Favorite chain restaurant you shop for and why....
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
@pegleg2000 wrote:
Did Farmer Boys yesterday. Not bad. Did breakfast. Got 3 eggs, fruit, toast, bacon and orange juice. It was goo.
i've done that a few times, had both a burger and breakfast...very hearty!!
Live consciously....
Even a slight clue on who has Lazy Dog? I love Lazy Dog. They have an interesting menu. They also treat rescues right. That's how I got introduced to them--a fundraiser for a rescue. My dog loves Lazy Dog. As a matter of fact my Facebook profile photo is of my dog at Lazy Dog. I was going to post the photo but don't see how to do it.
@whiterosie wrote:
Even a slight clue on who has Lazy Dog? I love Lazy Dog. They have an interesting menu. They also treat rescues right. That's how I got introduced to them--a fundraiser for a rescue. My dog loves Lazy Dog. As a matter of fact my Facebook profile photo is of my dog at Lazy Dog. I was going to post the photo but don't see how to do it.
The company has been recently discussed on the Mystery Shop Forum Company Discussion forum. So just make sure you are enrolled with all of the companies discussed recently over there.
Texas de Brazil, Capital Grille, J Alexander and Five Guys. No Lazy Dogs in my area and I dislike BWW.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
You are speaking my language. We must shop the same area...@cubbiecat wrote:
Texas de Brazil, Capital Grille, J Alexander and Five Guys. No Lazy Dogs in my area and I dislike BWW.
Texas Roadhouse is a good one too, as noted above multiple times. BJs service is horrendous 99% of the time, but, Pizookies!
Doing what I can to enhance the life of my family! I LOVE what I do 
Texas Roadhouse, Bubba's
I've done BJ's but I don't think in my area they are so great. I like to sweeten my own tea and asked for sugar once and believe it or not, they did not have one packet of sugar in the place.
I think the chains are only as good as the management staff. Grandson has been managing restaurants the past few years. While he was working his way up he had several different managers he worked under and some of them stay in their office, while others are out on the floor working with the staff and overseeing the food and service. Makes a big difference. He's now managing a Lemonade restaurant in Calif.
Can't tolerate eating another 5 Guys and can't see what others see in them. I don't like limp fries.
I've done BJ's but I don't think in my area they are so great. I like to sweeten my own tea and asked for sugar once and believe it or not, they did not have one packet of sugar in the place.
I think the chains are only as good as the management staff. Grandson has been managing restaurants the past few years. While he was working his way up he had several different managers he worked under and some of them stay in their office, while others are out on the floor working with the staff and overseeing the food and service. Makes a big difference. He's now managing a Lemonade restaurant in Calif.
Can't tolerate eating another 5 Guys and can't see what others see in them. I don't like limp fries.
I'm doing a Mimis Cafe late lunch shop right now. I always enjoy the French style food and the pleasant service. Grab them whenever I can.
@kenasch wrote:
I'm doing a Mimis Cafe late lunch shop right now. I always enjoy the French style food and the pleasant service. Grab them whenever I can.
I go for breakfast (on my own) with a friend, love their French toast...do you know Bob Evans (old movie star)
owns Mimi's? Now I have to find who shops them.
Live consciously....
I'd like to know if they are shopped in my area (NM) as I have not seen them yet and i'm signed up with all the MSCs, I think. And maybe I don't fit the demographic.
It's a MSC often discussed on these forums. I check their available shops several times each day as the popular locations such as this one don't last long. It's only for reimbursement but the report is really fast and simple.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/25/2016 06:32PM by kenasch.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/25/2016 06:32PM by kenasch.
I enjoy doing El Pollo Loco and Mimi's Cafe because the food is great and the reports are easy. I also like Lucille's BBQ. That report isn't too bad especially after you've done a few of them.
I love cheese cake, can anyone give a clue as to where I could get some? ;-)
I think Five Guys are a great way for a newbie to start with. Very easy reports compared to the fine dining reports. Some companies expect a fine dining level narrative even for a 40 $ lunch shop. The fine dining is narrative heavy and it took me 4 hours to do my first report.
I do not do them anymore due to the lengthy narrative reports.
I do not do them anymore due to the lengthy narrative reports.
I had a horrible experience at BJ's ( not as a shopper). We were with a group of 17 people, had one server, she refused to split up checks into groups of less than 5 and my salad took 1hr to arrive. It was incorrect and that took another 20 min. A manager never visited our table to apologize. As I was leaving, I spoke to the server who stared at me like a deer in headlights. Needless to say, I called the next day, spoke to the manager and received a gift card( I did not ask for it). They would have called me, had I not called because I filled out their online survey. I've done bar integrity shops for them and have always had a good experience.
@Irene_L.A. wrote:
I have to say, my #1 is BJ's Brewery for their continuous good food and service. The menu choice is great with something for everyone. I like their small plate and appetizers as well as dinner and dessert...all around excellent chain.
We have one in my town. I've shopped them a few times, brunch, doggie lunch and dinner. I love that the patio is reserved for dogs. The service has been hit or miss, but the managers are excellent. I love their tortilla soup. Their parent company owns a restaurant in Long Beach which is always crowded.
@kenasch wrote:
Lazy Dog. I think they are only in the West. I've only done a few shops so far but received terrific service each time. I really enjoy the food and the menu has many interesting choices. It's one of the few restaurants I would consider going on my own and not on a shop.
I won't take a BJ's shop because I have a hard time spending 35.00( I don't drink). I'm always getting coupons from BJ's for b1g1 free( and no beverage required) so two of us can eat for 15.00 and no report!!
@isaiah58 wrote:
Baja Fresh, California Tortilla, Roy Rogers, Smashburger, Five Guys, Nandos, Cava Mezze Grill.
All shops (other than Cava) are either fee plus reimbursement or a reasonable flat fee that allows room to either order more or generate a fee. All are easy, with Roys and Smash requiring a moderate but manageable amount of narratives. I love Cava and eat there often, the reimbursement is enough for two persons.
BJs in my area is reimbursement only, the MSC does not like to pay a fee even when begging for help. I am considering giving them a try but as already mentioned here, their service times during lunch are a major complaint on sites like Yelp and Google reviews. Roadhouse is a similar candidate, same concerns.
There is a BWW about a mile from my home. I've never taken a shop because I despise the food. I'd rather eat a PB and J than BWW.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2016 05:34PM by calicakes.
@pegleg2000 wrote:
I forgot about BWW, they have the best wings. I like them too. Also, Lucille's BBQ, their bbq is the best. Love their fried green tomatoes, coleslaw, and rolls.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2016 05:34PM by calicakes.
@calicakes wrote:
I had a horrible experience at BJ's ( not as a shopper). We were with a group of 17 people, had one server, she refused to split up checks into groups of less than 5 and my salad took 1hr to arrive. It was incorrect and that took another 20 min. A manager never visited our table to apologize. As I was leaving, I spoke to the server who stared at me like a deer in headlights. Needless to say, I called the next day, spoke to the manager and received a gift card( I did not ask for it). They would have called me, had I not called because I filled out their online survey. I've done bar integrity shops for them and have always had a good experience.
@Irene_L.A. wrote:
I have to say, my #1 is BJ's Brewery for their continuous good food and service. The menu choice is great with something for everyone. I like their small plate and appetizers as well as dinner and dessert...all around excellent chain.
Your experience sounds awful and yes, their lunch service is slow, I evaluate dinners only (much better service), but I go on my own for lunch, as I crave their BBQ chicken salad, and I go early (before noon), their empty, so service is o.k.
Live consciously....
I'm speaking about a dinner experience.
@Irene_L.A. wrote:
@calicakes wrote:
I had a horrible experience at BJ's ( not as a shopper). We were with a group of 17 people, had one server, she refused to split up checks into groups of less than 5 and my salad took 1hr to arrive. It was incorrect and that took another 20 min. A manager never visited our table to apologize. As I was leaving, I spoke to the server who stared at me like a deer in headlights. Needless to say, I called the next day, spoke to the manager and received a gift card( I did not ask for it). They would have called me, had I not called because I filled out their online survey. I've done bar integrity shops for them and have always had a good experience.
@Irene_L.A. wrote:
I have to say, my #1 is BJ's Brewery for their continuous good food and service. The menu choice is great with something for everyone. I like their small plate and appetizers as well as dinner and dessert...all around excellent chain.
Your experience sounds awful and yes, their lunch service is slow, I evaluate dinners only (much better service), but I go on my own for lunch, as I crave their BBQ chicken salad, and I go early (before noon), their empty, so service is o.k.
I ate at my first Zoe's Kitchen this week and now I am obsessed with finding out who is shopping them and get on that list! We have 2 in my area and one about 40 min away. Any tips or hints appreciated.
I did my first BJ's Restaurant last month, disappointed. Food and 1 beer each way over reimbursement for two people even with the coupon. Husband got the Jambalaya.... that was very spicy. I got the quinoa salad as a side and it was so salty it could attract deer to my yard. Awful service in that she didnt even come back to check on us for me to send it back. Husband was dying with no water / no refills because she never checked. Good management, he took it off the bill, even tasted it to see what I meant. I will do one again, give them a second chance but the first one was awful.
I kind of disagree on Five Guys being a good entry level report. They are VERY picky and send reports back a lot, push back on results. I have never had one rejected but have had questions on several about very minor things. And the MSC is not exactly the best advocate for the shopper, they end up saying we didnt get paid so you don't get paid. I would say a word of caution for Five Guys that if you are finding anything wrong you better have photos and be sure that their standards dont allow for it. For example, the fries or the way the hotdog is cut or how the order of items are put on a burger. They have gotten easier but the management performance is tied to the reports so they push back quickly on issues, review tapes etc.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.