I am a frequent flyer at Tijuana Flats. LOVE everything about the place, the food, the service, the atmosphere - WINNING. I normally go to the location in Casselberry, but last night my husband and I stopped at the Altamonte Springs location for convenience on our way home.
NEVER AGAIN.
When we walked in the place was packed. Literally no open tables at all. It was like a 3 ring circus in there, kids running around, babies crying, people talking, it was nuts. Anxiety kicked into overdrive, and I was kicking myself for leaving my Xanax at home.
We placed our order, but the girl behind the counter had a hard time focusing on us because of all of the background commotion, but that went both ways. I was so frazzled that I couldn't concentrate on the menu, so I ordered the first thing I saw which was the Black Bean Flautas, one of the few items on their menu I have never tried. What I MEANT to order was the black bean chimichanga which I love, but that was on me.
I ordered a beer, even though I wasn't planning on drinking. Stress level at an 8 with the chaos.
Finally a table opened up in the middle of the dining area just as we had finished ordering so we rushed to grab the seats.
My biggest complaint - which really had absolutely NOTHING to do with the restaurant - some IGNORANT a-holes with a party of 5 adults and 8 children sat with their party separated, adults on one side of the restaurant against the wall, and the kids - all looking to be under 10 years old - sat at the complete opposite end of the restaurant by the ordering counter with no adults. The kids were screaming, running all over the restaurant, making each other eat the death face hot sauce - which made them cry - even though it CLEARLY indicates children should not be at the hot bar...it was maddening.
I thought to myself, at least I have the saving grace of the never failing delicious food. WRONG. My husband's burrito was a terrible mess, it looked like they just literally threw it on the plate, it wasn't even folded, just thrown on the plate and slopped out of the kitchen. The Flautas...no bueno. This food is just a terrible concept to begin with, and to add insult to injury it was very poorly executed.
Not knowing this when I ordered - a flauta is tortilla filled with stuffing, then rolled up and fried. The down fall - they give you all of the toppings (tomatoes, onions, olives, lettuce, sour cream, etc) on the side. It is very difficult to top a rolled up cylinder with toppings. Secondly - the filling was scarce. One of them only had 3 black beans inside, that was it (picture added).
I didn't even finish my beer, I was so anxious to get the hell out of there. I'm sticking to the trustworthy Casselberry TF from now on. read more