Me-N-Ed’s Pizzeria

Came here to eat and saw every booth and table occupied. It was very busy. Some people were sitting in chairs without a table to eat at and many were standing. Totally unacceptable to not accommodate more people. There is PLENTY of empty space to fill this restaurant with more tables and chairs. Needless to say, I immediately walked back out after coming in. Will not be coming back to this location.

I’m sad to have to give them a poor review because I’ve loved Me-​N-​Eds since I was a kid. Moving to Clovis I was thrilled that there was one within walking distance of my house. In all fairness this has been a great place for the last four years I’ve lived here, however my last few visits have been disappointing. As a heads up this will be a long and detailed review. The last few visits there I noticed the balance between employees and customers is way off. There always seems to be 4 – 5 people working with a mostly empty dining room. Normally a well staffed restaurant has great service, but the majority of the staff seems to be standing around chatting. Two visits ago I called in for a pickup order and was told about 15 minutes. I arrived a few minutes early so I could grab it right when it came out of the oven so it wasn’t cold by the time I walked home. When I arrived they were just putting it in the oven, no big deal I thought, just relax and wait for my fresh out of the oven pizza. After about 15 – 20 minutes I walked over to ask about my pizza. The employees stopped their conversation and pulled my pizza out of the oven. When I arrived home I was displeased to find a slightly over cooked pizza. This wasn’t the taste and quality Me-​N-​Eds is known for. So I gave it a few weeks and decided to give them a second chance on 03÷01÷15. It appears things have gotten worse. This trip started as normal, called in my order «a hot hawaiin, a 2-​liter of Pepsi and three sides of ranch». It’s always bothered me slightly that they charge 50 cents for ranch, but it’s really good and everyone in the house wants their own, so it is what it is. The guy who answered the phone seemed less than excited to be at work but I let it slide. I arrived 15 minutes later and my pizza was just coming out of the oven (an improvement over last time, except for the 3 employees standing and chatting). I payed for my order and to my surprise the girl at the counter handed me a cup for the soda fountain. I nicely let her know I had asked for a 2-​liter of Pepsi. She was very nice and asked who I assume was the supervisor on duty to fix it. The supervisor came over and apologized and started working on the register. She first handed me a receipt to sign for a refund of $ 2.xx for the fountain drink, then asked for my card to charge me for the 2-​liter. After running my card she handed me a receipt to sign for $ 3.xx and a second for $ 19.xx for the corrected amount of the first transaction. A little concerned for the method she processed it (seemed a little over complicated for a $ 1 error on their part) and most point of sale systems will allow you to refund and sell the correct item on the same transaction. But in fairness I’ve never used their POS system so I reviewed the math on the receipts for accuracy and headed out the door. As I walked out I noticed the bag with ranch felt light, and had confirmed that they had charged me for 3 when I reviewed the receipts. Sure enough I was one short. I went back in and the first girl was very nice and gave me the missing ranch. When I arrived home I decided to log onto online banking to see the transactions, I found a $ 21.xx, a $ 19.xx, a $ 3.xx charge, but no refund for $ 2.xx. So I decided to call to double check. The original guy answered the phone, sounding as happy as the first time to be working. I asked for the assumed supervisor by name, he asked «why?» With a bit of an attitude. I explained why, instead of passing the phone he asked her for the answer and relayed it back to me. Telling me that that’s normal and I should wait 2 – 3 days for it to be fixed. I then suggested to him, that if that is the way they handle refunds they should disclose that there will be multiple charges pending for several days. He responded smugly, that I just need to wait and it will be fixed. So I let him know that their service has been very poor my last several visits and this would be the last pizza I ordered from them, he did not respond before hanging up. My recommendations to the restaurant manager or owner, as someone who also manages a team of people are as follows: 1) A well staffed restaurant is a plus, but customers notice when people are standing around doing nothing. 2) Customer experience starts with the first employee who engages the customer, either in person or by phone. If someone doesn’t want to work and has an attitude about it you don’t need him. 3) This is probably the most important, when someone asks for a supervisor, they should be given to a supervisor. Nothing makes the situation worse than ignoring a request for a supervisor. 4) Having used several different POS systems I feel like the correction of charges could have been processed without running duplicate charges, if it cannot you should inform the customer. 5) When the error was made by an employee, how big of a deal is it to just give the 2-​liter instead and take the $ 1 hit?

So so slow. Even though they are always dead inside. Whatever time they tell you that your will be ready by, add about 15 minutes. Pizza was average. I have no plans to be back uness I am forced to meet friends there.

Here’s how you start with FIVE STARS and work backwards:
Having recently moved from the Seattle area to Clovis, my wife and I were upset to hear from the store manager that we were unable to buy beer/​wine with our dinner because of our «out-​of-​state» driver’s licenses*. (MINUS 1 STAR because that’s a silly rule and MINUS 1 MORE STAR due to the guy’s stupidity and stubbornness for not making an exception when we clearly look older than 21 years old, especially with kids in both arms).
For whatever reason, this Me & Ed’s location takes a long time to make an order. From the time we order to the time they bring it to the table, you average about 42 minutes each time. Forty-​two minutes is an exceptionally long time when the place is only at 35% capacity. (MINUS 1 STAR)
NET RESULT: MINUS 3 STARS = 2 STARS
*I actually said to the store manager, I hope you don’t go to Las Vegas and get told you can’t buy alcohol because you have an «out-​of-​state» license. He then looked at me like he understood the analogy, but then regurgitated like a robot what he said all along: «I’m sorry, it’s just the way it is here.»