From start to finish, the experience was less than what we'd hoped for:…read more
We arrived around 4:30, hoping to beat the rush, but between it being a Friday and the restaurant being new, the parking lot was already quite full. We walked in expecting a wait and weren't surprised to see several parties ahead of us, all crammed into a very small, awkward front hallway. There were multiple parties of three and four; we were just two.
What happened next is hard to describe--it was a gradual shift from excitement, to observation, to confusion, and ultimately disheartenment. There were several tables and booths clearly cleaned and available, yet people were being quoted 10-15 minute waits. The man seating guests seemed visibly annoyed that people were waiting at all. At one point, he told the entire group, "I'll be back in a few minutes," with no apology or sense of professionalism. Initially, I brushed it off--but as we continued observing, it became clear that the front-of-house staff was disorganized and confused.
When we were finally taken to our table, I politely said, "Thanks so much." The look I received in return--pure disdain, with no response--was a pretty awful way to start the meal.
Our waiter, on the other hand, was a genuinely friendly young man, which gave us some hope. He took our drink order (two horchatas), which arrived within about five minutes. The horchata itself was really good--made in-house--but the glass was roughly 70% ice and 30% drink. Which is also fine assuming they provide free refills, which I am guessing they do not. (Only guessing never found out).
About ten minutes later, we were served a tiny bowl of salsa with a modest basket of chips. My husband and I tried the salsa at the same time and immediately looked at each other like... seriously? It tasted like watered-down spaghetti sauce--barely seasoned and with zero spiciness. It's complimentary, so I won't complain too much, but it wasn't enjoyable. The chips were fine--basic, unsalted, nothing special.
For context, we're from the Oak Park/Berwyn area, where some of the best Mexican food around can be found. We aren't food critics by any means--we just love Mexican food and know what we enjoy. Given the menu prices here, expectations were naturally higher.
We ordered fairly standard items: a burrito, tacos, sides, and guacamole. Here's how it landed:
Rice and refried beans: Extremely bland, about half the portion size you'd expect elsewhere, and wildly overpriced for both quantity and flavor.
Tacos: The soft shells seemed soaked in grease, causing them to fall apart within minutes. The beef itself was actually very good--well seasoned and flavorful--but there were no toppings at all. I had requested onions and cilantro so this may have been a miscommunication to replace other toppings, so not a huge issue.
Guacamole: Very good flavor, but charging $2 for roughly two tablespoons is excessive. Their "mini guac" may sound cute, but it's comically small. We ordered a large guacamole afterward, but it was never made or brought out, so we canceled it when we paid the check.
Other things we noticed: there were no extra napkins--just the two tissue-thin ones wrapped around the silverware. No salt, pepper, or additional salsas were on the table, leaving no way to adjust seasoning or spice levels. I know I could have asked, but these basics should already be provided as a courtesy... it's annoying for everyone when guests have to ask for little things every time their server checks on them.
The check was incorrect--twice. First, it was an overcharge. After it was corrected, it became an undercharge, and we added the difference to the tip. Definitely check your receipt closely. They also charge a credit/debit card fee and list a suggested 22% tip instead of 20%, which feels a bit manipulative. We always tip generously for good service, but this was off-putting.
We don't drink alcohol or order dessert, and we split meals to avoid waste. Had we ordered cocktails, appetizers, and dessert, this easily could have been $50-$60 per person before tip and fees.
In the end, if this were a low-key spot with smaller portions and modest pricing, I'd be far less critical. But the menu includes $18 burritos, $14 "Pick Two" plates (one taco and a small burrito with underwhelming sides), and $4.50 mostly-ice drinks. Those prices aren't unreasonable if the food, service, atmosphere, and extras match--but they didn't.
This felt like 6/10 food trying to pass as 9/10 based on presentation, in an establishment that assumed its corner-cutting and nickle & diming wouldn't be noticed. They did a few things well, but overall, what should have been an 8 or 9 experience landed closer to a 4 or 5.
Maybe we'll try again after they've been open longer, but I don't see much changing. I still recommend others try it--everyone has different tastes and expectations.
