Walks into the 7th St and Glendale Pei Wei. Sees that the line is only 5 deep. Nods approvingly.
5 minutes pass. Now he's 3rd in line.
5 more minutes pass, during which time 2 parties behind walk out due to the long wait.
Reaches counter.
Scowling hostess: "What would you like?"
My son: "Can I please have the Thai Dynamite Chicken with white rice"
"Sure. And for you?"
Me: "Um, I'd like the $5 General Tso's special, please."
"We're not doing that special anymore. That ended."
Me, nodding towards the massive screen advertising the special, as well as the printed sign posted on a flier on the wall over her shoulder: "You mean the advertised special over there and there?"
(snaps eyes to the screen) "Yeah, it rings up as $8.99 now when I put it in. It's over."
Silence
Me: "Ok, I guess I'll have the $5 Mongolian Monday bowl with white rice. You're still doing that?"
"Yes"
Sits at table with son.
Food finally arrives.
Son's meal is served with fried rice, not white, so the (very nice) server brings out an extra bowl of white rice.
The chicken in my bowl is lukewarm and tastes like it has been reheated, not freshly cooked. You know that flavor you get if you try to pan fry left over Chinese food from the night before? That flavor.
Visited the bathroom when it was time to leave and it was seriously the nastiest bathroom I've visited this side of the Gila Bend Texaco. Urine everywhere. Soap and water all over the sink counters. Trash on floor. It was truly impressive.
I left here wondering, "Is this Pei Wei Diner franchised?" I've eaten at Pei Weis all over the Valley for the last 18 years or so, including frequently at the one by my house on Bell, and have never had an experience as negative as this one from start to finish.
The only bright spot was the table waiter, a young man whose name I didn't catch. He corrected the incorrect rice order proactively and cheerfully.
We used to eat at this Pei Wei frequently after church years ago, then stopped when it was converted to a diner and the menu changed. This was my first return trip in years and very vividly reminded me why we quit it in the first place.
Pei Wei GM: Trust me when I say this, you have issues at this store.