Mex On The Beach — Restaurant in Dover

Usually have a superb meal here. Came last week and decided to come tonight as it was our first wedding anniversary. Booked for 6pm. It was very busy when we arrived but people were finishing up and leaving anyway. Got our starters straight away which was good. Then the issue came that we waited over an hour before our main meal appeared….. what upset me the most was that it wasn’t hot and in the time we waited no one came over in the time we waited for our mains to give us some sort of time span to when the main would arrive. I noted a few times that the waiting staff were almost avoiding customers who had been waiting a long time (we weren’t the only ones waiting an age for meals) and I believe the owner was rushing round serving meals to people to help out. By the time our food arrived after 8pm and cold, I was too tired to complain directly and asked for a box to put it in to take home. My husband ate his food but his was also cold. Just a simple interaction from the girls or owner would have been great to explain the kitchen was backed up and busy but nothing from our server. Owner apologetic when I paid the bill, but I think he was knackered from running round. I’ve never had a bad meal here but tonight the service wasn’t great. Sadly decided to book elsewhere for our birthday next month. I’ve been here on a Saturday when it’s been heaving with customers and still had excellent service and hot food. Not sure what happened tonight, but like I say a simple interaction from the staff would have made...

Locals have been raving about Deal's latest restaurant, so I thought I'd better check it out. I was not disappointed.

I had the chicken tacos and a pint of Guinness. The staff helpfully cautioned me that the chicken tacos are spicy. Thankfully, properly hot cuisine and I are old mates, so the warning wasn't needed (but it definitely was appreciated).

Four very tasty tacos ensued. Bravo! Good-sized portion featuring very nicely seasoned and succulent chicken pieces, along with a successful mix of veg, fruits, and sauce.

The draft Guinness did what Guinness is supposed to do: went down smoothly and happily.

The service remained attentive, despite the restaurant being busy with seated custom and a steady stream of arrivals. The atmosphere was nigh-on perfect for such a restaurant in the evening: a pleasant and soothing hubbub, the music loud enough to enhance the ambiance without causing headaches.

As a lone eater on a busy evening, I had to sit at the bar. This is totally understandable. However, the bar design is a bit odd. The top of the bar (which looks lovely, by the way) doesn't extend out far enough, so trying to eat at the bar while seated results in one's knees and legs being squashed up against the bar. Not the end of the world, just a bit odd. Designers, eh?

I now appreciate why Dealites won't shut up about Mex on The Beach. Too-funky bar notwithstanding, I shall return to sample other items...

Pretty awful all round.

When we arrived for our booking at opening time the chairs had pieces of food on and we had to ask for them to be cleaned twice... This was how the service continued throughout.

We then had to wait 10 minutes before we were even brought menus, even though they were quiet at the time.

Service was unfriendly, no check ins if everything was ok, and appeared to struggle carrying stuff between tables.

No cutlery to dish out shared dips or even fajitas meat etc was provided - just created an unhygienic mess of dipping our own cutlery in and out of different stuff.

Non-alcoholic drinks selection very poor so avoid if you're driving like I was.

Food quality VERY poor - produce used such as cheese, chicken etc of a very low standard, and meat for our fajitas overcooked like rubber. Complete lack of flavour to everything, definitely not Mexican! Super small portions for dips, salsa etc.

Completely bizarre decor for somewhere claiming to be Mexican, including US flags hanging on the walls 😳

At the end they brought us a handwritten bill in red pen, no itemisation, no VAT amount defined - I was with a work client and their mum. Asked for a VAT receipt and they refused saying they could just give me the VAT number. Asked for an itemized receipt and after some eye rolling was just brought the same as the bill in a different colour pen.

Was very cheap which is why I've given 2 stars...