Taqueria La Parrilla — Restaurant in Athens-Clarke County Unified Government

I am beyond angry. I have been coming to La Parilla for YEARS. We went Monday night to celebrate my daughter’s third birthday and we had a party of 8. (6 adults, my three year old, and one year old) we ordered cheese dips for the table and the two I ate out of were cold which is fine I strive really hard not to complain because I used to wait tables myself so I know the server didn’t have anything to do with it and we just ate the cold cheese dip. My drink stayed empty which again I did not complain I just waited for her to come back and asked for more. I understand we probably weren’t her only table. None of this is why I am upset. Why I am upset is that the server added the tip onto the check without telling us she had done so. So with that being said I was tied up with my two small children and trying to pay the bill and keep my kids from running out the front door so when she ran my card she handed me another slip to sign to add a tip to not telling me that she had already added the tip into the total. So in a hurry I added another tip on top of the one she already added to my bill. Once we got outside my best friend asked me if I had tipped to which I replied of course and she said well they already added the tip onto our checks so you just tipped twice. I had already gotten my kids loaded up in my car at this point and could not go back in so I immediately called the restaurant to address this issue. I spoke with the manager and he said that this would be taken care of and I would not be charged for the extra tip. I got onto my account just now to find out to my surprise they did not take that extra tip off and charged me anyway despite me asking them to take it off. I just called back up to the restaurant to try to get this straightened out and was told that the manager is too busy to talk to me and he will have to call me back. I am just flat out disgusted and disappointed. This is my favorite restaurant to eat and now I never want to go back. I am extremely angry about this. This will be disputed and taken care of. I know it’s just $7 but it’s the point that they were so sneaky about it and thinking I...

I have been here twice and will NEVER again. And it's because my husband and I decided to give it one more try because people insist it's good. I did not enjoy my first time years ago, but things can change. They sadly did not.

Being in a Hispanic family and being someone who prides myself on learning the traditional recipes I feel that La Parrilla should be ashamed. I have never given such a disappointed review. There is absolutely no flavor in anything. And by that I mean even if it was something that isn't traditionally spicy...there was no taste. Period. The beans tasted like nothing, as did the rice, the enchiladas, the SALSA tasted like canned metal. My chicken burrito was just over stuffed with bland unseasoned extremely dry chicken and yet somehow it was soggy on the outside. My husband's Al Pastor tacos Mexicanos somehow tasted like the meat was old. My Chile Relleno, while being technically cooked as it should had seeds in it, therefore making it the only thing that tasted. It hands down was not worth any money that I paid for and immediately regretted giving it a second chance.

The atmosphere goes two ways here. The serving staff was very upbeat and well mannered but they seemed stretched thin. The bartender loaded my double Jack and Coke to what seemed a triple. I believe this may be why there is a whole side of Athens agreeing with coming to this restaurant. They load you up first (there is quite a drink selection on sale any given time) so that the food tastes. There were either groups of college students or families with several children running lose. It is not a date spot.

I don't know who is head chef, manager, or on the cook staff but they definitely have no concept of even Tex Mex, much less traditional Hispanic food. I'm not sure there is a Hispanic, Latin American, or Chicano anywhere near that kitchen.

Avoid coming here. Don't waste your money. It is much better to attend Aqua Linda, Senior Sol, or even Los...

I absolutely love La Parilla! I have enjoyed eating here since they first opened many years ago. I have never been treated poorly and I have never had a bad experience. Unfortunately that changed this week. I placed a pick-up order for myself and my father. Going by the email/website, our order was to be ready in about 20 minutes. The order has always been ready within 20 minutes. We arrived around 20 minutes later, and the order was not ready. No problem at all, these things happen ,we completely understand. I asked how long do you think the wait will be? The young girl said a little while, we are busy, you can wait outside. A little surprised, I walked outside. I walked outside, waited 5 more minutes, went back inside and asked for our order, she said it isn't ready. I asked, how long do you think it will be, it is a little cold outside? She said a little while. I asked, can you give me an idea, she just shook her head. I walked back outside and sat in the car, went back in 5 minutes later. The order was still not ready and the cashier could not give me an idea of how long it would be, nor did she attempt to offer any idea or answer. I told her she was being rude (just dismissing me), could she check for me and give me an idea? She said she had already check, and it would be a while. I said her answer was rude and the least she could do was offer an estimate or something. Nothing. The manager Victoria said, what seems to be the problem, I explained. I said since you have no idea when the order will be ready, no one can seem to offer any idea at all, please cancel the order. By that time it had been approximately 35 minutes. Order placed at 6:52, order cancelled while I was there at 7:26. Not a proper way to handle the situation, whether I am a new customer or long time...