Our first time ever in a WhatABurger (may be the last time), new store opened 2 weeks ago near us. Apparently they failed to hire a Manager and failed to train the employees.

We (4 of us) went for lunch at noon. Line backed up to the door. Tables full, counting the 3 tables used by the EMPLOYEES taking a break at the busiest time of day.

Our turn: Simple order, 3 number 1 originals and 1 number 5 Bacon Burger. Drink dispenser is INOP, they have to take the cups and fill in the kitchen. 1 Iced Tea, 1 Sprite, 1 Coke, 1 Root Beer. They scored 75%, the Root Beer was a cup of water. They call our number for our food...1 Original and 1 Bacon Burger (with fries) on a tray. The other 2 Originals are in a TO-GO bag.

At this point, 3 tables are still occupied by 3 employees on break, about 45 minutes after we arrived. One of the folks taking a break was on break when we arrived, the only Caucasian we saw working there, was lounging on two chairs with his back against the wall, feet up on the second chair smiling. The other 2 employees on break were sitting separately at 2 four person tables not using the 2 person tables.

This, by the way, is in a fairly upscale neighborhood.

Chances of going back....Slim to none.

You mean to tell me you had poor service at a fast food place?

This is my shocked face.


Barring those who live in the total boonies, I can almost guarantee that you could locate some local diner or burger joint who can make you a better burger for about the same price as an overpriced fast food burger these days.

Agreed, but with all the hype surrounding the WhatABurger chain, and being a new location, we certainly expected much better.

This is my disappointed face.

I wasn't impressed with ours either.

The employees were good, but the food was meh.

My Dad was a massive Whataburger fan, having lived in Texas his whole life, and eaten Whataburger on at least a semi-weekly basis.

Even he admits that they suck these days. So even decades of nostalgia and brand loyalty isn't enough to overcome the poor quality, poor service, and high price of fast food nowadays.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:

Chances of going back....Slim to none.

If this had been my experience, chances of letting Corporate know exactly what happened: 173% minimum!

Ed Nelson, CEO

Rob Rodriguez, Senior Vice President, Restaurants, and Chief Restaurant Operating Officer

300 Concord Plaza Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78216

Ever since being bought by the Chicago based group the stores have gone down hill. There are still random one-off good ones, but on the whole I’m through with Whataburger, which is hard for than 42 y/o Texan to admit.

quote:

Originally posted by SigM4:
Ever since being bought by the Chicago based group the stores have gone down hill...

This is a problem. I noticed their seasonal milkshakes have gone to semi-annual, and i'd kill for one of their Salted Caramel, but I feel it's been years.

One opened by me, 2 hour wait, huge lines, etc. Totally ridiculous. Waited a while until the newness wore off and you could actually get in and out in a reasonable amount of time. Extremely meh. Wont be back.

At least they have spicy ketchup, though it could be spicier. Plus, they have a really good green chile double in New Mexico. Sorry, rest of America.

Had it in Florida decades ago when they took over a bunch of Hardee’s. It wasn’t memorable. I seem to recall it was a step down from Fuddruckers type places but slightly better than places like Burger King.

I can hardly eat anything these days without gaining weight. That’s one reason my burger place is Shake Shack. Their little quarter-pound cheeseburger with Martin’s potato bread bun is very good, and they cook it to my order.

Maybe because I’m a regular they give me LOTS of raw onion and pickles. And their pickles are very good – almost Claussen good.

When I first moved to Texas in the late 90s, WhatABurger was awesome whether I was in West Texas or DFW. Almost on par with chick-fil-a with polite, respectful, hard working employees. Very good food for the genre.

I moved away for 5 years, and this time I moved to Houston. Still good service and good food for the genre.

I moved away for 7 years, and then moved to where I am now. The WhatABurger by my house was very busy, but the food was meh and the service was mostly miss. The WhatABurger by my first office was insanely busy, and the food was good and so was the service.

Since being sold the Shitcago group, the one by my house is only edible for breakfast and the service managed to get worse. However, the WhatABurger by the only 24 hour pharmacy in the area has tasty food and good service.

Whataburger is different in Va,

I guess it was or is a separate chain,

there is only one left, which I hit when I have to go to the UPS depot, (it is nearby at Reymet Rd and Jeff Davis Highway, also known as the Richmond Petersburg turnpike , or just The Pike,

delicious, for what it is,

a similar location called Roy's Big Burger is on the north side of town,


both are the old waffle house of burger joints, as in old waffle house when people smoked in the place and the cook had a few teeth, and smoked while cooking

double cheeseburger, lettuce onions and mayo,
fries and tea,
damn good lunch

I must be lucky. My Whataburger is good. The service is somewhere between Chick Fil A and McDonalds, but the food is delicious. I even buy their ketchup by the bottle.
Here's to hoping everyone finds a good Whataburger.

I agree, the chain has taken a dive since the Chicago buy out. It used to be one of my favorite FF joints. I don't go anymore but there must be a difference location to location. I see some locations with very few cars at prime times, and others with drive throughs wrapping around the building. These are independently owned and operated franchised businesses so I suppose that has a lot to do with the the level of service and quality of the food at different locations.

One opened near me just about a year ago. I still haven't been...

For a fast-food burger, nobody around here beats the taste of Dairy Queen's burgers!

My experience with them has been hit or miss. The locations in nicer areas are blah but the ones in the 'hood (ate at one in Jackson, MS) was pretty good. Or maybe that was because I had been driving for 16 hours by that point?

Burger joints have got a lot better over the years as has many restaurants.
WhatABurger was originated here in Texas and back in the day it was quite amazing.
Not so much they have got worse is just that everyone else got better.
Some exceptions of course that happen in individual areas where something can slip through the cracks with personnel.
I don't eat Fast Food anymore but I have a buddy who grew up in the area here in Texas (Corpus) where it started and is still hooked on it.
But you just can't generalize and first impressions are lasting.
.02

All fast food service has declined significantly within the past 2 years. They can't find competent people any longer, the prices are ludicrous and the food has gone way downhill. You'd be better off just avoiding all of it and cooking your own burgers at home now.