Pars Cuisine — Restaurant in Albuquerque

A scammy business that has ok food but which I couldn't enjoy because of their intentionally deceptive business practices. We went on new year's eve and were told that we could either pay $55 per person for the special or order off the main menu, but it would be a $30 minimum if ordering off the main menu. We had the intention of ordering a couple plates to share between 3 people and I was planning on spending over $30 for the table so I assumed I was fine. We were repeatedly told $30 minimum and yet the waitress and owner intentionally left out the vital qualifier of "per person." That is, until the check came and they wanted us to pay $37 to make up the difference. When we ordered our food and it was less than $30 per person, the waitress failed to mention anything. That tells me that this is an intentional practice to scam customers. If I were told that it were $30 per person, I would have immediately left because I was not planning on spending that much, and yet, when I told the waitress that this was not communicated to me, she insisted that I misheard and blamed me rather than accepting accountability. This also tells me that they are doing this intentionally. They have a tiny little card in the corner of the table underneath the glass and hidden beneath the menu that says $30 per person in minuscule print at the bottom so they can claim that it is in writing and we have to pay. No reasonable person would consider this acceptable communication. The restaurant was mostly empty and they should have been appreciative of our business rather than blaming the customer for their poor communication and arguing with me. I flagged down the owner, who at least was kind enough to hear me out and lowered the cost difference to $15, which I still feel should have been waived altogether, but was good enough for me to accept so I could get out of there and not have to deal with this absurd situation that ruined my dinner. He mentioned that many people get confused about this, which also tells me the staff is aware they're being deceptive and do not attempt to remedy it by putting a sign in large letters explaining the cost is per person, or putting in the effort to ask customers if they understand before taking their order. I do not think that restaurants like this that deceive their customers and disrespect their clientele are deserving of...

Had dinner tonight at Pars. We ordered the Gyro in pita with salad and rice and the falafel in pita with salad and rice. The falafel is just bad. It isn’t cooked well and the recipe isn’t tasty. I’m not expecting this to be the best falafel outside of NYC, but the price and atmosphere gives the feeling that it should be premium. Neither the gyro or falafel came with fixings like pickled cabbage or something similar—just bare meat and falafel patty. The gyro was similarly lack luster and for the price the meat portion and quality was low. They have a house hot sauce that is $3 per cup. The sauce is kinda awkward. It is a sweet hot and the flavor just doesn’t mesh in my opinion. I usually expect something with a little more vinegar. Not a full Louisiana style but somewhere in that area. To recap, for the price this place isn’t that good. Yasmine’s on central is far superior and the same price but so so so so good. I know when I go there I’m getting what I paid for. I left feeling as if I was at a place that kinda doesn’t know what they are doing and making the menu kinda awkward for example. It’s $20 plus for kababs and if you want a salad it’s another $7. These smaller side salads are not premium lettuce and if feta is that expensive I’ll just have without. Our server was friendly and great for the whole evening except when it was time to get the check. It took a while and when she did come over there was tension. Can’t really describe it and why but it was there. I feel bad because everyone seems to really enjoy this spot but compared to yasmines or even Gyros near the university, this place gives the facade of premium cuisine but you get over priced uninteresting plates that lack in flavor. My opinion is based on what I consider the two flag ship dishes for a restaurant of this type and it’s sauce it charges for. If you have not been to Yasmine’s check it out and Saigon city is next door and arguably the best Vietnamese...

I used to like this restaurant, which is why I purchased the Sweet Deals certificate, but the way they honor these is so awful and tricky you may as well pay full price, or don't go at all, which is what I will be doing. I will never return as the owner is very rude and has no integrity. I planned to use these for take-out and they would not allow it, even though it says NO WHERE on the certificate that it cannot be used for take-out, so when I spoke to the owner on the phone he got so rude and hung up on me. Why participate in the offer if you're not going to honor it and then add all these stipulations after the fact, that are not written on the certificate. So when I finally had a chance to go use it in-person, I ordered a special. Then after I got the food the ridiculous waiter says it cannot be used on specials. Why could he not have told me this BEFORE I ordered?!?!? So I had to pay the non-special price which put me way over the certificate. He tricked me into ordering it and told me AFTER I got the food so I had to pay the full-price. And he added 20% to the bill automatically! So rude! Mind you, my brother went a few weeks prior to use another Sweet Deals certificate and ordered a special and they let him use it with the special price. And they didn't add the 20%. So if you're going to participate in an offer like this, see it out and give the PAYING customers what they paid for!! And be consistent with your made-up rules!! The owner had the audacity to tell me that he didn't benefit from the offer and didn't get any of the money. So he didn't like the outcome and started ripping everyone off? I still paid my hard-earned money for those. I've seen several complaints on here about the Sweet Deals offer so I am not surprised.

I will never return here and will be spreading the word that the owner is horrible man. There are plenty of good if not better Mediterranean food places in...