FISH FRIDAY: So we did it again folks...BF-J & I made our "Fish Friday" dinner take-out towards end of Aug. Didn't venture back out to Oakland's Aqua Fresh Seafoods tho, this time we ventured to San Leandro's JJ Fish & Chicken. This was my 1st dinning experience period @ this establishment, while BF has tasted it 2-go @ their Oakland location. The food is great, BUT "this" location needs guidance on customer service or hire folks w/ a welcoming personality!
LOCATION: Inside San Leandro's Greenhouse Marketplace Shopping Center on the block-intersection of Lewelling Blvd & Washington Ave. When driving Southbound on Hwy 880, you'll pass it on right side just after Washington St exit. Greenhouse Marketplace Shopping Center has McD's, Subway, Safeway, Big Lots, Starbucks, & plenty more. Located next to Blockbuster Video, closest to the corner of Lewelling & Washington. Plenty of parking in shared lot.
RESTAURANT: The store front isn't hard to miss. Upon entrance, cash register in front & dinning area to the right. Inside there's about 5 4-seater tables & armless chairs to each table...all aligned against windows for your viewing pleasure. Dessert is further down right side of counter behind glass; most desserts such as red velvet cake, banana pudding, peach cobbler, & more are purchased from Marita's Sweet Potato Pie in San Leandro. Online menu to menu inside restaurant seemed off on a few items like a difference of $.50-$1 really..no biggie, but would be nice if they both matched. Overall restaurant appeared clean, open, & spacious.
CUST SVC: If I could rate Zero Stars for customer service, I would! First visit, & awful first impression! Young gent behind counter had no retail cust service pizazz, let alone basic experience, what's so ever, or just didn't give a damn. No welcome or how can I help you...just a blank stare w/ pen in hand ready to take order. Then slouched or rested upper body over the the counter since BF & I weren't immediately ready...yeah his body language was like "F***, hope ya'll don't take forever to fig out what u want". I tried to bring a smile on his face saying it was my 1st time here so just bare w/ us...I think I cracked a smile, but didn't really fade into an attitude adjustment. He spoke too soft, so I had to ask him to repeat himself & louder @ times...I just didn't get it. His body language to me was "I could care less if this place gets customers or not"..just not good. Maybe he's just a guy who just needs a job, but retail cust svc NOT his fo-tay! Even while we sat & waited about 5-7min for our food, I was reflective of dude's personality, or lack of. Sorry but based on this cat, cust svc w/ the public wasn't professional, warm, welcoming, & would not make me want to come back.
TASTES: My star rating seems to come merely just from the food! We got a side order of Jalapenos w/ Cheese, which to me was just an XL version of jalapeno popers. Although they had cooled down by the time we got back home in Castro Valley, they were pretty tasty & still warm. I got the Small Dinner of Catfish Nuggets & BF-J got the Small Dinner of Jumbo Shrimp. Both orders come w/ 2 slices of toasted brown bread (which is hidden under seafood/chkn items) & crispy french fries w/ the option of tarter sauce or coleslaw; we opted for tarter sauce on both *tee-hee*. The fries had a nice batter-crunch to them..could've been double-fried, but they were good. Jumbo Shrimp WERE large & catfish nuggets were plentiful! Shrimp had english batter while catfish had cornmeal batter...both coated & cooked nicely, & tasted delicious =) The food was a great experience for us.
FINAL TAB: Came out w/ final tab of $24.88 for 2 small fish orders & 1 side order. Overall the food was great & has "come back ability", but customer svc held it back for a higher rating. They could've had a 3-star rating from me if cust svc picked up the slack for this fast food joint. Would I come back? Maybe, but def not in any hurry...stay tuned.
Pros: Great food all around =)
Cons: TERRIBLE customer service!
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