El Potro — Restaurant in Apopka

I dread leaving negative reviews to family run places but...... I've been a regular here for a few years because the food is pretty good. I, and a group of friends, went on Friday night. When we were seated we informed them we were still waiting on one person and wouldn't be ordering right away. We did however order our drinks (alcohol) immediately. Our late person let us know she was tied up in traffic so we went ahead and ordered our food - some ordered the buffet and others ordered off the menu. Our last person arrived while we away eating and ordered the buffet. Some of us ordered a second round of drinks. The server cleared our plates and gave us our checks, while our late arriver was still eating her first plate of food from the buffet and still was waiting on here 2nd margarita! I had planned on ordering flan for dessert but my check was laid on the table in front of me without her asking if those of us who ordered off the menu would like anything else. We were there approximately an hour and 40 minutes, with each of us running a tab of $25 or more - and our tabs would have been higher if us non buffet folks had been asked about dessert - when the owner came by and told us they had people waiting for our table and we had been there long enough. They also told another large party already seated when we arrived the same thing! She then stated we had been taking up the tables for 2 hours, which was totally not true. Plus a couple folks in our party were older folks who are slower eaters, including our late arriver who thus ended up eatting only 1 small plate of food from the buffet because we, along with the other large party were basically being kicked out! Other folks who were waiting to be seated told the owner that was poor customer service and rude. I hate to think we were being discriminated against, but since our party was mostly, but not all, non Latino, as was the other large party that was kicked out I do have to wonder. Especially since the groups they seated were 100% Latino. And other tables (all Latinos) that were there longer than us were not asked to leave. I definitely know its not because we're cheap tippers since all of us tip at least 20%. This wasn't the first time tho that I felt discriminated while dining there. On 2 other occasions I noticed a cold attitude toward my small table while the Latino folks got lots of attention from the servers. I have noticed that most of their customers are Latino, which is actually why I liked this place because the food is more authentic than other Mexican restaurants. But I'm wondering if the owners even want us gringos there anymore since they have such a large Latino following 😕. As a group we've decided to take our $$ to a Mexican restaurant that appreciates...

My first time there and the food was amazing but nothing like the horrible customer service my sister my son and I received. My sister usually goes to the winterpark location which by the way the people are amazing and my sister is a regular their. The only reason we went to the Apopka location was because we were told by the winterpark location that the buffet it 9.99. we get to Apopka the waitress was rude as if we were a bother by the way she responded to us. But anyways we go to pay and it's 11.99 which a w.e it's only a few bucks. My sister goes hey no big deal but the other location sent us here for the 9.99 you guys should let them know they are not giving correct information. So one of the cowners goes and apologizes but the waitress tells him in Spanish don't give them a discount. Little did she know I'm fluent in Spanish. So my sister addresses it how she does not have to be rude and then the lady starts yelling mocking us saying hahah I'm the boss they wouldn't give us their names. Surprisingly the co-owner sides with her and goes from being nice to being rude laughing in our face. It was shocking. And when I said do you let your employees talk to customers like that they laugh say it doesn't matter we are the boss. And all this in front of my son. The co-owner he even followed us to the parking lot and continued to laugh and this is in front of my son. They wouldn't give us their names so my sis tried to get a picture. Happy to say after all this we spoke to the other co-owner which is his BROTHER and he apologized and was absolutely very nice and could not believe it. But sad to say I'll never go back. Hopefully the brother fixed their behavior. I wasn't going to post anything but now I never want to go back here's the lady she...

The staff here has ALWAYS been great! Very friendly and polite (here at Apopka, as well as Winter Park and the Conroy location.

We've always enjoyed the food, though personally I liked El Porto's buffet much better. You could get what you want at a pretty decent price and try a little of this and a little of that.

However, since they reopened after the CoViD shutdown, they discontinued the buffet and that was my main reason for going to El Potro as with many other customers.

I had called some time back to ask and was told that they will no longer offer buffet although many other establishments have resumed their buffets. They said there was too much waste.

Sad they they won't reconsider. Perhaps if adopted the same policy regarding waste that many Asian buffets have over the years, to charge customers extra charge for those that leave large quantities of uneaten food, then maybe the customers would reconsider ONLY taking what they can and WILL eat.

Also, if people wouldn't allow their little children to go to the buffet and serve themselves, it would cut down on waste. Restaurants (especially those with buffets) are NOT your children's babysitters. Get your child's plates and servings YOUR self. Small children do NOT belong running free in restaurants. If you want them entertained in an eating establishment, then GO TO CHUCKY CHEESE or McDonald's.

Better yet, raise your little kids with manners and teach them how to remain seated, quiet, and still. This...