Not realizing I tried this place once before, nearly a year ago via Doordash, my wife and I found ourselves dining in for brunch. I gave 3/5 stars back then, and it was the burritos we had back then with a limited menu choice.
This time, it was brunch, and the menu was vast. This was our first time dining in and the second time trying the food, as explained above, with Doordash. So, it took a little time to get through the menu.
My wife ended up choosing the Chilaquiles (3.5/5) that had an asada and Chorizo mixture that she omitted and had put on the side. The menu gave no options for choice of protein (i.e., grilled chicken breast). I had her put it on the side so that I could try it. She said she liked the Chilaquiles flavor but thought it "was put together or seemed simple and that anyone could have put that together."
I chose the $35 "Country Fry Steak" as it is listed on the menu (1/5). Chicken fried steak, country fried steak...tomato tomahhto, it's all the same, or so I thought. BTW, most items on the menu have a mexican flare to them, as did my "country fry steak." Served with hash browns, a salsa verde and toast. Okay, I am down to try staples with a twist. Well, BIG MISTAKE! The steak was breaded with bread crumbs and not the country/chicken fried batter this dish is known for. If you like chicken or country fried steak, you're probably saying Ewww to yourself right now. After trying to force myself through half of it, I just could not eat anymore.
The service consisted of two young wait people splitting the time attending our table. Both young females and one clearly younger and a little less experienced than the other. I could not tell you their names because neither introduced themselves. The younger of the two was visibly impatient with us taking a few extra minutes with the menu. She arrived within 2 minutes of us being seated and 2 more times roughly 4 minutes apart. Mind you, the place was not busy at all.
Then the slightly older, second wait person arrived and asked if we were ready to order. We were not but I said "two more minutes please." She returned in two minutes and we ordered. All said and done, from being seated to ordering took about 15 minutes. Neither wait persons were rude, but they were not very attentive. When the elder of the two finally did come back when we were finished eating, to ask how the everything was, I told her about my meal and her face went from a smile to one of concern. She said "she was very sorry" and walked away presumably to tally our check.
Now I don't know about you, but any restaurant that I have gone to and didn't like the food, the wait person would ask if their was anything else on the menu I would like to try. That didn't happen here. Or, they would grab the manager to come to the table to see if their was a way to rectify the problem which usually ended with removal of that item from the bill. That didn't happen here and if the manager/owner would have come over to the table to offer to remove it from the bill, I would have politely refused. After all, I ate half of the NOT Country Fried Steak.
The price point at this place is a bit steep, but over the years anytime I have been comped on a meal at minimum that becomes the wait person tip. If the service is great, the tip is the comped meal price PLUS the going percentage rate for tips. That didn't happen here. I left a $5 tip on an $81 bill. I believe in tipping and I was planning on spending that money anyways at that establishment. Why leave the rest of the day open with bad vibes due to a bad experience?
Btw there were a few other items we ordered not mentioned. When my wife and I go out to eat at a new place, we often order a few items just to try them. When asked if we would like the rest to go it was a unanimous "no thank you." There just seems to be something incomplete about this place. No condiments, no salt/pepper shakers. You know, the things you would see in every breakfast brunch restaurant. I mean when I asked for ketchup for my hash browns, it came in packets. The service however friendly seems unrefined. As much as I try not to give 1/5 stars, there were just too many things wrong/incomplete.
My wife said, "Maybe I just expect too much?" To which I responded, If I am spending alot of money I do expect alot." If a restaurant is going to charge $35 for a "Country Fry Steak," it better be good at a minimum. "Just okay," is not an acceptable bar to reach. I don't get angry when I have an experience like this and write about it like am now. My hope is the owners and staff read it and can take some things away from this review...and do better. read more