Friday, March 4, 2011
Open Thread Weekly Open Thread Passes Along Church's Chicken's Apology
Posted by Nicki Wood on Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 5:29 AM
Remember back in September when a reader named Madison had a terrible Church's Chicken experience, called the company to complain, and received a coupon that could only be used at the same outlet, only when shown to the manager who was likely in charge when the infraction occurred?
If that sounds familiar, then this press release will not surprise. Go on — read it. I'll wait for you.
CHURCH’S CHICKEN APOLOGIZES TO NASHVILLE GUESTS FOR LETTING THEM DOWNATLANTA — March 3, 2011 — Church’s Chicken, in an unprecedented initiative, is closing down its stores in Nashville for 18 hours in order to conduct an intense customer service training boot camp for all its employees. The stores will reopen at 4:00 PM on Monday, March 7.
Church’s is known for great quality products including Original and Spicy chicken, exceptional value and family meals and satisfying the needs of its customers.
When Church’s converted the Mrs. Winner’s restaurants to Church’s Chicken, the company set out to continue the brand’s long tradition of exceptional customer service and hospitality. “We know we did not deliver on that promise,” said John Bowie, Church’s President of U.S. Operations. “In fact, we let our customers in Nashville down and for that, we apologize.”
Bowie is taking Church’s apology to the airwaves on both television and radio in Nashville. He is inviting customers back to enjoy Church’s same great food, served with a whole new attitude and special offers exclusive to Nashville customers.
The U.S. operations president added, “To thank our customers for giving Church’s another chance, we are announcing Nashville Dollar Days. There will be a featured menu item every day for just a dollar.”
The first Nashville Dollar Days offer is a two-piece leg and thigh — every day for just a dollar.
Was it one unfortunate event? Or were there many, many bad experiences like Madison's, or the one related in a comment on that thread by wls1119? Or two failed Church's visits made by the dashing and accomplished Mr. Wood, one of which could be an episode in Goodburger or Harold & Kumar?
Church's will reopen Nashville outlets with its bargain chicken and a new Southern Style chicken sandwich on Monday. If you go, come back here and report.
More to the point of Weekly Open Thread, were you vindicated, proven right, or done wrong this week?
Comments (11)
Showing 1-11 of 11
I don't weigh in here often, but I feel like I have to today. I was a big fan of Watermark when it opened originally. I was a fan of Miro District under Joe Shaw. I was a fan of Fish & Co. even though they screwed Joe and sent him to rot in the Hell that was the Blind pig. We went in for happy hour often and made friends with many of the employees. I was ecstatic when they decided to close Blind Pig and relocate Fish & Co. within walking distance of my home. We have been big supporters since they moved in.
Yesterday, management within the restaurant group fired the wonderful bar manager with no notice, and told the majority of the staff they were gone within the week - many of the staff stuck with them through the debacle that was the Blind Pig and many moved with them from the old location. Said bar manager worked his ass off setting up that bar - notice the huge wine rack we watched him hang and fill. They are making room for staff from the Watermark. I can only speculate as to what that means. After being a loyal customer and welcoming them to the neighborhood, I will no longer patronize this restaurant or support this restaurant group. They obviously have no clue how to do business - on many levels. The "James Beard award-winning" chef's most recent additions to the menu are a grilled cheese and a hot dog...really??? The band won't play on on this sinking ship of fools.
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Are you talking about the old Blind Pig staff or did they move the Fish & Co. staff over when they relocated? If it's the Blind Pig staff in question all I can say is that it's about time someone noticed. The service at Blind Pig was horrible, and the bar manager allowed them to run out of all draft beer except Bud Lite on a Saturday night the week before they closed (my 2nd and last visit).
So is this why so many former Mrs. Winner's (now Church's) were suddenly boarded up a few weeks ago, or are they really closed-closed and not just closed-(The Bellevue and West End locations are the ones I noticed.)
On an entirely different tack, I have to say the NY Strip steaks from Garrett Farms I grilled a couple nights ago were hands down the best steaks I have eaten in the US since my childhood. We must make sure this guy stays in business, so go buy some now ! Even the fat took me back to the days when beef had honest to goodness beef flavor instead of corn-finished bulk. It was delightful. Thank you !
I kinda hope the old Ms. Winner's in Donelson becomes something other than a Church's Chicken. Call me old school, but I'm still associating Church's Chicken with White Castle, and that is never good.
On the upside, Uncle Bud's has recently entered the Donelson area and McNamamar's Irish Pub appears to be doing well (based on the number of overflow cars parking in the Two Rives lot on the weekend).
Deep down inside I'm still hoping for an Otter's or McDougal's to fill the Ms. Winners spot on Lebanon Rd., although I'd be happy with anything other than a Title Loan or Discount Tobacco & Beer at this point.
Is Messup implying that Watermark will be closed and they're trying to move the staff over to the new Fish & Co? That's what it sounds like. Luckily, I just used my gift certificate a couple of weeks ago. And I had a great time at Watermark. The food was excellent (saffron risotto) and the service was great, too (server we recognized from Zola). And I really liked the space. Oh well.
Blind Pig was an abomination. I was hopeful for Fish but I am very confused at the menu which I've just looked at on their website. It seems to have shrunk dramatically or maybe all of it is not available on line? There are 5 salad/soup selections that could be phoned in; 4 apps---all fried, one being french fries and another onion rings; 2 specialties (Shrimp and Grits and Crab Cake....what's so special?); 3 Simply Grilled fish choices; 4 sandwiches, including an $8.50 hot dog; and 3 fried seafood baskets. Is someone kidding here? That's what a James Beard chef AND a chef who was once regarded as Nashville's finest seafood chefs comes up with? Between all the fried food, the glare of the televisions over the bar, and interior lighting so bright you can read the menu from the sidewalk, what's the point of the white tablecloths? What's up with all those people being fired? I'm not feeling good about any of this. I have an Originals certificate for Fish & Co that I think I'd better use.
Church's Chicken is a joke. I actually tried it again because y'all praised it's hot chicken offering. Not only is their customer service non-existant, but their chicken is nasty.
On a better note, SnapStone's restaurant in Antioch is phenomonal. That's all I'm going to say about it. Long live SnapStone's!!
As to the menu at Fish & Co, let me note that in addition to the menu items from our all day menu that Kay cited, the dinner menus includes 4 to 6 additions nightly. Many of which were enjoyed enthusiastically by guests at the Adelicia location, along with some new stuff. For instance tonight’s offerings are:
Appetizer
Shellfish Fricassee With Little Neck, Manila and Steamer Clams in a Garlic White Wine Nage
Entrees
Rainbow Trout Stuffed with Crabmeat, Scallions, and Benton’s Bacon Served with Potatoes Roasted in Duck Fat
Seared Scallops With Shrimp Hash, and Ravigote Sauce
Grilled Rib-eye With Cabernet Shallot Butter over Roasted Duck Fat Potatoes
Pan Seared Flounder With a Succotash of Corn, Lima Beans and Tomatoes
As to the menu additions that "messup" noted these were in fact added to the "all-day" menu for the lunch diner seeking a vegetarian or meat choice. The grilled cheese is not what your Mom made - in fact it is composed of two imported cheeses, béchamel sauce and a Mushroom Duxelles - really dreamy combo (albeit not for the light eater.) As to the hot dog even a heritage farm beef dog and the addition of some really outstanding Chile did not move it to the top of the "favorite list" (Did you know that chefs love hot dogs - if you poll a listing of chefs you will discover its often what they eat when they get off work. ). so messup I guess you were right after all, it was under appreciated it and has been removed from the menu.
In all I think it’s true to say that you can't really evaluate a dish or rate a menu merely from its descriptors. To paraphrase another cliché one taste is worth a million adjectives. Ah if only I could “taste the printed word” my hips would be so much smaller and my purse so much larger.
In the end what's vitally important to the culinary and service team at Fish & Co is that you - our guests and neighbors - enjoy dining with us - and we welcome your comments and suggestions.
Marlene Osteen
Marlene thank you for clearing that up There is something wrong with the website because the all-day menu is the only one coming up.
Now can you please do something about the all-day/all-night televisions and the interior lighting at night? Please?
About Church's, I tried to talk myself out of wanting a chicken biscuit two weeks ago (so this would've been 2 weeks after the re-boot), and I drove through the location at Wedgwood and 8th. It's 10 a.m., and they ask me would I like to try the catfish combo. Well, not at 10 a.m., but thanks. I ask for a chicken biscuit, and am told they no longer serve breakfast at this location. So I left. How does a chicken and biscuit place not have a chicken biscuit on the menu?
