1/5
Let me start by…read moresaying that our experience with Cielito Lindo and Armando was extremely disappointing, and what we experienced did not match the impression we were given from the business's Instagram page.
Our family found Armando through Instagram. We saw photos and videos showing beautiful venue decorations, elaborate setups, and catered events. Based on those posts, we believed he was responsible for that work and felt confident that he would be capable of providing a similar level of service for a wedding.
A deposit was required and paid.
Unfortunately, the problems started almost immediately. When it came time to meet with him, he did not show up for our first scheduled meeting. A second appointment was arranged, and that one was canceled. At that point, we had a very bad feeling about allowing him to handle the catering for such an important event. We honestly felt that perhaps he had taken on more than he was prepared to handle.
Because a deposit had already been paid, we decided to significantly reduce his role and have him provide only the cocktail hour.
The agreement for cocktail hour included elote/esquite--corn in a cup with butter, mayonnaise, Mexican cheese, spices, and the appropriate toppings--as well as fruit with Tajín and chamoy.
What was actually provided was incredibly disappointing, especially considering the amount we were charged. The corn mixture was already premixed in a pot and was extremely watery. It reminded us more of canned corn soup than the esquite we had expected. There were no individual toppings provided as agreed. The quantity was also nowhere near what we expected for the number of guests we had paid to have served.
I will give credit where it is due: the elote stand itself was very cute. Unfortunately, that was about the only positive part of our experience.
What concerned us even more afterward was seeing an Instagram post labeled as a "barn wedding." The video shows multiple aspects of the wedding venue and setup in a way that, in our opinion, gives viewers the impression that Cielito Lindo was responsible for far more of the event than what was actually provided by him. This included showing a very personal ofrenda/memorial table that our family knows was not his work.
That is particularly upsetting because those types of posts were exactly what influenced our family when we originally decided to hire him.
I cannot speak about the quality of the food he serves at his regular restaurant/mall location because I have not eaten there, and this review is not about that. I am specifically reviewing our experience hiring him for an event.
Based on our experience, I would not hire Cielito Lindo or Armando to cater an important event. Between the missed/canceled meetings, the difference between what we believed we were purchasing and what was actually provided, the quantity and quality of the food, and the way the event was later portrayed on social media, our family was extremely disappointed.
To make matters worse, after everything that occurred, there was still an expectation that additional money was owed.
If you are considering hiring this business for a wedding, baptism, party, or other large event, I strongly recommend asking exactly what they personally provided in the events shown on their social media, getting every single item and quantity in writing, and making sure you understand exactly what you are paying for before giving a deposit.
We trusted what we saw online, and unfortunately, what we received was nowhere close to what we expected.
