I went to El Cortez last week and here is my experience: SCAM! Terrible in every way! Swindlers!…read moreBait and switch service by the bartender and the owner. DISHONEST! Read all the one-star reviews; they all say the same thing! Watered-down drinks (I'd bet my left bicep that all of the high-end alcohol in those displayed bottles has been replaced with either water or low-quality booze), hard sales pitch on upgrading the alcohol and selling extra shots (which we declined), but when we got the bill, it showed drinks we NEVER ordered plus dishonestly upcharged alcohol that was never ordered and then added on to the bill! Prices on the menu different than what they charge--they play dumb and have been for years (check all the reviews). Felt like I was back in Mexico--muy autentico! This wasn't a "one off" because it happened again on a different visit, to a large group of us. And when we complained, the bartender gaslit us and refused to remove the wrong charges and dishonest upcharges to cheat us out of our hard-earned money. Criminals! Thieves! Scam artists! We vowed to never, EVER return again because this is clearly part of their standard dishonest "business practices."
The owner is one shady individual (a nice elderly couple outside told us that this restaurant is known in this area for being highly dishonest and disreputable), and the greedy owner clearly doesn't care about the people who dine here. Bait and switch is the name of the game at this establishment, plus tiny portions of subpar but overpriced food that gives stomach issues (AKA FOOD POISONING) as a bonus, stale chips, extra charges for everything possible (hoping the customer won't notice), different prices than listed, bartenders who are told to water down drinks and tack on lots of extra charges to the bill to cheat customers, servers who seem terrified of the volatile and hostile management (we saw the owner screaming at staff), dirty crumbs all over the chairs and seats because there apparently is no working busboy to wipe up the tables and booths properly...I could go on. The ONLY good thing about this place was the salsa--muy spicy with good flavors. Other than that, there was nothing to redeem this squalid little hole in the wall.
Watch your bills carefully, people! And ask yourselves this question: how does a business like this stay operating for 30+ years when there are never any people dining there (it's empty 90% of the time), they open late and close early, they serve inedible food, they don't care if diners never return due to terrible food and watered-down drinks and false charges, and they play games with the alcohol, drinks, and pricing in order to CHEAT customers? Plus they don't care if a cockroach or two lingers about? Hmmm, seems I should get my laundry done there... maybe the owner should "tell" me about the "car?" ;) Maybe this place should be investigated by law enforcement or elected officials, if you know what I mean. (Uh oh, hope I haven't jeopardized my life by telling the truth about this place, lol.)
Final verdict: Dine (or drink) here at your own risk.