My first food truck event, and probably my last. Especially if they charge a ridiculous entrance…read morefee. This was the biggest ripoff ever. And after having been to Portland where there are food truck lots on every corner, and NO admission fee, I say, So Cal, you have really missed the boat on this one.
We got in early, and for half the advertised price thanks to Groupon. But half off was no bargain. Still $40 for two for VIP tickets, it sounded classy. Not.
And what did my $40 buy me? The event was in a small, fenced in parking area (felt like an oversized dog run) with a sorry number of trucks and Chick Sales for bathroom facilities. There was a small tented area with some tables for VIP seating, that was not well monitored. Meaning, regular ticket holders boldly infiltrated. Free drinks (water or soda), free tangerines, and free cheap candy. And frantic searching for any kind of seat.
So then, what about the food? Sticker shock for me. Everything was not a sample sized, but rather full-sized, full priced entrees. After spending over $38 for several entrees that we shared, we found ourselves satiated. So lets see. $38 + $40 = $78. For that kind of money, I could have had a very decent meal at a 5 star Yelped restaurant, sitting down at a table with a tablecloth, maybe a flower, some free bread and butter, served to me in an air conditioned, tastefully decorated dining room, a clean indoor bathroom, and a witty, clever server taking care of my every need. and I wouldn't have have driven 50+ miles one way.
Badly planned and mis-represented to all those people who showed up that day. And long, long lines by the time we left at noon. And pretty hot. Big Failure.
Us?....well... we left after an hour of trying to have fun, and moved on to a couple of wineries in the area, where we sipped and smoozed and finished the remainder of the day in high style. And put Pechanga out of our minds.