Monterrey Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Athens

Upon arriving at the restaurant, it was hard to tell where you enter. No front door, just a teal-colored single side door with no mention that it was the entrance. When you open the menu, it is overwhelming; it is very cluttered and hard to tell what you are looking for. The server Kayla was very attentive at first when it was time to order, but when you needed a new drink, she was nowhere to be found. Even heard the table behind me ask another server to find her because they were needing something. The check was never brought, because once again the server was never around. When she finally appeared, I had to raise my voice to try to get her attention for the check but was not acknowledged. Tried again and she said she heard me and went and got the check. When taking the check to the cashier I noticed the check was not even what I ordered. I had to get that straightened out as well. The food was mediocre and comparable to any other Mexican restaurant. The strange thing I noticed was there were no Hispanics working there, which felt not as authentic as it should be. No TV on for the games, no music for the atmosphere; just a bland place to go...

First visit here: Cleaned plate of fajitas with chips & queso.

Upside: Service is fantastic, surroundings are terrific, music is modern, upbeat and the overall chill attitude is wonderful.

My only criticism is one I don't understand about almost every similar restaurant today, and it's the almost total lack of seasoning.

Maybe have a cayenne version and offer some spice? Americanized Mexican seems to become more dreadfully bland every year.

Queso was great with some flavor; ingredient quality here is excellent.

Just super bland.

I wish cooking spice into the meal was an option, beyond asking for pickled jalapeños soaked in vinegar. Not everyone is into that.

Just a pet peeve, which Mexican restaurant will go out on a limb and offer spice?

I know restaurants have to cook for the masses, but standardizing at nursing home fare is getting old. If some cayenne or red pepper could be added during cooking this meal would have been amazing.

I...

I am only giving the food 2 stars due to my son said the pollo loco was very good. My daughter and I ordered chicken street tacos and ended up sending them back and did not order anything else. The chicken looked like it had been boiled and chopped up, very dry, no flavor, no char or grilled. The tortillas tasted like a napkin... they were supposed to be corn, but I have never tasted one like these. All they did was pull them out of the bag, not warm, not thrown on the fire for a min...just a raw nasty tortilla. The chicken wasn't hot either, neither was the rice. The limes were tiny pieces and so dry you couldn't squeeze a drop of out them. The refried beans looked nasty. Served on a metal tray that looks like maybe it came from a prison 🤣🤣 . The menu was weird and not many options. I have never seen a mexican restaurant run by everyone other than hispanics . This whole place is so strange and I can guarantee I will...