Cocina Madre — Restaurant in Ensenada

I was on the fence on writing this review because I’m going to give the waiter the benefit of the doubt even though I caught him in a lie.

I’ve ate here before and had a wonderful experience with my Ladies who Lunch group. The chef had even invited me to check out his other restaurant down the street. My intentions were to go and I just didn’t get a chance. So today, for my husband’s birthday, I decided to bring him here. He ordered the ceviche-shake. It was fresh and well chilled. I ordered the whole chicken which we shared. The chicken had a nice marinade and the dark meat was grilled perfectly, the breast was dry and tough. The flour tortillas were too small to make into a taco and thick- so I’m not sure if we were suppose to open them up like pita bread. The salsa was delicious with just the right amount of heat.

I asked for water with ice, received room temp water twice. Ok, honest mistake. When the bill came, it was supposed 1,140 and we were going to leave 15% tip but the waiter charged 3,200 with 15% tip, totaling 3680mxn (about 201usd plus international fees)! When my husband confronted him he said he saw the wrong ticket. How was that possible if he had our ticket in his hand when he rang it up. He grabbed the bill and receipt and went into the kitchen. Moments later came out asking for my personal information so he could transfer me the money and that it would be in my bank tomorrow. I refused and my husband send to cancel the card transaction and just bill us accordingly. He said he couldn’t undo that. My husband said to reimburse us in cash and he said the restaurant hadn’t made enough cash for the day. I stare at my husband who’s trying to remain calm, and the waiter pulls out the exact amount from his wallet saying that he’s going to have to pay from his tip/pocket.

How many lies is that? Credit card machine can do refund transactions. How did he make so much cash tip money and yet the restaurant is cashless? Why would the money have to come out of his pocket if it’s going to the restaurant. Really, did he think I’m going to give him my personal account info, go home and hope he transfers me the money the next day? Thankfully we got reimbursed.

As odd as it may sound, this odd incident saved us from a horrific car accident. Had we paid and been on our way, our fate might have been different.

This type of situation with the waiter and the bill can happen anywhere. Just keep an eye out that your being charged accordingly.

The atmosphere would have been perfect had the women’s bathroom been clean. the toilet wasn’t flushing properly.

Aside from that, the staff was...

I recently dined here with my husband. This restaurant needs better management. When I first got there, there was a hair folded into my napkin, I ignored it and didn’t want to make a fuss. We both order the exact same cocktail and somehow the glass sizes are different and mine was stronger than his. It’s as if the mixologist just winged the ingredients. I used to bartend in college and I know every drink is supposed to be measured, not just throw in whatever. There were also different prices on our menus on certain items one said carrot soup was $160 the other said $180. Lastly when we asked for another basket of bread and tortillas we were only given bread, it took the server a while to bring it that we were done with our food by then. The food itself was...

Wow. This was amazing. We just came for mid afternoon drinks and a little snack, but I was blown away by the culinary creativity of this adorable spot. I ordered a plate of vegetables, but they were some of the most flavorful vegetables I’d ever tasted. (On the way in we bumped into an older woman with a little cart delivering fresh broccoli and peppers. We watched staff inspect them, so I know how fresh it was!). But the caldo de queso my bf ordered. WOW. So amazing. I wish I had better words to describe how great it was, other...