2023-03
This location seems like it is being milked for the last ounce of cash (literally) after it has been bankrupted.
BUT…. we went in there around lunch and ordered the half-chicken plate. And it was tasty. Mashed potatoes? Great. Caesar salad? Crisp and fresh. Corn bread? Too-sweet for my liking but otherwise warm and fine. Chicken? Well roasted, juicy and delicious. Rice? Not dry not soggy just right and great flavor.
The store was pretty clean.
The restroom was disheveled but fine. Definitely not disgusting.
The employees (all three of them) were friendly and helpful even though they were grim and resigned. They know the end is near even if they ignore it and put on brave faces.
One knows the end has come when:
1). Ceiling tiles are missing (from a recent issue with the HVAC judging by the locations of the missing tiles). Ceiling tiles are cheap and easy to install. Not taking an hour to run to Home Depot and stick up $30 of ceiling tiles? End times.
2). Hand-scrawled signs on the exterior door and taped to the counter say “cash only”. Credit cards increase average customer spend by 40-60%. Many people don’t even HAVE cash these days. Not accepting business from each person that would like to buy something? End times.
3). The soda machine doesn’t and hasn’t worked. So no drinks available besides bottled beverages. Biggest food profit margin not available and no plans to bring that cash cow back? End times.
4). The hours are different than what’s online. They are closed ALL DAY Saturdays. Not using the paid for space and equipment on the biggest shopping day of the week and then not letting customers know when you are or are not open? End times.
While it’s still open the food is good and seemed healthier than many, many fast food places. I’ll be sad when they finish this last gasp.
Good & Bad Experience. First, the bad experience, I went to eat there yesterday and didn't like the meatloaf, it tasted like a microwave/oven dinner. Since I paid $18.38 for meatloaf with 2 sides, I expected better. So, I took my full plate back to the counter immediately after taking a 1st bite of the meatloaf and asked the cashier (Grace), if I could get a pot pie instead because I didn't like the meatloaf, however she said "if you want the pot pie, you have to pay for it!" I told her, "Hey, I just paid $18 here's my whole plate, just exchange it for the pot pie!" She again said "if you want the pot pie, you have to pay for it!" So I told her, "please let me speak to the mgr!" She laughed out loud and said "I am the manager!!" I was shocked when she said that as she was so rude and didn't act like a lead, mentor nor manager. So, then I told her, "Well, then the mgr over you!" Then Grace, said "That would be my GM and I'll go get him but he's going to tell you the same thing!!"
The Good Experience: Well, I waited then after about 3 mins or so, a guy came to the front with the name tag "Ezra" and in seconds he listened to my concern, took my full plate of food I had only taken a bite of meatloaf and immediately gave me the pot pie, he even gave me an extra cornbread.
Ezra & Grace, are complete opposites on how to take care of their customers by far. Because of Ezra, I would definitely go back another day (just no meatloaf for me, but by the way the pot pie was really good!), but Grace, on the other hand, is a very poor example of management for Boston Market, she is very rude and unprofessional. Nonetheless, I'm very grateful for the GM-Ezra, So "Thank you Ezra, for a positive experience and taking care of the customer!!"
I am as comfortable going to this place as I am going to my own grandmother's house. This place is private secluded and beautiful. Plus there's a great attraction such as enchanted Rock or Fredericksburg Texas just nearby. I cannot wait to go back here and stay one more time.
4607 Braker Lane - Austin
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