TACO BELL

The Space: 691 W Lake Street Addison, IL 60101. Very small space. McDonald's-like-tables. 1 cash register. Dim lighting, 10 tables. Drive through window. Visible security camera and security camera TV. Big arch shaped windows with purple outline. Bright colors, yellow, orange and purple. Fake plant hanging from ceiling. Author thinks colors and arch shaped windows in restaurant, was a bad attempt to make restaurant look like a typical Mexican house. Full of ads inside and outside building. Burrito and Nachos Sign on opposite sides of inside of building. Nothing on floor or tables- looked clean. Author feels cold in premise. Top 40 music radio station playing.


People: 1 family of 3 eating in. 1-70 year old female, 1-40 year old female, 1-5 year old female. Spoke Spanish amongst themselves while eating. Wore casual clothing. Hispanic. Sat in restaurant for over 20 minutes.

Staff: Uniformed in purple with black polos with Taco Bell logo, black pants. All Hispanic. 2 women in their thirties and man in his forties. When author ready to order, 35 year old female worker did not did not pay attention to her for 20 seconds. Employee sounded as if English was her second language. Author not greeted by worker. While author was eating at her table, workers in kitchen munched on food.

Food:Steak taco- $2.09. Not on dollar menu. Taco wrapped in Taco Bell paper on tray. Taco consisted of soft flour tortilla, soft steak, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream. Taco was edible. Fire Sauce in little packets not spicy. Inauthentic. Not like food she has eaten in Mexico, which never consisted of lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, nor sour cream. Tacos in Mexico consist of Steak, corn tortillas, cilantro, and chopped onions. Steak was soft, bland, and texture less. Tasteless. Lettuce and tomatoes seemed fresh.

Atmosphere: Dim lighting reminded author of JC Penny. Cold temperature, unwelcoming. Author felt like leaving. 35 year old female worker upset author because she gave her bad customer service by not greeting her. Worker’s lousy attitude lingered on. Workers munching on food in kitchen made author think food she was eating not appetizing or sanitary. Lack of patrons (only 3) made author feel awkward and out of place. Wishes she had gone through drive thru.