12:32 PM
I chose to try Big Popy's for lunch after reading through a menu at my work place. The restaurant was clean (with the exception of a few tables) but a bit crowded- not with people but with numerous retro-esque chairs and tables. There were perhaps 4 other parties having lunch in the space.
When I got to the counter a lady who took my order was indifferent and seemed tired &/or distracted. While I was placing my order I witnessed one of the kitchen help (large, pink flower pinned to the left side of her baseball cap) take one of the "to-go" salads from the white, retro-styled cooler in front, carry it to the back area and- with her bare hands- scoop the salad out into a large, white salad bowl. She fussed with it for some time as she completed what I assumed was an order for "eat-in". I never saw her sanitize her hands. Consequently, I will never order a salad from Big Popy's. (Note: I saw another middle-aged lady bring a sandwich to a customer- she was wearing blue food service gloves so I know they have them.)
My sandwich (Heart Attack Panini- $8.25) came in relatively short order. It was filling and tasted fine but nothing extra-ordinary. The pastrami was thick and tended to come off the sandwich like a grissly piece of meat that wouldn't be chewed. The dressing was light but it tasted like Thousand Island rather than "Russian Dressing" as it is decribed in the menu. My bill came to $11.64 which included a sandwich and fountain soda. If I had to guess I'd say this was about $4 too much for the size and quality of product I received.
During my stay a middle-aged gentleman (who resembled the cartoon face on the website, felt porkpie fedora and all) arrived to wipe tables.
The website for Big Popy's is flawed with links that error out, spelling & punctuation errors. This may not seem like a big deal unless one takes it as a lack of attention to detail- something that shouldn't happen in any aspect of food service.
The decor can also lend itself to alienating a large number of the Bakersfield population since it is very pro-war (an entire wall dedicated to war/troop support). With one son in the navy I am all about supporting our troops- but this establishment crosses a delicate line that could be construed as war-mongering rather than simple allegiance.
Over all I find this establishment suffering from an identity crisis with too many individual characteristics and no cohesive feeling: I got more interaction from my HS lunch line than I did here. If the lunch hour I was there is any indication Big Popy's isn't long for the Bakersfield business community.
