Gus's Fried Chicken, You Can Do Better Than THAT!!
It was one of those blissful Sunday afternoons that most Mom's dream of! Our family felt led to find a new Church Home and after much prayer finally decided to do just that.
Most of you might understand my anxiety wondering if the kids would like it, whether or not we're called to serve there, etc. Well, much to my surprise my children begged to go back, my husband was incredibly moved by the Holy Spirit, and I was thanking God the whole way for giving us such a blessed day.
To celebrate our courage to follow His calling to find a new church (and actually doing it), we decided to go out to eat as a family. If you know us at all, this is a big deal because of our financial struggles the last few months. For us to willfully spend money on eating out is a BIG decision.
Our place of Destination?
2965 N Germantown Rd
Bartlett, TN 38133
My husband heard such great things about the Gus's in downtown and was anxious to treat us to some good fried chicken after church. Little did I know, it wouldn't even come CLOSE to "good".
Still on our "high" from church, we walked in with a giddy-up to our step! The kids were laughing, I was smiling, and we were scanning through all the yummy options on the menu. However, it would all go down hill in the next 10 minutes.
Our waitress took a good while (10 mins) to even take our drink order, in which we went proceeded to give our food order as well. Much to our surprise we hear:
"Well, we're out of fries. Sorry."
I saw my husband's face as he stated:
"Out of fries? How d----"
I interrupted him, which is my way of safely rescuing him from saying anything out of line. I mean, it's not the waitresses fault their out of fries, but REALLY out of fries, Gus?!
We ordered, we waited, we waited some more, some more the wait, the wait that never ENDED! It took at LEAST 45 minutes to an hour for our food to arrive. Now, sitting at a table with a very hungry and grouchy toddler never ends well. He screamed, he kicked, he jumped, he told me in his toddler-nese, "MOM! Don't they KNOW we're hungry?!"
Rudy went out for a walk with Dad, then a walk with Mom, then some TV on Dad's cell. Alas, our food was coming, but they brought everyone elses EXCEPT mine and my toddler's. Not to worry, just another 10 minutes and it was in front of us SCALDING HOT. I like my food to be hot, but this was touch-it-you'll-need-minor-med-attention HOT! No joke, we let his food cool for another 10 minutes and when he placed it in his mouth he cried as it scalded his sweet little mouth.
I don't get it, Gus.
We're a family of Five. A family who MORE THAN LIKELY would have given you repeat business if you simply took our order and didn't give us 3rd degree burns when we ate! All in all, sweet Rudy had it. He was mad his food took long. He was mad his food wasn't at a decent temperature, and he was mad that our dining experience was everything, but joyful.
This Momma wasn't happy either. The waitress was less than friendly, our drinks weren't asked to be re-filled, the food we wanted they were out of, the food we got took 25 minutes to cool, and all in all......... the waitstaff didn't care. Two hour dining experience that I was begging to end.
Gus's Fried Chicken, I KNOW you can do better than that! Weren't you featured on the Rachel Ray Show? My 5 and 6 year old have better customer service at their Lemonade stand than what we received yesterday afternoon. Want some pointers? They are available for interviews via phone or you can set up a meeting at Popeyes on weekdays after school hours, with their Momma present.
No hard feelings Gus, if we're ever out in Mason, TN we'll stop in and give you a second chance, however, Memphis locations will go on living without us.
That stinks! I have heard good things about them too but never been there. I don't think I will now.
Don't you hate when you go to a new place with such high expectations....and it is anything but great!!
So glad you liked the new church :) It is great to find a place that you feel at home--free to worship and to serve!
church hunting can be a long process so happy that you felt encouraged and excited in your faith! your restaurant experience sounded so painful. waiting for food with hungry kiddos is not fun!
Yikes! My toddler would have melted down long before the food arrived and I would have had to get it to go. Seriously.
Hugs Sara
We've been in the church hunt process before. What a blessing that you have found a church home. I pray you are able to make it a church family and really plug in. Praise God!
I just came across your blog and I love your sense of humor. :)
Here's the deal: they don't cook it until you order it, so you don't get dried out, inedible chicken. They bring it straight from the oil, so it's hot when you get it. If you want room temperature chicken as soon as you order it, go to KFC.
Thanks for taking the time to comment "Anonymous". I love new readers!
I also wanted to give you a big thank you for letting me know about your opinion on why they burn customers tongues at Gus's.
It's really kind of funny because the chicken we ate WAS dried out, inedible. So, your explanation doesn't make sense.
Also, I have GOTTEN better customer service at KFC than I did at Gus's so if you're an insider that works there, knows someone who does, etc..... explain it to me again because I'm still not buying it.
Feel free to visit my blog any time you want. As I said before, new readership and traffic is ALWAYS welcome. Have a great weekend!
Gus's is not a fast food restaurant, and it takes a while for the chicken to cook. If you went right after church, I know it was packed, so of course it took extra long! As for the poor service, I'm so sorry you were treated badly. I urge you to try again, at off-peak business hours. Eleven o'clock on saturdays is a great time to go. Perhaps try getting the chicken strips, as they cool faster also. I'm so sorry you had a terrible first experience, but you're really missing out.
I read this a few weeks ago and was shocked and horrified by your story. I posted the comment on September 12 in response. However, I just came back and re-read, in hopes for a response to my comment, and I realized something I didn't catch the first time-- that you went to Gus's in Germantown or Bartlett.
I have been a die-hard Gus's fan for years; I walk in and the staff greets me by name, and most know my "usual" order. My dad and I go almost every Saturday, as soon as they open, before it gets busy. But we ONLY go to the Gus's downtown. It's honestly the best. It's nothing like the ones out in suburbia, not even close.
The things you mention being issues (poor service, excessive wait, overcooked chicken, lack of fries, etc) are a result of the staff at your chosen location, and nothing to do with Gus's. Gus's is franchised and staffed by the owners of each individual owner.
I truly hope you will give a different location another chance. Downtown, ask for Cindy or Steve as your server, and try going in as soon as they open (11 on saturdays) and I can guarentee your food will be on your table, perfectly cooked, in 20 minutes. It will still be far too hot for a small child to eat, as it is right out of the fryer, so maybe pull it apart before allowing it to cool. I've never recieved third degree burns or even blisters from burning my mouth there, but they do bring it to you hot. I can also promise that your drink will not run out, Cindy especially is awesome about refilling. If you tell her Lilly sent you, I know that'll help too!
I really like your blog and hope you chose to go if it's ever convenient for you to go downtown. I know you'll have a better experience!