Moe's Southwest Grill

I visited our local Moe's the other day for dinner with my husband and 2 year old. It was a while since we've had Moe's. I have never visited this location before.

Let me start by asking - since when to cashiers ask for tips? As soon as I took out my card for payment, the cashier was quick to to tell me that they accept tips and advised that I needed to choose a tip on the screen before paying. There was no option not to tip! I chose $1 (which was the lowest option) and didn't even get a thank you. Tips should not be mandatory when you are just doing your job.

The chips/queso (which we had so looked forward to) was so salty we couldn't eat it. That was a bummer.

More importantly, as we were eating in our booth.. some employees came out from the back to tell other workers that the phone keeps ringing/someone keeps calling. A worker comes out in the dining area on her phone, seems frantic and locks the doors. We had no idea what was going on. They let the other customer out the back door after he cashed out. I overheard the worker on the phone saying 'threatening to shoot up the place'. She went in the back with all other employees and we were the only customers out in the dining room. We were confused and a little freaked out so we started to pack up our food to take home. The worker (still on her phone) came to let us out so I asked if everything is ok, she advised that a disgruntled employee was calling and threatening to shoot up the place! Why didn't someone tell us what was going on? We were so left in the dark. We certianly felt bad for the workers and wished them well.

What a very uncomfortable & stressful situation to be in, especially with having our child there. Surely a huge waste of $43.

I'm truly not one to complain but felt I needed to on this. My mom & I visit this particular Moe's often as we shop close by. We have never had a problem here. We stopped in Sunday around 1:30pm. Upon entering we see one girl behind the counter on her cell phone giggling & smiling, she did say "welcome to moes with cell phone in ear. She got off after a good minute & said " sorry that was my boss". I order first, my usual, earmuff. Rice choice was asked I chose cilantro lime as always, the metal bin was about empty & she scraped out what she could. Next meat, chicken I said. This metal bin was about empty but she scraped out less than a spoonful of crumbs & I said that's it. She responded flustered & said she was the only one on the line & it was really busy right before us. There was 2other tables seated. She made the rest of my bowl & moved on to mom. Meanwhile there is a younger guy cleaning tables from the time we walked in. He was doing a nice job. Anyways mom said cilantro lime rice too but asked if there was more made as now the bin was really empty. She said I don't know I'll have to check. She checks & comes back saying it'll be few minutes yet as its cooking. She asked if she wanted to wait, mom said yes please. While waiting the girl asked what meat she would like. Mom said chicken too but proceeded to ask the girl about white & dark meat. She said "this is dark...empty bin, and this is white...completely full bin". Mom turns to me & says you usually get white meat. I agreed & said I know but was never asked or given the choice as I always have before. The girl said I'm doing my best for being alone. She asked if I wanted a new bowl made as she felt bad now. I said no thanks it will be just fine. Mom now asks for dark meat please but tells her the bin is empty is there more. She says let me check, goes in back for several minutes. We now see a young girl starring at us through kitchen door window. She now comes out & proceeds to cut up dark meat chicken that was fully cooked just sitting in a metal bin next to the grill. She's chopping & seems clearly perturbed. Several minutes go by as we sit there waiting for counter girl to come back out. She does not but boy cleaning tables stops & comes behind counter, washed his hands put gloves on & politely asks what we are waiting on. We tell him & now girl finally comes out from backearwater with rice crying, puts fresh rice down & goes back in kitchen again. The young guy finished our order. More people are coming in now & another young girl comes out to help. There are three people helping behind counter except our blonde girl who clearly was hiding outhe in thevery back. Funny how she said she was alone but now suddenly there's three working plus herself. We sat down finally & proceeded to eat. It was probably another good 10-15minutes before the girl finally came out of the kitchen. She did do some work but not serving people. Another younger girl employee had just came in for her shift now & went over to this girl to say hi & you can clearly hear her say "oh no what's the matter, what happened". She proceeds then to look over at my mom & I. We were never mean or rude to this girl. Just wanted fresh food like normal not crumbs on the bottom of the bins. We really asked nicely about it but clearly her feelings were hurt & she was offended. I believe her name was Megan. Young, skinny, white girl, really long blonde hair back in pony tail with Buffalo Bills Hoodie on. No name tag anywhere but another employee said her name. She did not interact with & just seemed like she didn't really care to be there. Customer service skills were terrible & if you're hurt & offended that easily what will happen when someone actually is mean or yells at her.