Tropical Smoothie Cafe

I am extremely disappointed in this Tropical Smoothie! They have let themselves go. Upon my last two recent visits, they obviously don’t care about their state of the restaurant. It’s hard to pick out anything good. On my first visit, the issues were not that dramatic. My smoothie would have been better off as an ice cream. In addition, the soda machine was leaking and there was soda all over the whole counter. On my second visit, the issues were more dramatic. I was greeted by careless employees. When the smoothies came out, they were not good and the Mocha Madness I had was chunky and nuke warm to a mild extent. I should have sent it back, but by the way they treated the previous lady who said her smoothie was watery, I refrained. In addition to the bad smoothies, the whole dining room needed a «weekend cleaning». The furniture was dirty enough to see crumbs and black smudge. A minor thing I had a problem with was the music. I felt as if I was traveling in a time machine from country to country and state to state. There was 70’s, Pop, Hip-​Hop, Rap, and Country. Yet there was no Tropical Music! Where’s the Jimmy Buffet and «Maragritaville»!? I do hope this place steps up their game, because they used to be a smoothie place that could be compared to Jamba Juice.

Missing Josh the previous manager. Some kids closed 15 minutes early and just laughed when I was pulling at the locked door. Also the cookies are a dollar more expensive and not available as a side. Shame, but now smoothie king is open for my post workout fix. Also Josh still manages the TroSmo on the parkway as well as 234. I’d much rather visit those locations.

Always great service here, pretty much in and out. If you need a smoothie recommendation the pomegranate plunge is by far my favorite. Not big on the food served here but will always grab the turkey bacon ranch sandwich it’s delicious.

EXCELLENT customer service. The manager was extremely friendly. I ordered a beach bum and accidentally ordered a bahama mama when I meant to order peanut butter paradise but I was completely fine with it. He insisted they remake it for me. Thank you so much! Wonderful. Will be back

Looks like they’re under new management. Looks like they’re doing better. I’ve gone back a couple times for a smoothie and a flatbread.
Came by one Sunday night and their hours would indicate they were closed, but the manger kept it open. That was pretty cool of him. Didn’t feel rushed.

I feel like the management here changed. It’s been a while since I last visited this Tropical Smoothie (about three/​four months ago) — I can’t recognize a single staff member and everything just feels out of place. The staff used to be professional, clean, and friendly, but today they were rude and sloppy. Not to mention they weren’t wearing their blue uniform.
I went in and ordered their Greek Chicken Salad flatbread, along with some mango smoothie… ended up struggling on the toilet thirty minutes later. (TMI, but the upset stomach details are necessary).
I ordered these items to-​go and when the lady brought my flatbread out from the kitchen, it was in a basket. I pulled out my receipt to show her that my order was to-​go and she gave me an attitude. At the time, I felt bad… but I thought about it again and realized I didn’t do anything wrong… customer service like that definitely leaves a terrible impression. I have been a fan of this place for years, but I don’t plan on going back anytime soon.

New management has brought a new energy to the place, I’ve had a wonderful experience. Excellent service, excellent food and the right price. I recommend this place for everyone!

Tropical Smoothie Café’ in Hoadly have a new management, please stop by and share the experience with us…

Update March 29, 2015
The new manager sent me a satisfying apology message through Unilocal.That’s what a good manager should do. My girls and I visited the Galveston Court Tropical Smoothie again this past Friday and enjoyed our usual order. Our smoothies were well made and the staff was professional. I think the manager might have actually been present in the restaurant which probably created a more professional environment.
Is 44 Cents Worth Losing a Customer for Life?
My little girls and I are (were) frequent customers at the Tropical Smoothie on Galveston Court. The girls like the Orange Dream and I like the Island Green. We get smoothies a lot.
Most times, I receive excellent customer service. For example, the two separate occasions that my 3 year old dropped her freshly made smoothie on the floor and the employees cheerfully mopped it up and graciously replaced it free of charge were wonderful experiences.
Perhaps because I have had good experiences in the past I was stunned by my experience today:
The line to place an order reached almost to the door on this beautiful Saturday afternoon, but my girls, ages 3 and 7, stood in line because they really wanted a smoothie. Our turn finally arrived and I placed our usual order — one Awesome Orange (the child-​sized version of the Orange Dream) for my 3 year old, an Orange Dream for my 7 year old, and an Island Green for me.
The total was $ 12.69. I had $ 12.25 on me.
«Isn’t my order normally less than $ 12?» I said.
The young woman behind the counter responded with something like «Well, you usually get 2 Awesome Oranges for the girls, not one Awesome Orange and one Orange Dream.»
She was right. I usually get the girls the 12 ounce smoothies but my 7 year old is getting bigger and today I got her the grown up 24 ounce version. (Note that we are such regular customers that the cashier knew our usual order by heart).
I explained to the cashier that I only had $ 12.25 on me and, since the line stretched to the door again, could she simply place the order and let me run to the car for an extra dollar?
«I can’t close the order without payment» the cashier said.
I stared at the tip jar overflowing with coins and one dollar bills and I thought about asking her if I could borrow one and replace it quickly… but I didn’t. I would be too embarrassed if she said «No.»
Horrified in front of my children and the long line of adults behind me, I asked the cashier to remove my Island Green from the order and just keep my children’s smoothies.
Then I went back out to the car for my 44 cents so I could order my own smoothie. The girls and I waited in line… again…got our smoothies, and left.
After I got my Island Green my 7 year old kept looking at me. She knew something was wrong.
«Are you mad, mommy?» my 7 year old kept asking. I told her that I was embarrassed, which kind of feels like anger, but it’s a little different. I told my little girl that what she had just seen was an example of terrible service to a loyal customer.
There are many things the Tropical Smoothie cashier could have done to spare me from being embarrassed in front of my children and the other customers.
The cashier could have completed my order and let me give her the extra 44 cents when I picked up the smoothies. Or, she could have borrowed 44 cents from the overflowing tip jar and allowed me to replace it when I came back with the money from the car. I would have gladly replaced that 44 cents with several dollars in appreciation.
But the cashier did none of those things. I was humiliated and had to stand in line again. The experience was very embarrassing especially because I was a regular customer.
Subjecting someone to public humiliation is a good way to ruin relationships, both personal and professional.
Now I am considering buying that $ 200 Ninja blender at BJ’s because I know I’m not going back to Tropical Smoothie even if I do absolutely love their Island Green.
Note: The photo of 2 receipts side by side on the main Tropical Smoothie page is mine.

My bf and I just came back from tropical smoothie. I usually dont come to this location because everytime i do i always leave irritated. I prefer the one on prince william pkwy, but this one is convenient because its right across the street from me. We ordered the bahama mama smoothie which was good, and a chicken chipotle club. We received the smoothie first and continued to wait a reallllyyyyy long time for the flatbread. It wasnt busy at all and the people that came in after us got their food before us. which didnt make sense to me. So i got up and looked in the kitchen and saw that they were just standing around talking to eachother and texting. No one was even making my chipotle chicken club. I tell one of them that im still waiting on my food and that it looks like theyre not doing anything. So she asked the other girls in there about it and they just all looked confused. she finally made my food and apologized. I shouldn’t have had to wait that long for something that only takes 2mins to make. Wont be coming here again.

Stopped in on Sunday afternoon, it was pretty slow and there was no line. The young lady who took my order was nice and very polite. I ordered the Thai wrap and a Blimey Limey smoothie. My order came out quickly and accurately. I ate there, which I never do. Overall, there wasn’t a thing about my visit I was unhappy about.

The Sunrise Sunset is my Fav!

Smoothies we’re good but the customer service was horrible. They gave orders to random people and they had to remake our order.

I really like smoothies, the Sunrise Sunset is delicious. However, this Tropical Smoothie location usually hires young kids and they just like to talk to each other. I stood at the counter for five minutes while they were goofing off and hugging all over each other. I’ll probably try the one in Fairfax to see if the customer service there is better.

I’ve been to this location several times. In the beginning, when they first opened, they were great! The owners were always there greeting customers, making smoothies, just being there. The last 2 times I’ve been, the customer service has been HORRIBLE!!! I won’t ever return and in fact I plan on calling their owner/​manager tomorrow morning. The smoothies were very weak and bitter. It seems as though they are all teenagers and they could give a damn who or what happens in that place. Very disappointed.

I like this location. The smoothies are consistent and always just enough for 4.99. The first time I went in the service was great. The guy upsold and knew what he was doing! He usually works mornings. Other times I go in and it’s snotty girls who aren’t friendly. Oh well just give me my smoothie! LOL! Good place!

I LOVE SMOOTHIES. But I especially LOVE tropical smoothie because they just have much better flavor. I love coming to this location because the owners have always been wonderful to me and its got that Mom and Pop feel. After working out early and stopping in there before work everyday, it was like a breakfast club.

Just came from Tropical Smoothie, and unfortunately bad experiences like mine are what inspire bad reviews.
I’ve gone here since the store first opened, and met the owners who were very cool and always greeted guests and asked how things were after getting orders. But now the place is run by high schoolers that give their friends free food.
Friends of some of the kids working in the store came in and ordered after me. I got my smoothie, but food always takes a bit longer. I was sitting at a table, and my name was never called. A girl brought out two trays to the girls that ordered after me. All three of them looked surprised or confused as if they didn’t know what they had ordered or who was supposed to get what. I had a feeling one of those girls got my order.
I waited patiently to be sure. More people that ordered after me were getting their food. I went to the counter to ask about it, and waited a bit more for someone to return to the counter and acknowledge me. Finally i nudged in front of someone in line and asked about my order. The guy that originally took my order didn’t know, went to the back and asked around. No one seemed to know, they all appeared confused.
Sure, they were busy, but, as another young man behind the counter (i think he’s a manager) told the customer next to me: «We’re always busy.»
Apologies, and they told me they’d make my order again. I told them to make it to go. Sat back down to wait. After more people get their orders, i see the same girl that gave her friends my order bring a to-​go bag to the counter, look around confused, apparently ask a few people something, then leave the bag on the counter, and return to the kitchen. My name was never called. Again.
Annoyed, i approached the counter again, waited again for someone to emerge from the kitchen. It actually took one of the other waiting customers to mention they think that this was my order, and then the kid taking orders had to ask me again what kind of chips i wanted.
So he tossed them into the bag with my chicken wrap. I picked it up, turned and left. He offered another quiet apology as i walked away.
As i said, i’ve come here and enjoyed the place for a while. I write this to express my disappointment and annoyance with this particular experience, and perhaps have this young staff realize their mistakes. I could have easily made a scene in the store, but i held my tongue.

I come here often because my fiancé and I are both smoothie fans and can be easily satisfied with a tropical smoothie for breakfast, lunch, or dinner (or all three). They have just about every smoothie combination possible for what they have to offer in the way of fruits and flavors. They also have boosts (for energy, weight management, etc…) to add to your smoothie for a small additional fee. The only boost we’ve ever really taken advantage of is the whey protein (which does not take away from the flavor at all, I’m happy to add). The smoothies are good — nice and rich and packed full of flavor — and a good price for what seems to me like a good portion.
Tropical Smoothie also has a menu for when you want to chew your dinner. They have bistro sandwiches, wraps, and salads. I was a little leery of the menu at first because I was afraid it was just TSC’s feeble attempt at providing a broader selection — but their food is actually quite good. I do have to point out, however, that the food at this particular location can be a hit or miss; I really think it just depends on who’s making it. Anyway, my favorite from the food side are the hummus veggie bistro sandwich and the thai chicken salad. My fiancé always orders the buffalo chicken wrap. Last time, I tried the Mediterranean veggie flat-​bread and whoever prepared it applied a very meager amount of veggies and then poured what seemed like half the bottle of balsamic over top, which made it pretty much inedible. Although I’m sure it’s good if actually made with care, I doubt I’ll ever order it again.
Overall, since trying the food I often find myself torn between choosing between smoothie or food. They do off offer meal combos where you can get both (and save a couple bucks) if making a choice isn’t in the cards for you. Just be sure to specify when you’re being rung up that you want the combo or you will be charged for both items separately (at this location anyway – I learned this the hard way).