En Familia Restaurant — Restaurant in Anaheim

Just save your money and don't go. We dined here as a party of 4 this past Saturday. We were there to meet a friend and her new partner--it was a celebratory event and we were all looking forward to grabbing drinks and talking over good food. The restaurant itself--it really cute. But things were bad here from beginning to end.

When we got there, our table wasn't ready so we grabbed drinks at the bar. Our friend asked to sub out a drink with a different tequila--and we were told they couldn't bc all cocktails were batch made. I'm sorry...$17+ for batch made cocktails? By the time our table was ready--only 3 of 4 drinks were ready...and we waited quite a long time for the last drink (that came after a reminder)--particularly since they're all made ahead of time.

We were seated...and service was slow. But we finally put in an order for apps (the corn and the potatos). When we finallly got them? Food was dropped off and they rushed off and we spent the next 10 minutes waiting for plates for our apps. We just began picking off the dishes...bc by the time we got our plates? Our apps were cold. We finally ordered ll our entrees. I ordered the Red snapper which comes on a large plate, with tortillas and some salasas. All were components served separately. The girl bringing out the food HANDED me platter and handed by boyfriend the salsas and I had to quickly put the tortilla basket on the bench next to me...bc she didn't clear anything on the table and there wasn't space. She was about to leave when i asked her to talk away the dirty plates on the table...bc we didn't have space to put anything down.

The rest of the food came...i only tried what my boyfriend ordered (skirt steak and a side of broccolini). Skirt steak which he ordered medium rare...came out medium well. And was incredibily touch and chewy. Mind you--they say they use PRIME beef. And yes, we know skirt steak is not a tender cut like filet--and yes, we're big fans of skirt steak. This was a poorly done skirt steak. And the broccolini essentially camed out steamed on chili sauce and was severly lacking all seasoning. I kid you not--there was not a drop of salt on that dish. Could we have sent that dish back? Yes...but that would have required that we saw our waiter or any staff members at any point. We never saw a waiter again. We were raising our hand trying to waive him or anyone else down. Waiter would swoop by the patio and avoid the back row completely. All the tables around us were loudly complaining about wrong dishes/drinks being served and never getting service. We were there for a fun occasion and didn't want to make a big deal about anything...but it was getting beyond frustrating. We finally got the attention of a bus boy and tried to tell him what was going on...and we were told The broccolini wasn't meant to be seasoned and you just use the chili oil. At this point, our friend got up to use the bathroom and asked the hostess for our check. our waiter FINALLY popped up and and gave us our check and said he overheard me telling his colleague about a problematic dish. I told him--and the response was. "oh okay. Got it. I'll pass along feedback."

There was no acknowledge of lack of service, poorly executed food...nothing. No attempt to make anything right. I later called in and asked to speak to a manager. Told her what happened...and while she listened and said the same generalities of "This isn't the experience we want our customers to have. and this isn't typical...I'll pass along the feedback so we can improve, etc." There was no attempt to make it right. I didn't ask for anything in particular--and I wasn't looking for a refund...I was just looking for some attempt of real genuine service for the high prices we paid for a mediocre meal at best.

She essentially said--she knows it's an uncomfortable situation, but had I asked for a manager, they could have maybe rectified the evening then and there. But we were gone so there's nothing they can do.

Lesson learned. We won't be back...and we totally get that they...

My large group of friends and I recently had the pleasure of dining here at En Familia Restaurant , and it was an exceptional experience. They handled our short advanced notice reservation (even with changes) in a very professionally manner. The restaurant offers modern interpretations of classic Mexican dishes, and we really felt the deeply rooted Mexican heritage.

For the main course, my wife chose the Filet Mignon, cooked to perfection and seasoned with unique spice blends that elevated the dish. My friends enjoyed a variety of dishes. The Perscado sarandiado for myself and some friends was so tasty. The Blue fin aguachile was perfect as well.

The service was outstanding; our server Chelsea as well as the bartender Manuel were so attentive and provided insightful recommendations. The restaurant’s ambiance was cozy yet modern, with a vibrant atmosphere that enhanced the dining experience for all of us.

En Familia also offers a creative cocktail menu. We tried the Pulparindo Oh!, a tamarind-infused tequila cocktail that was both refreshing and flavorful. The Palomilla was a perfect light refreshing tequila drink as well.

Overall, En Familia provided a culinary journey that embraced the essence of time-honored Mexican traditions with a modern twist, we loved it! I highly recommend it for anyone seeking a flavorful and memorable dining...

We dined at En-Familia on Cinco de Mayo, and the atmosphere truly lived up to the occasion with a great ambience and chic aesthetic. The staff was friendly, and their service was prompt—ensuring we felt well attended to throughout our evening.

However, our experience began on a slightly rocky note. When we inquired about the Cinco de Mayo specials, we were directed to check Instagram, which felt inappropriate given the restaurant's upscale setting and pricing. At this level, I expect staff to be well-versed in the menu, including specials, and to communicate this directly to diners.

The food, particularly the tomahawk ribeye, was exceptional. Though, a minor service adjustment could enhance the experience: for a $170 steak, it would be preferable to have it boxed by the staff rather than doing it ourselves—a small touch that aligns with the expected service standards at this price point. After engaging the GM, who is awesome, he took care of it.

On a final note, after a substantial bill nearing $700, it was a bit disappointing that we couldn’t persuade the GM to comp a promotional tequila shot. While not a significant issue, it is something that might influence my decision on where to spend a luxurious evening out.

Overall, En-Familia offers a fantastic dining experience with top-notch food. Just be mindful of the menu prices ...