I've been coming to El Tarasco for most of my years on this planet. I've always loved the food. I've always been treated well. And, this time was no different. With one exception..... I just paid $8, for one, single, taco. That? Is insane!
I always get the El Tarasco taco, with carne asada. I got two, with a glass of Pepsi. My server took good care of me. And accommodated all of my requests. From keeping my glass full. To more chips and salsa when I ran out. To, a few extra napkins for my mess-making self. Then the bill came.
Usually? Whenever I get a bill? I tend not to look at it too closely. (Something I probably should do? But, I'm often grabbing a bite by myself most of the time as I eat out, daily.) I visit the same places often. So, I usually already have a good idea of what I will be paying. However? As I looked across the table at the card reader my server had placed on the table for me to pay? I saw in giant, illuminated numbers, $19.?? So, basically it's occurring to me that I just paid $20, for two tacos and a Pepsi! So, I look at the bill. I notice some random charge for $1.50 So, I take it up to the register to ask about it.
When I ask my server about it? He tells me it's because I got asada. I have absolutely no clue what he is talking about? As, I have gotten the carne asada El Tarasco tacos, again, for most of my life. And, I have never been charged extra.... For the meat that is already supposed to come in my taco. I honestly didn't know what to make of it? He points on the menu over to, combo plates. Where it says for the meat on a combo plate, it will be an extra $1.50 for asada. I however? Did not get a combo plate. And, as he points out the part on the menu above the El Tarasco tacos that says you can find the protein options above the combo plate section? I explain that is not how it looks to me. And if what he is saying is accurate? They need to put the price of that meat above the section I ordered from. I explained that from where I stand? It simply reads as, "You can see what your meat choices are over there." And it sure doesn't seem to me like the $1.50 is meant to apply toward a taco. Especially a $6.35 taco! As, that has just skyrocketed my ONE, SINGLE TACO, to $7.85 And that? Is an absolutely INSANE PRICE FOR A SINGLE TACO.
Another server, who may have just been popping in? I have no idea? However, due to the insanity of what I was hearing? I thought maybe things were being misunderstood due to a language barrier? A simple miscommunication or misunderstanding on one of our parts? But, she assured me that no. It really is set up like that. And a single taco, that I have gotten many time over the years? Is now $8...
Well? That did it for me. I will not be coming back to El Tarasco anytime soon. I only get the El Tarasco tacos here. And while the food is certainly good? It is no longer a good value. This is Los Angeles. There is no shortage of places to get tacos. And, having grown up here, in the South Bay? I have a couple of other very good taco places I also patronize regularly. And for the price of a single taco here at El Tarasco? I can get two, to three great carne asada tacos at these other spots for the same amount of money. And I'm talking good meat. Angus beef. Good meat! Not some crappy place that calls unseasoned skirt steak asada like some of these places do! (I am absolutely NOT saying that El Tarasco serves unseasoned skirt steak as their carne asada! Not at all! To be clear? El Tarasco has really great carne asada!)
I have been a server at multiple restaurants in my younger days. And servers know. That nobody is going to try to make things as easy for you as someone who knows what it's like. Likewise, nobody will scrutinize you like another server if you are doing a crap job at it. I say this, because I know I am about to leave a two star review. And I don't want management, or the staff to think that it had anything to do with them or the service I received. This simply comes down to me thinking that the way the menu is laid out? Needs to be changed if you really are meaning to charge people an extra $1.50 for what is essentially the core ingredient one would just assume came in a taco. People should know ahead of time, with no ambiguity that they are ordering an $8 taco! Not something saying, "Go look over here!" So, the menu, and the lack of value is why I am leaving two stars. And unfortunately, why I won't be coming back any time soon. read more