Mariscos El General — Attraction in Pasadena

I’ll start off by stating, we are part of the food/service industry. We provide similar types of service in high volumes as well. We’ve been here before. We’ve purchased seafood at the market as well. We really like this place but it’s time to make sure the quality and value of attention to your customers remain like it once began.

Sadly today’s visit left much to be desired. It started with our drinks and lack of expected quality they usually serve. In addition to the spotty service I’m not sure if the cooks have change but the usual quality of the dishes was not there. We ordered a calamari appetizer, one michelada and a agua mineral preparada (salt and lime juice) both were brought out with Clamato and some chili powder tasting like a watery tomato Bloody Mary. Took me about 15 minutes to get the attention of the server to order a beer because as much as I don’t like to return things there’s no way I was going to drink it. Next was our appetizer, the calamari was breaded nicely but of the lowest gummiest quality - did not expect that at all. Then came our ceviche tostada which was very good, two tacos gobernador the shrimp taco was very good but the second was incorrect as I had not ordered marlin it was taken back but never replaced. So basically the night ended with not getting our order complete, two of us finished our meal minus a taco and my son’s meal which was really an appetizer that never arrived. Much less the attention of our server. When I addressed the server and the cashier the server had nothing to say about the missing orders or lack of follow up but returned to charge me after the cashier adjusted my ticket.

Will I be back, maybe after a long while but truly it’s not the only seafood place in town. Owners y’all have built a great business, make sure your staff reflects...

If you are looking for a lively and delicious Mexican seafood experience, look no further than Mariscos El General. This restaurant offers a variety of dishes that will satisfy your taste buds and make you feel like you are on a tropical vacation.

Diego was our server and he was very attentive. We started with the Botana El Rey, a platter of shrimp, octopus, oysters, scallops, and fish fillet, all cooked in a spicy tomato sauce and served with tostadas. The seafood was fresh and tender, and the sauce had a nice kick to it. We also tried the Ceviche Tropical, a refreshing mix of shrimp, mango, pineapple, cucumber, onion, cilantro, and lime juice. It was light and flavorful, and perfect for a hot day.

To wash it all down, we ordered Modelo micheladas, which are beer cocktails with lime juice, tomato juice, spices, and salt. They were the best ones we have ever had in town. They were cold and refreshing, and complemented the seafood well.

The atmosphere was great too. The restaurant was packed with people enjoying their food and drinks. There was a live mariachi band playing traditional songs and creating a festive mood. The service was excellent as well. Our server Daniela was friendly and attentive. She checked on us frequently and made sure we had everything we needed. She also gave us some recommendations for dessert, which we appreciated.

The restaurant was also very clean and sanitary. The waitstaff was constantly picking up bottles, trash, napkins, and wiping down tables. This gave us a good peace of mind during these times.

We had a wonderful time at Mariscos El General and we highly recommend it to anyone who loves Mexican seafood. It is not your low key quiet place, but if you are looking for fun and flavor, this is the...

The food was delicious, and the servers were friendly, though a bit inattentive—we had to flag down our waitress multiple times as she wasn’t checking on us regularly. However, I’m writing this review to emphasize an issue someone else mentioned: being charged for the most expensive size of an item without consent.

I ordered the ceviche de camarón y pulpo in the regular size, as it was just for one person. When the dish arrived, I was surprised by the large portion but didn’t question it since this restaurant is known for generous servings. Later, when reviewing the bill at home, I realized I had been charged for the large size. I didn’t dispute the charge because 1) it was too late, and 2) I did receive the larger portion. That said, it’s frustrating to feel misled into paying for something I didn’t order. While I took the leftovers home, seafood doesn’t keep well, so most of it ended up going to waste.

Another issue was the included tip, which was deceptively small. In the rush to hand over my card, I didn’t notice it initially and ended up tipping much more than intended for the level of service we received. To make matters worse, the charge on my card was $0.60 higher than the total on the bill. While $0.60 may seem trivial, combined with everything else, it felt like yet another example of being overcharged. Disputing such a small amount is more trouble than it’s worth, but it’s incredibly irritating to have to deal with.

I loved the ambiance of the restaurant, but given these experiences, I’m unlikely to return. It’s disappointing when great food is overshadowed by...