Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp

On February 13th I had the most devastating experience of my entire 14 years as a vegetarian. I have been to Souplantation for 9 years because of the vegetarian alternatives. I served myself a pasta that read "vegetarian". When I tasted the pasta and the bell pepper taste stood out, I took a closer look at the pasta and it had sausage! I immediately told the manager of this terrible mistake they had made! I had to run to the restroom to vomit the meat. All I was given was a refund, 2 free meals and an apology. I am extremely offended and disappointed. I feel that my values and essential dietary limits have been breached. I felt psychologically, physically, and emotionally violated. I trusted Souplantation and this is what I get. As a dedicated and loyal vegetarian, this incident was devastating to me. Some people may understand, while others may laugh and call it a simple mistake, but to me it was hurtful and disappointing.

Review: I went to Souplantaion Restaurant in 2825 Main Street, Irvine, CA 92614 dated Saturday,12/03/2015. After I paid for my dinner I waited for about 5 minutes to be seated (which is normal at dinner time). I was ahead of a family of 4 people. After about 5 minutes a Host came over and asked me to follow her to my table. I was seated,I put my tray down on the table with two plates filled with food, the water cup and my receipt. I left to get some soup but when I came back to my table, I saw that family who were after me in the line, were putting their plates and trays down and already occupied my table. I was confused, looking for my food while I had two cups of soup on my hands! I was told if I am looking for my stuff, it's back there where the cashier is !!! (very disrespectful ). I spoke with the host who made that unprofessional services and informed her how unacceptable and disrespectful her customer services could be. I asked for the manager. the host didn't even apologize nor try to explain anything to me ... just called for the manager with absolutely wrong attitude. The customer who occupied my table and the host who moved my food away tried to get involved many times with a loud & disrespectful tone of voice. I absolutely ignored the customer and just spoke to the manager with the hope of her resolving the unacceptable customer services but unfortunately the manager acted very unprofessional and very poor in handling the situation, worst of all was when the manager was faking out and telling me not to yell at her ( I was NOT even talking loud) I got even more disappointed. All she repeated and told me that it was a "misunderstanding"!(Seriously?! Occupying a customer table,or touching customer's food/tray is misunderstanding) I asked her to refund my money. I left the restaurant without eating my dinner. I have been a long customer of that restaurant since 2005. I am sure neither me nor my family will ever go back to any Souplantations ever!

Business

Response:

[redacted], Guest Relations Manager for Souplantation, spoke with [redacted], discussed their dining experience, committed that the Company will use their feedback from this complaint to improve our business. We use each and every bit of feedback from our guests to make dining with us a high-value/great experience. [redacted] sent the [redacted] complimentary meal passes inviting them back to our restaurant as our guest.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved however I haven't received any complimentary meal passes yet.

Regards,

Review: On April 17, 2014, two of us went to Sweet Tomatoes at [redacted], in Miami, Florida. When we walked in the sign said the meal was $8.99 per person so we filled up our plates at the salad bar and went to the register to pay. When we got to the resister, however, we were charged $10.79 per person - not the $8.99 that the sign said. When we pointed it out to the cashier and then the manager they said the sign was a mistake, and we would have to pay $10.79 each. Since we already got the food we had no choice. Had the sign said $10.79 when we walked it we would have walked out. We only agreed to eat there for the $8.99 the sign said, and were ripped off when we got to the register. Why is this and what will you do about it?Desired Settlement: Why did this happen and what will you do to rectify it?

Business

Response:

Mr. [redacted],

I have received your complaint, forwarded to me by the Revdex.com, and I want to begin by expressing how sorry I am for the time delay in responding to your complaint. I have requested a check be cut to reimburse you for your meals from your visit on April 17 2014 to our Mills Drive Sweet Tomatoes. I believe your visit must have been just as the menu board price was switching over from the lunch price to the dinner price. But, as you expressed, they should have honored that posted price regardless of the time. I will be mailing the check directly to your home at the address you provided to the Revdex.com in your initial complaint.

Thank you,

Guest Relations

Sweet Tomatoes Restaurants

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,

Review: My wife and I went to the Sweet Tomatoes restaurant on Walnut Street in Cary, NC, on 11/11/2015 close to dinner time. When we arrived, all the prepared salad were nearly empty and looked like they were there for a while. We skipped those and took the individual vegetable items instead. As we started dining, we noticed that the vegetables tasted stale decided to see what other food options are available instead. That's when we saw that the soup bowl shelf was empty and not restocked, and the pizza items are mostly empty and not restocked. We tried the pasta but it was lukewarm and tasted like it has been sitting there for a while (started to stick together). After we finally got someone to restock the soup bowls, the chicken noodle soup that I usually get was just warm as well. In addition, the blueberries in the muffins tasted strange and has a grayish color, not sure if it was overbaked or something. In the meantime, the prepared salad still has not been restocked. After a while of waiting and eating some of the fresher items, we decided to leave earlier than we intended.

I am very disappointed in this dining experience. We come to this restaurant regularly and this is the first time that we had such a bad experience. I did not pay $23 to have a meal that consisted of eating food that has been sitting out for a while and constantly waiting for food that don't show up.Desired Settlement: Refund of the $23.71 that I paid for this meal.

Business

Response:

Thank you for sending this valuable feedback to us by way of the Revdex.com. I have communicated with the Director of Operations for our NC market and she will be discussing with the restaurant management team as well as contacting you directly to apologize. Additionally, I have put through the necessary paperwork to generate a refund check for your meal and this will be mailed directly to you this week.

Review: The food that was advertised was not what was in the store, the taste of the food was awful.The potatoes had no seasoningBiscuits were so hardeggs had no flavorThe food tasted like cardboard My wife questioned the manager about the food, asked if this is normal for them, manager said, "we have so many people to feed" thats why food is like this", what ever this means. A lady said this food is for diabetics, my wife is a nurse, if this is so, they sell alot of starch, spaghetti, bread, pizza, potatoes, and they are not whole wheat, if this type of restaurant is for people with specific diets they should advertise it like this, fortunately we are healthy and wouldn't want to eat in a place like this.

Product_Or_Service: Breakfast for three

Order_Number: [redacted]Desired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: Refund

I would like a full refund in the amount $32.27 for the three plates for my family members.

Business

Response:

I have replied to Mr. [redacted] apologizing for his disappointing experience at Sweet Tomatoes. I replied via email today, 9/14/14. I have submitted a check request to my AP department for full reimbursement of his meals in the amount of $32.27 and I am sending a personal note to Mr. [redacted] with two complimentary meal passes inviting him back, as my guest, to give Sweet Tomatoes another try.