Taqueria Del Sol — Restaurant in Atlanta

This review pertains to our experience at the Westside Provisions store, but I suspect is applicable to all of the locations. I have never before been compelled to write a restaurant review, despite many fantastic and highly disappointing meals all around Atlanta. My family's experience at Taqueria this past Saturday changed that. We have been there many times over the years and always enjoyed the food. Yes, the line is always long, the staff isn't the friendliest, and the whole "no sitting until you order" thing is taken to the extreme. I have friends who were turned off by the service years ago and refused to eat there, but I insisted that the good food and low prices made up for it. I stand corrected. This Saturday, we brought our 2.5 year old with us and arrived a little before 6:00. He is a veteran of countless meals out and was very well behaved (considering that we waited in line for over 30 minutes since, you know, God help you if you try to sit at one of the 10+ empty tables if you haven't ordered yet). During the whole time we're in line, we're looking around to see if there are any high chairs. We were informed by the cashier (pleasantly, I might add) that they do not have high chairs or booster seats, but we're welcome to bring in our car seat. OK, we're over a year out from having a car seat that can realistically be taken anywhere. He's a toddler, not an infant. But, what can you do? We gave him his own chair (and no, this was not even close to the first time he sat in a regular chair at the table). We're sitting there eating our guacamole when my son turns slightly sideways in the chair. Result - flimsy, unbalanced chair immediately falls over backwards with my son in it onto the concrete floor. He was not doing anything that could reasonably have resulted in that chair overturning. He was scared out of his mind, but fortunately uninjured. The entire patio came to a screeching halt when this occurred, with more than one person asking if he was OK as I tried to comfort him. NOT ONE EMPLOYEE OF THIS PLACE EVEN ASKED IF WE WERE OK. Our food came out while all this was happening and not a word from anyone. It was utterly bizarre. My husband was irate and finally got the attention of the manager (after basically grabbing his arm to make him come speak to us) and he couldn't have cared less. In fact, we were treated to a dissertation about how the owner had issues at the Decatur location because the neighbors there demanded that Taqueria have high chairs and/or booster seats, being in a family dominated neighborhood and all, and the owner's response was to "take a stand" and announce that none of the locations would stock high chairs. Are you kidding me???? The manager said, "well, it was conceptualized as a bar, so..." Conceptualized as a bar? Seriously? If you want to be a bar, or would prefer a child-free environment, make it 21+ like Vortex. More than half of the tables in the place had at least one small child, which is exactly what you'd expect at 6:00 on a Saturday in an area of town dominated by families with small children. We couldn't believe this nonsensical attitude toward families with children and will not be returning. Period. Ever. There are so many other great places in the area that happily accept families with children that, fortunately, we don't have to put up with this kind of attitude. Maybe in the process of revamping the WSP district, the owners should think about replacing Taqueria with a restaurant that at least pretends to care about the patrons...

I HONESTLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS PLACE HAS SO MANY GOOD RATINGS!!!!! If you purchase something here and you aren't satisfied, you will not get your money back and you can't switch out your dish either. If you do not like your food, they make you pay for a whole new dish plus the dish that you aren't satisfied with. I went here for the first time this past weekend and ordered 3 fish tacos, guacamole and a margarita. The fish tacos did not have FRESH fish! My tacos had two fish sticks in it and it looked as if they were the Gordon's brand fish sticks! I cook for a LIVING so I know good food from bs!!! What was even worse was the service I received!!! I told a guy by the name of Charles who claimed that he was the GM that I wasn't satisfied with my tacos and would like to get something else instead. I literally took one bite. This guy tells me that I'm free to order another set of tacos but I will have to pay for both the new order and the order that I was not satisfied with!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Then he also made a sarcastic comment and said that if it was him he would still pay for a new order even if he wasn't satisfied with the first. His attitude was very nonchalant and insincere! I seen another review below and I believe that they are also talking about the same guy being racist! I WILL NEVER in life go here again and I do not recommend anyone to go here!!! I have already told all of my friends and co workers!!! It was not even the fact that I wasn't satisfied with the food that made me so upset but the lack of customer service and sincerity!!! If you want really good Mexican and great service, I'd recommend La Parilla! Unlike the MEAN and rude employees and "GM" here! And the tacos are BLANDDDDDDDD! I was starving and had to eat off of my friend's plate and her tacos were bland as well! DO NOT waste your money here where they DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS!!!!! This is the ABSOLUTE WORST service that I have ever in my life received since I've been living in Atlanta! There are so many more restaurants that you can go to where they actually value their customers! Or I would suggest maybe going to another location because the GM here is rude and disgusting! Listen to all the other reviews about the employees here especially the "GM/owner" . His attitude is ATROCIOUS! I will make it my business...

For the non-reader: First time visiting I was not let down in any way shape or form give them your money eat some good tacos. Get the fish taco trust me.

For the reader: The tacos were really simplistic from what I am accustomed to eating with a taco, for example the fish tacos were just tilapia Jalapenos and tartar sauce, sounds kind of sketchy yes I agree, but the combination is delicious.. I have never been a fan of tartar sauce but on this taco it fits perfectly with the jalapeno, I tried the chicken taco, the brisket taco, and the pork. I did get the brisket without the pico but I actually regret that after tasting the fish taco with the tartar sauce. Just like tartar sauce, I am not a huge fan of pico de gallo, but I feel like I would try it with the Pico the next time.

A friend accompanying me ordered one of the enchiladas and it looked really delicious I would definitely try that the next time I visit. We also ordered the salsa Trio, all three salsas were pretty good the most amazing part of them that they were made fresh and you can taste that it is fresh, it tastes way different from many other restaurants. I mixed all three salsas with the queso and was pleasantly surprised, it was kind of a joke but it turned out to be really good.

I was a little disappointed in the queso dip I have definitely had better queso dip, it was not bad just not as good as I've had before. I was a little upset that the server did spill a good portion of the queso dip onto the saucer plate that held the bowl and did not bother even offer to refill it. Be prepared to wait in line there was a bit of a wait You Do Not sit down and order, you order at the counter when you come in. They will definitely be multiple return trips in the future.

Sorry no menus in the pic this time but I will get them the...