I had high expectations. Alas, this is a place try...

I had high expectations. Alas, this is a place trying to compete in the $10 fast-casual lunch space in Columbia some tough competition here that disappointed on several levels. First, it's pricey. The base chicken biscuit is $5.65. A biscuit, tater tots and a coke sets you back $9.59. Okay, fine. If it is really good, that's not gonna be a problem. My gold standard for a chicken biscuit is Chick Fil A. Conservative politics aside, the appeal of a Chick Fil A biscuit is undeniable. Rise's version, while a little bigger (and much pricier) does not come close to Chick Fil A's gold standard. Second, the cheddar-tater tots. For $1.94, you get ... *4* tots. I thought that was a mistake, but looking at the other reviews, that is standard. They are a little bigger than standard tater tots, but not much. But 50 cents a tot? Seriously? Third, the ordering experience. There was a small staff there, and the one register manned by a human was unoccupied. So I went to the self-order kiosk. Fine, no problem. When I went to pay, it prompted me for a tip. Mind you, this is for counter service (order and pickup) and I wasn't even interacting with a human. A machine, at a pricey fast-casual place, with no human present, asking for a tip felt a little grabby. Fourth, after I pay, it wants my email. Um, no. But there is no opt-out button. Now this feels *really* grabby. Yes, I am sure you would like to harvest all of our emails, Rise. But, just no. I had to ask the human cashier at the other register to cancel it out from her register. Fifth, seating. There is a total of seven indoor seats at this place. So if it is cold, or inclement weather, you are probably out of luck. There are four outdoor tables, when the weather is nice, that appears to be shared by two or three other restaurants. The food was good, not great. Again, the signature item was not as good as Chick Fil A, which is literally three mins away by car. And for the same price as a chicken biscuit here, I can get a ridiculously good grilled pork bahn mi sub at Pho La Cay about 100 yards away. Apples to oranges, sure. But you are competing at this price point. And honestly, Rise is not really in the game.