purchase I noticed there is now a small screen that pops up when you attempt to close out your invoice that produces four options, 18%, 20%, 22% or Other. There are no other choices, no work arounds to get past this small screen . . . nothing happens when you touch "Other"; you'll discover as I did the screen is NOT a touchscreen. There are no instructions on the screen and no other options if you do not wish to have labor upcharges added to your invoice for your fast food counter order placed in a bag. You must select 18%, 20%, 22% or Other. Otherwise you are not able to close out your invoice.
I finally figured out there are hard (hardware mounted) buttons running along the bottom of the plastic frame of the terminal, but with no applicable instructions. So, I pressed the forward button (it is a triangle shape) which I realized after seeing the screen adds 22% to my invoice which must correlate to the option located up above on that small screen which, of course, was the 22% option. That's how the $16.88 number on their menu ended up further totaling a $22.36 charge on my credit card. Done . . . signed, sealed and posted to my credit card account in the blink of an eye, or in this case the blink of a touched arrow key.
Again, if you are good with paying $22.36 for a $16.88 fast food menu item ordered at the counter and put in a bag, then no worries, this is the place for you. But if you are in the group with me that believes the franchisee should transparently put a price that includes overhead expenses such as the cost of the food (obviously), facility, labor, napkins, straws, cups, etc. as a part of the pricing model, this place is not for you.
State and County taxes are one thing, but to add labor on top of the $16.88 posted menu price for fast food orders you place at the counter and carry out in a bag, with food, facility overhead, napkins, straws, cups, etc. instead of including them in the pricing model, this is not the place for you.
I enjoy good food from restaurants, but cannot afford to pay for the labor that goes into cooking it and putting it into a bag unless the amount is disclosed up front and I can make a decision to patronize that franchisee or not before, not after I enter the facility.
If cost is a factor to you when it comes to fast food, just be aware of this franchisee's business model.