Papa Lopez Mexican Cantina — Restaurant in Allen

My husband and I used to come here to this location quite often. And today reminded me why we started going to the other one off of Custer. The waiter was rude and he always is every time. I don’t know what his deal is. I ordered a steak fajita salad and asked for chipotle ranch. The lunch menu stated at the top that all lunch meals came with beans and rice. The food came out without the sides and when I asked I was told everything else came with the sides except for the salads. I just said ok and ordered a side of beans and rice. I never got the chipotle ranch that he seemingly had written down. I didn’t complain I ate the regular ranch he brought. And the steak fajita meat was too rare and gummy. I couldn’t eat it. It was the hostess that made sure we were ok. She was the one I asked about the beans and rice. She went to ask our waiter. Instead of him coming to tell us he sent her. Anyways since I couldn’t eat the steak fajita meat I wanted to order a side of fajita chicken instead. Again the hostess checked on us and I told her I wanted a side of chicken. She went to tell our waiter that had not once checked on us since we got the salads. So now he comes with an attitude. Telling me not to talk to the “girl” hostess and that she doesn’t know anything. He asked me what I wanted and told me to be sure so that i won’t be complaining about it later. Now mind you.. I have not complained about anything. I didn’t like the steak fajita meat - I ordered chicken at my cost. I didn’t get beans and rice with the lunch special - I ordered some at my cost. I didn’t get the chipotle ranch - I used the ranch he brought. The waiter never refreshed our drinks or anything. This waiter with kinda curly short hair / wears glasses/an older guy with a mustache is rude. Today I take it personally because it seems that way. The manager wasn’t there today and he is awesome. He is always cheerful and welcoming. And if Our drinks were empty as he was talking to us he’d refresh himself. Needless to say because of this rude waiter My husband and I will not be returning to this location. And special thanks to the hostess for checking on us. It’s not my job to hunt my waiter down. Because of his initial and ending attitude and entire demeanor I didn’t send the food back or even complain. Not that he was even around to complain to. Today’s experience really...

Loyal customer NEVER TO RETURN. We have always loved Papa Lopez, specifically, the location that used to be on Custer. We began coming here once that location closed. Today marked the last day we will return due to inedible bug infested food and poor waitstaff. We sat in the back corner table, and before we got our appetizer, I killed 6 gnats. My poor daughter had them flying at her food as she was trying to take bites. I couldn't take swatting bugs left and right off of each of our plates, and for the first time in my adult life, I spoke up to 2..not 1, but 2 different waiters (an old man with gray hair and a middle aged man with glasses). I asked if we could move to another table due to bugs all over. Each waiter gave me a blank stare, no comment, and pointed at another table. Without their help, I picked my and my family's food up myself and moved everything across the restaurant. Too late though...our plates already had gnats all over them crawling in and out of every bit. I'm not talking 1 or 2, I mean at least 20 flying around our plates. The waitress walks up later and didn't even so much as ask what was wrong...pretty sure she didn't care about her job or had just popped a Valium. The worst part about all of this is that we have spent $100s here over the years and out of 3 waitstaff, NOT ONE PERSON APOLOGIZED OR SEEMED THE LEAST BIT CONCERNED. NOT ONE!!!!!

Bottom line: there are better places to spend your money. My recommendations: Chuy's, Mesa's, Cantina Loredo, Mi Cocina...

Let me start by saying the food here is really really good. The salsa is spicy and excellent.

I ordered the large guacamole appetizer which is $8. For the entree, I ordered the brisket tacos and my wife ordered the chicken fajitas for $16.

For the "large" guacamole, I was given a large plate full of lettuce with 3 tablespoon-sized scoops of guacamole on it. I thought this was some kind of mistake so I asked the waitress if this is really the large. She said yes this is really the large. I asked her how they can serve me such a small portion and think this is OK and she just said whatever and walked away.

For the fajitas, my wife was given 4 small strips of chicken on top of a plate full of onions, a small scoop of rice and beans.

When I got the check, I couldn't bring myself to pay for the food I'd gotten, with such comically small portions and insultingly high prices. I asked to talk to the manager and told him that their portion sizes are wrong and didn't understand how they can think it's OK to serve food like that. I told him I can't pay $8 for $0.25 worth of avocado.

The manager was very nice and apologetic and said that he's heard a lot of complaints about the small portion sizes and took $16 off of my check to compensate.

Although the food is good here, I absolutely can't ever return here based on their ridiculously small sized portions and high prices for so...