The other day I had to run out to grab something quick for lunch when I was at work. I came across a place called All Mixed Up, a local sandwich/salad/soup cafe in Eatontown, NJ. The result: slow service and cold chicken.
As soon as I walked in I saw a sign pointing to forms to fill out to expedite the process. Although these forms didn’t seem to expedite anything, in fact the fumbling/losing/mixing up (pun absolutely intended) of the forms made the process go more slowly, I thought it was a good idea.
Here’s how it goes: You walk in, choose whether you’d like a salad, wrap, panini or burrito and grab the respective form. You fill out your specifications, write your name on the form, grab the type of lettuce you want and proceed down the line where one of the employees constructs your lunch.
I like the logic, but I have to tell you: the follow-through stinks. The employees grabbed the wrong forms, made a few of the same exact order, couldn’t figure out which order went to which customer – they were all kinds of mixed up! (pun absolutely intended). They even had a few customers go back and start all over.
It could have just been a bad day but, enough about the service…
I ordered a grilled chicken, portobello, roasted red pepper, basil mayo/monterey jack cheese panini on wheat bread. I would usually go for a salad especially at this kind of place, but I was feeling a little under the weather and wanted something “heartier” than a salad. Big mistake.
I bet their salads are great because the ingredients were a plenty and looked very fresh. The panini, however, not-so-much.
The bread was soggy and grilled at the same time – tell me how that happens. And the chicken was cold. It completely negated the warm, toasty-ness that the panini is known for.
It didn’t taste bad, but the bread was off and the chicken was cold, making for a less than stellar experience.
The cafe itself is very cute, the employees, although confused, were nice and the salad section looked great. Next time, if there ever is a next time, I will try a salad (minus the protein – it’s expensive!).
Have you been to All Mixed Up? How was your experience?
Do you have a favorite local or chain soup/salad/sandwich place?
If you have a bad experience somewhere, will you give it a second shot?
