I made a reservation for this restaurant the day before Mother's Day because my wife wanted to try it. We love experiencing new restaurants, we both love Mexican Cuisine (restaurant and home style) and never considered going to one "taking a chance". Well, big mistake.
When you walk in, it's dark. Not like ambient dark, just dark as in a cave with some lights. The music is very loud (and I'm a musician who loves high energy music, but you can't hear to talk!) and there are people seated at the bar. After a few seconds, one of the guys seated at the bar, got up and started walking us to a table. Quite honestly, he: 1) Didn't look like he wanted to be there 2) looked like he didn't want US to be there. Here's the scary part: I'm not sure if he was staff or the owner. If he was the owner, OMG!
Since we had a reservation (he didn't know this because he was headed to the table already with no real or welcoming greeting), I told the young lady who was by a desk that looked like a reception desk, who I was so she would know we were there and didn't ghost the reservation.
I followed him to couch-like seating that was against the wall (normal) and one of the worst looking chairs you'll ever see. He dragged a second on of these chairs over to the table (small and not appealing at all). The table looked like it was meant for only two people.
He showed us a QR code and mentioned something that I didn't understand, not because of a language barrier, but the disinterested nature of his speech and the loudness of the music. I asked my wife and son what was said and they figured out that the QR code was the menu.
Then I looked over the menu. First, the margaritas are the highest price I've seen, $14.00 and THEN if you add flavor there is an additional charge. Are you kidding me? If the place looked like Mesita's then MAYBE you might justify a high price. But this place was no Mesita's.
Second, if you're a vegetarian, you might as well bring your own food unless you just want nachos with no meat. No options, no ideas. Not even with all the vegetarian meats out today....
This was the last straw. I decided to leave and find a place that WANTED US and catered to at least something vegetarian. We went to Mala Madre, spent over $130.00 and had a great time. Mother's Day saved!
While we were in the middle of our magaritas, I get a message on my phone stating our table is ready. Hello? They hadn't even figured out we were gone? I then get a call from the person who seated us inquiring in some awkward way, why we had left. I told him about some of the above, that it didn't seem like we were wanted there.
This prompted him to apologize, offer a discount AND THEN START ARGUING WITH ME.
Newsflash, not a good way to problem solve with customers.
So if he is listening, here goes: The way you acted sir, was that you didn't want my business. You only showed any emotion because we left. That is strange, because NEW businesses usually try very hard to please their customers instead of running them away. One would almost think it WASN'T that you didn't want customers, its WHO the customer was that bothered you. You being seated at the bar like a customer when we walk in was also not too appealing.
Second, I tried to explain to you why I was displeased and let you know that I have owned a business for over 24 years and that is not how we treat our customers. Before I finished speaking, you began to question me as if you were trying to catch me in a lie. After all, how could I possibly own a business right?
In fact, I own TWO businesses in the area. What is more important for you to know is that I will be letting those customers of my experience at your restaurant. My customer base consists of all ethnicities and backgrounds. WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE. I love my customers and they in turn love us.
What you need to know is my experience with this charging for flavors of margaritas has made me creative. I found a margarita maker for only a couple of hundred dollars. For the price of one good night out with the family drinking margaritas, I can make them myself.
We came to your establishment TO SUPPORT IT and enjoy Mother's Day out. I personally can make many of the dishes on your menu (vegetarian versions of them of course) without visiting you. Many of your customers can do the same. You need to treat us right. You need to respect us and we will give you respect in return. Hopefully, you will have learned something from this review and you will do better. For now though, I will not be returning, or encouraging anyone to return. read more