With its new olive-colored awnings and fresh garden of glossy shrubs, Fazoli's on Shallowford Road's façade is new and improved.
"We're going to get new signs eventually," said Director of Operations Ken Szostek. Then he promptly switched topics. "So, are you hungry? You gotta eat lunch. You like stuffed pasta?" He motioned shift leader Lisa Wordlaw Smith to our table and placed an order for two of Fazoli's new Robusto dishes made with sacchetti pasta.
"I think the pasta looks like little bags of gold. You know, like from the old days," he said, and grinned.
Before long, Lisa returned to our table with hot food in hand. "I hope you enjoy," she said, placing the bowls of creamy pasta before us. Ken's visual comparison was apropos - only instead of gold, the pasta is stuffed with smooth ricotta cheese, drowned in creamy marinara sauce, and topped with chicken, bacon and a blend of different cheeses.
The dish, Ken explained, is part of a new limited-time promotion that features three stuffed pasta dishes made with the same ricotta-filled sacchetti, but each dish has different toppings. For example, in addition to the Robusto there is the Fresco topped with chicken, artichokes, basil and sun-dried tomato marinara, and the Supremo topped with salami, sausage, mushrooms and sun-dried tomato marinara.
"How'd you like it?" Lisa asked, returning to my side and smiling wide. I eagerly nodded with my mouth full. After she moved to the next group of guests, Ken said, "I get calls about her a couple times a week. I mean, she goes all out. Sometimes when it's raining she goes out and meets customers at their cars with an umbrella."
Though you'll find the always-enthusiastic Lisa only at Fazoli's Shallowford location, rest assured there are plenty of reasons to stop by Fazoli's locations in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and Cleveland, Tenn. One example is the Pasta Perks program.
The new Pasta Perks loyalty program lets you earn points toward coupons and giveaways. During every visit to any store, just enter your phone number into the tablet located alongside the register. Instantly, you will receive points and coupons, if available.
Another example is Club 62, which is available to patrons over the age of 62. Every Wednesday, members are offered $4 select entrees plus a side salad and breadstick. Options include favorites like spaghetti, fettuccine Alfredo and lasagna. Any day of the week, members can purchase a drink for $1.
"Actually, there's a new thing I'm trying at the Fort O location," said Ken. "In Fort O only, we're offering Club 62 Monday through Thursday instead of just Wednesday. We're just seeing how it goes, and it's going well."
Indeed, there is a lot to be excited about. Even more so since Fazoli's brought back its beloved lemon ice slushy machine - also available at all locations. So no matter which side of town you find yourself on, as Ken says, "A brain freeze is a brain freeze."