Escondite Brossard — Restaurant in Brossard

We were a group of 10 people and it costed us $40 per person. The restaurant requires groups of 8+ people to select the "Escondite experience". (In the future, if we ever came back, we would probably split up our group into two different tables, so that we would not be forced to take this option). The menu does not even describe this experience, and I think it is because people would not be impressed by what is actually offered...I was excited to try the 14 different appetizers and then choose 2 tacos (per person) from their long list of options. I thought we would be tasting the corn bread, ribs, shrimp ceviche, etc. However, the food selection was a big let down and the portions were very small. We thought we would essentially be tasting the entire appetizers menu, as there were about 12-14 options. However, they seemed to count 2 bowls of guacamole and chips for instance, as two different appetizers. Even though there would logically need to be one bowl at each end of the table for large groups. We initially thought that counted as one appetizer (since it was the same food item for the group to try) but we were wrong. For the price, we were under the impression that we could pick from any of the tacos. But, we were only given the choice of 3-4 basic taco options to select from. We were then told to pick two types of tacos, and that we would be receiving 10 of each for the table. This again took away from our experience, because each person was not able to choose what they personally would have liked to try. They made it seem like the tacos would be decent sized portions, but the two tacos each person got were very small and lacking flavor. They did not come with any lime slices, salsas, or guacamole either. The service was not exceptional and a bit disappointing. There was a young male server that was very nice and helpful, even though he was not our main server. There was no clear presentation of what each item was, we had to ask the servers what they were giving us. For dessert, we got 1 churro per person. I've had delicious Mexican churros before, but these were raw on the inside and tasted like cereal. Unfortunately I couldn't finish mine. On the bright side, the restaurant decor is beautiful and the atmosphere is nice. The food is also presented very beautifully. The guacamole was really good and the general TSO's chicken was amazing. I also enjoyed the gyoza nacho and cauliflower dish. But I was not a fan of the ceviche de pescado. It would have been nice to have a chance to taste the other ceviches they had to offer.

My group and I's overall consensus was that the "Escondite experience" was not worth the hundreds of dollars our table ended up spending. We felt mislead by what our experience was going to consist of. The price per person was ridiculous for the options and amount of food we received. Rather than feeling like we really got our moneys worth, it was quite the opposite. I would not recommend the...

Meh, it's okay I guess. First impressions were not very good. We definitely would've had a seat on the terrasse if only it didn't look so drab. So we ended up indoors. Music was too loud considering we were almost the only patrons. Hostess was kinda cold, and it took our server quite a long time to come to our table, which was a tad too small and super wobbly. Had to readjust the plastic thingys under the leg myself. Service was pretty good though. Our server was pleasant and attentive.

Cocktails were also pretty good! I had the seasonal coconut one with cachaça and my boyfriend had the cilantro smash, which unfortunately had one of those annoying triangle salt rims. I really wish bartenders would stop doing that. Sure, it's aesthetic... for like 2 minutes. Then your glass gets all gross with salt crystals melting into the condensation from the ice and sliding down the side. Come onnnn, this isn't rocket science! Just do a damn half rim at this point.

As for the food, I'd be curious to try more of their tacos because the ones we ordered (the more expensive Korean steak ones) were quite tasty and a good value. They were filled to the brim with meat, to the point where I wish there had been more of the other toppings on there to balance it out. However, the ceviche de pescado was just average (kind of watery with too much black pepper), and in our opinion the gyoza are kind of a fail. Such a gimmicky dish. Like mac 'n' cheese bites with no mac and a bunch of random tex-mex toppings. Chaotic and just not very good.

Frankly I don't think I'll be going back to this branch because, as with most restaurants around DIX30, the food just isn't up to par and the general ambiance feels off. I know it's out of the owner's control, but this location is just so huge and echoey and all concrete and steel that it ends up feeling kind of sterile no matter how festive and colourful they try to make it. I'd still be willing to give the OG Escondite...

Overall below average. Would not recommend this place.

I want to start by saying the staff was extremely nice and professional. I think the employees are doing a good job.

The decor is also very nice.

The food itself was okay but overall tasted cheap and premade/frozen. We had the tostada, al pastor tacos and gyozas. Favorite was the gyoza but nothing tasted great. I will say though, they are generous with the sauce/guac/cheese/pickled onions which was pleasant since the meat in each plate was meh. But hey! Maybe it was an off day!

The portions are also pretty small so I would recommend ordering more than one plate. Plates are around 10-15$ each.

The ambiance though... Absolutely horrid. This place is LOUD. It sounds like a high school cafereria in there. I don't even know how to describe it correctly because it's a small dining room, it should not be that loud in there but somehow you end up having to almost yell to talk to the hostess? It was bad enough that we took our food to go because the place felt unpleasant. They would benefit a lot from adding drop cellings or partitions to cut off the traveling sound. I don't expect it to be a romantic and intimate vibe, but I also don't want to yell to talk to my husband at 7h30pm for diner.

Lastly, maybe that's on me but I got the vibe that this was more of a resto/bar, cool place for tacos & margaritas but the restaurant had more of a family oriented ambiance when we got there? Great if you are looking for that type of restaurant but slightly disappointing when you are expecting a different thing. Kids yelling and running is not what I expected for my Friday tacos & drinks.

I personally will not be going back when there are so many other good choices in the area which is disapointing because I love hispanic food and...