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BureauOfBureaucrats t1_jb36j85 wrote

It’s not just RVA Chipotles. Chipotle has been a shell of its former self since the early 2010s.

268

darockerj t1_jb37556 wrote

were you also just at the vcu chipotle

103

AccidentallyTaschen t1_jb37nmg wrote

They were getting bad, but then got absolutely destroyed by the delivery apps and the delivery drivers that come in acting entitled and bullying the workers into making their orders ahead of everyone else, which messes up the times for everyone.

61

semihat t1_jb37opf wrote

When I go early, by around 11:30, I think the food is often okay.

6

fr0bert t1_jb37ybq wrote

Yeah we know. People keep coming on here and telling us.

9

Ditovontease t1_jb3bamg wrote

They’ve been bad everywhere for like a couple of years

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TGIIR t1_jb3bh20 wrote

The one by Regency Mall in West End is pretty good. Can’t speak to any others.

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wilsonwilsonxoxo t1_jb3cowd wrote

It’s not just RVA. I promise! The only decent one is at Short Pump.

22

ZakaSlocka t1_jb3fbai wrote

LMAO seriously though. I was telling my friend about my last 2 experiences at chipotle this past week. The first one I somehow managed to get a veggie bowl instead of a chicken bowl. The second one I received my guac, but no chips! Unreal.

1

KeakRzem t1_jb3ia5n wrote

The hull st one isn’t bad tbh. I swear their burritos are bigger than the average chipotle

0

justblahetoday t1_jb3ie7g wrote

It has ok days and bad days. VCU Chipotle is its own unique level of suck. Carytown Chipotle is like a shitty ex boyfriend that tricks you into thinking they’re not shitty but they’ll always find a way to let you down.

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Syrahguy t1_jb3iuzn wrote

The Carytowne chipotle has gone down the shitter. I had to drive all the way back because they gave me the wrong shit. I'm not going there again. Period.

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takecareayallchicken t1_jb3kfsy wrote

They’ve honestly got to be making millions off of online and delivery orders that are lacking chips, guac, and other items. It’s pretty much a gamble as to whether you’ll get the right order - I’m honestly surprised when I get everything I’ve paid for.

4

touuugh t1_jb3kpm7 wrote

They build it in front of you, how's it missing items?

−10

GmanX64 t1_jb3kv26 wrote

You obviously never have been to the Cville Chipotle by UVA. It’s just a train wreck.

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anonymous_subroutine t1_jb3ldp4 wrote

Fifteen years ago I lived in the fan near VCU and it was a 15 minute drive to the closest Chipotle in Willow Lawn. My friends and I liked Chipotle so much that we wrote to them and suggested they open a location in the VCU area.

Now we won't eat there anymore.

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KamenLee t1_jb3lrpt wrote

Twin Hickory is good. Short Pump and Broad at Cox are both atrocious.

0

MorallyCorruptBae t1_jb3matb wrote

I miss the one at Stony Point. That one used to be the absolute best. A creeper worked there and he would give me giant portions and then ask to sit with me on his break. I’d allow it for those bowls.

1

-jxw- t1_jb3mrbx wrote

chipotle fell off at least in 2015, if not earlier

1

kneel_yung t1_jb3ojb7 wrote

Yeah seriously unless they somehow knew what you wanted before you got there and had it waiting for you, or had it delivered to you by somebody else, there's no way this is happening. They'd need some kind of app to do either of those things. Possibly even a website. Hell even a telephone. And since none of those exist, yeah, I'm calling bs

−3

touuugh t1_jb3p8w5 wrote

Christ people suck, you've never worked at a restaurant and neither have the people downvoting me and it shows. Shitty software does not equate to shitty service. Try ordering your food directly from the people making it for a change, ya chudd

−2

Noxnoxx t1_jb3rdqp wrote

Your first mistake was eating at / or ordering from chipotle in 2023. They haven’t been the same since like 2010-2015

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mewisme700 t1_jb3sq5k wrote

Cafe Rio in Short Pump was the best build you own burrito bowl. I was so sad that they closed their only Richmond location. It was always packed, idk how they didn't make it.

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boseyboseybop t1_jb3swg2 wrote

I have had good experiences when I’ve been there in person, but every time I try to order there through the app, it says they are out of lettuce. That may not be true at all, but I usually try to order ahead.

4

boseyboseybop t1_jb3t290 wrote

The one at Chesterfield Towne Center is probably the best one I’ve been to in the area since the start of the pandemic. Some others have been hit or miss, but that one has been consistently solid.

3

jkgoddard t1_jb3upgt wrote

Picking up an Uber order from there earlier tonight: “Hi I’m picking up an order for ____” “Well, you’ll have to get a refund through the Chipotle app” “It’s an UberEats.” “Well they’ll have to get a refund through Uber then” “Um… why?” “We’re out of rice.”

RICE. They’re usually just out of guac, pico, lettuce, and cheese.

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tarheel343 t1_jb3yzsh wrote

The one by the Short Pump mall is the only one that’s consistently fully staffed, and the employees don’t look like they’re being held there at gunpoint. I usually drive the extra distance to go to that one.

I went to the one near Innsbrook a few months ago and it was such a shitshow that a guy quit and walked out mid-shift right in front of all of the customers.

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BlueRibbon998 t1_jb427f1 wrote

My girlfriend at the time and I went to the Chipotle on West Broad near Innsbrook a few years ago, about a month before the pandemic lockdown began. We were the only customers in the restaurant and were ignored for 10 minutes and then got messy and incorrect food. When I called the store 2 days later to speak to the manager, his only response was to chastise me and tell me I shouldn't have "waited so long to call about the problem". Never been back and the lack of business they get is telling. Chipotle's food quality in general has gone down over the years. I typically prefer Qdoba anyway

0

VontaiW t1_jb472h3 wrote

Especially the one in colonial heights. They always got some new employee that’s training to make your burrito. It’s all screwed up.

−1

nauraug t1_jb4b2fh wrote

Chipotle is such a joke these days. I've made the switch to Moe's. You get way more food for much less. Free chips too!

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xtinaellisisland t1_jb4jq15 wrote

The thing that really pisses me off about Chiptole now-a-days is the fact that they have two different burrito making stations.

I find myself in the stores being told we don't have "x, y, and z". Like bitch I came here for a veggie burrito and you don't have peppers or guacamole?

Then you go sit down at the table, online order, and they have everything you need all of a sudden.

If you cannot keep up with walk in orders and online orders, knock it down to walk in only. But I guess they really just don't give a fuck since they are so big now.

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csteven71 t1_jb4lgz8 wrote

Was just discussing this with a friend while at Taco Bell. Amazed me that I will pretty much always choose the bell over chipotle now.

2

onewayover t1_jb4ni90 wrote

It’s a city (insert store type), it is going to generally suck compared elsewhere. This seems to be a common trend, whenever I want something that isn’t a convenience store item I just drive 15 minutes outside the city 🤷🏼‍♂️

−4

Thegreatgato t1_jb4r7rx wrote

It's not just Richmond, as others have mentioned. Has the saltiest bowl ever from the Union Station one, and on top of that the rice was undercooked.

Later, had the same issue at the Willow Lawn one and let them know in the app. They gave me a BOGO offer, which kind of blows as a "sorry", but i did use it and the next two were good.

1

westend_colla_poppa t1_jb4s4qs wrote

arroz FTW. Pricier but so much better. Kickers better never let that food truck leave.

1

cowardl_y t1_jb4sgm5 wrote

Chipotle always been shit lol, I had friends who worked there when it first opened and their safety protocols were horrendous, lots of burns and cuts. They’re probably all crap now cause they can only hire people who don’t give a crap either.

−3

Nulax271 t1_jb4tcsr wrote

This location seems to run out of items often. I’ve ordered online twice only to show up to the store and they have their door locked and no signs communicating what’s going on……. and obtaining a refund on Pepper isn’t always the easiest.

When I worked BOH at TGI Friday’s, if we ran out of items we would run to Costco, a supermarket or source items from a different store with stock. It blows my mind that with such a limited menu, that Chipotle location doesn’t do this.

I’ve also noticed the difference in the quality of food when ordering online vs in person.

9

chihuahua001 t1_jb4uscc wrote

My favorite is how they’re “out” of everything at 8pm when they close at 10.

Like obviously I understand that going to a restaurant right at closing is a dick move, but going to a fast food joint two hours before close should not be a problem.

8

MrImBoredAgain t1_jb4uy2s wrote

We did this at short pump Friday's ALL the time. Hell, there was more than one occasion when I had to tell my bar guests I would be right back, and would run to ABC for more Jager. What was it about jagermeister in the 2010s that made us go thru 12 bottles a night? No one knows, but if DUI Fridays shitty self can keep stock, surely Chipotle can..

5

chihuahua001 t1_jb4vnfw wrote

That’s crazy somehow the receipt they stick on the bag has everything you ordered but it’s a software problem that’s causing them to not include items people pay for. Are the people behind the counter androids or illiterate?

−2

vileclown t1_jb50dst wrote

I worked at one of the busiest ones Absolute nightmare, completely mismanaged

1

[deleted] t1_jb50o46 wrote

The one near Gaskins got some new workers and they’re so nice and pile on the scoops. It’s my favorite one.

1

Forward-Fox597 t1_jb51oek wrote

My boy worked there when they closed. Said the cafe Rio model of business was to cook a shit load of everything all day and then throw out the leftovers every night. Said the food waste was absolutely incredible. They are a good ass company tho. He showed up for work and a corporate rep was there with a check for $2,000 for every employee. He still talks about it to this day. (He was a part time highschool student so was a lot of money to him)

4

Asterion7 t1_jb527by wrote

Chipotle is not good. Stop expecting it to be good. Hot food is lukewarm. Cold food is lukewarm. It is overpriced slop. Taco bell is better.

−2

Diet_Coke t1_jb53c1l wrote

Two different burrito making stations that absolutely do not communicate with or help each other in any way. I stopped going to Chipotle after one too many times of placing an online order, arriving after the app said it would be ready, then watching multiple people come in and go through the walk through line while waiting for my food to be made. The last time, after 20+ minutes, I just cancelled the order and left to get a sandwich from one of the grocery stores.

4

frgmntof5colmn t1_jb53ti0 wrote

That's what I've been saying. I don't go much but the last few times they've been out of important components. Meanwhile i can see 2 people working out online orders while the main line is backed up. I seems like a case of being understaffed while corporate prioritizes online orders.

3

threecolorless t1_jb55vx0 wrote

I have eaten what I would estimate is between $3k and $4k in Chipotle products in the last fifteen years. I was one of the psychos who went there 35 times that one summer with a loyalty card to eventually get a free catered party, and I truly didn't get sick of it.

So I feel uniquely qualified to say that the chain really did use to have a spark it no longer does. It was the "cool" place that gave you bang for your buck--you could easily split a fat $6 bowl-plus-tortilla into two meals if you were low on cash--and they turned that cool image into brand loyalty. They were the everyman's fast casual dining chain. I know they were always a business with business priorities, but the vibe and atmosphere conveyed that they actually cared that people got fed for a good price first and had room for infinite growth second.

They are now cashing in that loyalty for the growth that all companies promise themselves one day, and unsurprisingly the food has suffered. COVID's effect on the service industry certainly didn't help; I now go infrequently enough that with the much higher turnover I don't think I ever recognize an employee from one visit to the next, meaning my food is usually worse than I'd like because no one there has enough practice, so I go less frequently, etc.

And don't even get me started on the mobile order and pickup. When they do manage to get it right, the absence of an audience as they make your food gives them an excuse to skimp quantity by a WIDE margin--you are absolutely not getting the same product if you order right in front of them vs. mobile. And that's if they get your order correct. After my third time getting an order screwed up in four attempts I no longer allow a Chipotle order on my own dime to get made anywhere but in my sight.

Damn shame.

3

smellymob t1_jb56m7g wrote

Who cares? What does Chipotle have to do with Richmond? Aren’t they owned by McDonalds? SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

−5

Ace-Montana t1_jb56rqe wrote

Why don’t they make packet-sizes of that delicious chipotle hot sauce instead of the little bottles? This is a functional money-making proposal. DM me.

1

SilvertongueSiren t1_jb57zn5 wrote

Because they don’t pay for shit, the conditions are abysmal and Chipotle has refused to do anything about it since like 2011. Don’t expect anything good out of a union busting minimum wage paying sweat restaurant.

5

Diet_Coke t1_jb5aqcg wrote

I usually do 2 + a drink and am good but I've been doing intermittent fasting for a few months so it's easier for me to feel full than it used to be.

edit: This comment is at -2 and imagining the kind of person who's like "two tacos and a drink to feel full??? downvote!!!" makes me laugh, what a sad existence

2

Notexactlyanoob t1_jb5bz12 wrote

After 3 delivery orders in a row where I did not want sour cream and it came slathered in sour cream, making it inedible for me, there will not be a 4th. One was fluke, two was a wtf? Three was my fault for giving them another chance.

1

c53x12 t1_jb5clqn wrote

FFS, just stop going to Chipotle.

1

Arachnotron45 t1_jb5clza wrote

I've usually had good experiences with the Staples Mill location. Food is always good, portion sizes are respectable, and I've never had to wait. I mostly use mobile ordering though

1

DanSRedskins t1_jb5d6nd wrote

It was never good anywhere. Get a local Mexican place instead of shitty chain food.

0

DeerRepresentative92 t1_jb5fa71 wrote

I think they got a lot worse when they went public a few years ago. Chipotle board only cares if the share number goes up. So more restaurants, more revenue. They don't really care about quality as long as they make money.

1

BToney005 t1_jb5fm1u wrote

Go to Ay Caramba on Grace St. They've got a similar setup, and their food doesn't make me sick like Chipotle does.

1

wiwtft t1_jb5ngrf wrote

This makes so much sense. I remember when I used to walk past the VCU Chipotle there always seemed to be a line out the door. That alone would be hard to deal with for an entire shift. I don't know how you fit in delivery orders on top of that.

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fireatwillrva t1_jb5pnix wrote

I just got food poisoning from Chipotle a couple of weeks ago☠️

1

Tayl44 t1_jb5q7xp wrote

I’ve been to a lot of Chipotles, but find the one at the Staples Mill location when I’m over there for work not bad. A couple regular staff members. Now, I no longer order in advance because I feel like I’m always jipped.

1

Lewii3vR t1_jb62fm2 wrote

Chipotle employee here - (only worked there for a bit, don’t @ me)

The ‘to-go’ gets the last of any ingredients in the store. If we have one tub of guac, it HAS to go to them. This is because (usually) managers have to contact the district managers to have those ingredients set to “not available” and most of them are hard to reach or just refuse. Since we cannot call the customer and ask to substitute (and doordash isn’t gonna decide for them) we have to prioritize them. Since everything is made in the morning, we can’t give you a heads up in the app.

As for times and waits - we’ve all seen the short staffing since the pandemic. It sucks, and the higher-ups aren’t hiring more than a couple people at a time. Most don’t stay because it’s a skeleton crew and the Karen customers have become more frequent and entitled.

I had a lady throw a fit because we didn’t fry onions and peppers separate so she could have extra onions. JUST onions. Almost everyone is angry about the vinaigrette costing a dollar, and I have to smile while I tell you it’s not my fault. People try to steal tortillas (won’t say they got one until after they pay. It’s $0.30 and def not worth it)

As a job, it sucks and no one wants to work there, that’s probably why it’s gone downhill so much.

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Lewii3vR t1_jb632hd wrote

This is because the ingredients are made in the morning. Workers arrive as early as 7am to make everything for the day. Meats, rice, and fajita veggies get updated throughout (or until the grill team is out of prep) but everything else has to be done all at once in the am. With skeleton crews, they don’t have the manpower to endlessly make chips and salsa til 10.

7

OPACY_Magic t1_jb65cbh wrote

God I hate this train of thought. First, no jobs are paying minimum wage right now and a lot of fast food jobs are paying $13-15/hr. Second, work ethic among Gen Z is just bad across the board, regardless of pay. And giving lower effort regardless of pay builds bad habits for the future.

I’ve been to three different countries in the past year. All paid less than the US for service jobs and yet the service was so much better there. In all honesty, Americans are just lazier and more entitled than people from other countries.

−15

shatan466 t1_jb65s7e wrote

Agree! I was recently around Clearwater beach and their chipotle made realize how crappy ours have gotten here in RVA

1

McFlare92 t1_jb68ga5 wrote

If you want actually good food in the same vein as chipotle I recommend chicano boy taco on Huguenot. It is excellent

3

FromTheIsle t1_jb6a0su wrote

$13-$15 is not a liveable wage. Wanting more is not entitlement. I've, lost chunks of skin, been burned a thousand times, and abused by coworkers and customers alike...all for poverty wages.

Would you work at McDonald's for $13/hr? And you think they should be paid even less?

12

Paid-Not-Payed-Bot t1_jb6a1qk wrote

> should be paid even less?

FTFY.

Although payed exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:

  • Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. The deck is yet to be payed.

  • Payed out when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. The rope is payed out! You can pull now.

Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.

Beep, boop, I'm a bot

−3

bkemp1984Part2 t1_jb6clhb wrote

I'm not disagreeing with that.....no personal knowledge myself. I've eaten there but I've always thought Chipotle was bland and overrated since I first had it maybe around 2012. I'm just surprised and a bit amused that a simple statement about liking a location of a chain is getting downvoted similarly to when people say pretty vile or hateful things and get downvoted for it.

1

Motor_Trouble6904 t1_jb6fgd1 wrote

Chipotle as a whole is just ass now. Do I still eat there? Of course!

1

OPACY_Magic t1_jb6h422 wrote

Where did I say they should be paid less??? Personally, no, I would not work at McDonald’s for $13/hr. But that’s more or less current rate set by the market. Either one of two things happen with raising wages for unskilled labor. 1)There’s a big push for automation and machines start to replace people 2)The business goes under. This is why it’s extremely important to gain other skills in this market, especially since we have tons and tons of information to learn at our fingertips.

−6

ancalagonz t1_jb6i9mz wrote

10 years ago min wage was $7.25 I think. Now it's $12. Google says inflation is 29% in last decade. So $7.25 becomes $9.35 in today's dollars. Seems min wage has kept up with inflation or better, so why is quality/service so much worse?

−3

meowmeow_now t1_jb6men7 wrote

tHe MaRkEt works both ways. $13 buys you shitty labor. You wouldn’t do that work for $13 an hour and neither would I. But $100 an hour? I’d jump at that AND be the best damn chipotle employee. Sooo, somewhere between 13 and 100 is an hourly rate that would get you better service in fast food. I don’t know exactly what that number is, but it doesn’t matter because ThE mArKeT has decided that shitty service is good enough.

7

Lewii3vR t1_jb6xkv7 wrote

Yes, EVERYTHING is prepped in the morning. Veggies cut, meats put in marinade. All of it. If at 6 I’m out of fajita veggies, I don’t have enough people to say “hey, go cut more veggies so we can fry” - it sucks, but pulling someone from any position is gonna make things worse. We’re already doing the jobs of 2-3 ppl each

6

strawbszn t1_jb74nrm wrote

The simple solution is to stop spending your money there

0

GOATROCITYX t1_jb7amvp wrote

I just moved here and can confirm. I used to get chipotle all the time where I came from and had it twice here and haven’t been back since. Quality and consistency were just trash. Fortunately though, Richmond’s local food scene is off the charts so who needs chipotle haha

1

iicarusNA t1_jb7p89f wrote

VCU chipotle is hands down the worst, the one in midlo (while not quite rva) is just fine.

VCU chipotle always closes early or doesnt have power or runs out of multiple items or card readers are down. just so many things going wrong all the time.

1

bkemp1984Part2 t1_jb7tidz wrote

Yeah, like I get the concept it's just also still surprising or a bit crazy to think about in context. It's not that straightforward that "I like this location of this chain" gets the same amount of downvotes as when people use racial slurs. I've known for a long time that people take Chipotle seriously enough to tear families apart and cause civil wars.

1

RoddyRicch4Prez t1_jb9ig3h wrote

Manchester one is so weird lol. I went with my GF to pick up our order, and this dude in line was taking pictures of a girls ass across the lobby. This isn't Chipotle's fault, but maybe just a yikes Manchester moment.

1

FromTheIsle t1_jb9nyrv wrote

You are sitting here complaining about how fast food workers in America are entitled and lazy...but you are literally eating at the lowest quality establishment...I dont get it what do you expect? You are voting with your money for shitty service and then complaining about receiving shitty service. Do people who say "this is the market setting the wage" actually understand their own wisdom? Yes. The market set a wage that is so low, if it went any lower, people wouldn't even show up to do the job...but you think if they are paid that amount (or slightly more than that) everything's good and they should do the job of someone making 5 times as much.

Why isn't the market telling you to spend more money if you aren't satisfied with service? Why does the market only work in one way where you get to set the price but the worker can't negotiate and ask for more? I do this one the time as a contractor. Seems like lots of people under the employ of others forget their labor is an asset that can be leveraged.

More to the point, do you just walk into businesses and judge the fuck out of everyone you think is a millenial? Maybe you aren't getting terrible service as much as you just have unrealistic expectations.

2