Don Perico — Restaurant in Bakersfield

This is not the easiest review I’ve ever posted because we’ve been patronizing this establishment since 2021 and always have spot on great food and service. It’s painful to write an honest critique but here I go, as gently as I can. Something has changed? The chef’s are off their game. It’s not up to the servers (entirely) to be sure food comes to the table hot so if I hazard a guess it’s in the kitchen where the not so good changes are taking place. I failed to get photos of the bad experience but ordered enchiladas suizas and the first bite was cold chicken on the inside! I’ve had them dozens of times and never before were they cold so we sent them back and the replacement dish had been placed beneath fire because when it came back to me the guacamole and sour cream were burned on top and that didn’t sit well so I didn’t eat that visit. They removed the dish from the bill but it left me with a negative experience. The couple at the table behind us sent their French fries back and we happened to be paying our bills at the same time. They remarked how something to them has changed too. They have been coming here as a rule for many years more than us and he knows the proprietors but noticed he hasn’t seen him in a while. On Saturday when we went Julia ordered a double order of chicken taquitos with a side of beans. They turned out to be beef. She didn’t send them back. Steve ordered chorizo scrambled eggs and the chef over salted the dish. He also didn’t send it back. In our collective experience here the waiter has never apologized Ever. When there is something wrong with food the server should be the first to offer that then take the issue up in the kitchen later but this server seems to take it in stride and that never sits right with me. It makes for an awkward aire when we point out the cons. Let me say this is a new development with this restaurant. As I stated we have always been very satisfied with all of it but we will be taking a break perhaps for a spell. Maybe the chef is new? Not sure what’s going on. The rest of the staff is always very friendly even though busy. No complaints there. The table tops are sticky to the touch, the way wood acts after it’s been sealed and cleaned for years it begins to get a gummy feeling and possibly the place could use...

Just an honest review here, My husband and I thought we'd give this place a try, we enjoy trying different places to eat. First of all ....our bad....we should have left after we were seated. The bottom line, this place was filthy to say the least. My husband said, "Let's just have a drink and then we'll leave. I ordered a Marg, it was excellent!!!

So....2nd bad....we decided we would go ahead and try the food. Big mistake! Our waiter, Juan, was honest when I asked him if the guacamole was made there or bagged, thank you Juan for that, to say the least, we did not order the guacamole. The chips brought to the table we covered in oil, I know they fry them but what happened to draining the grease off, every chip was covered. I ordered the soup, it was pretty good. My husband ordered the grilled chicken, at least that's what the menu stated. The chicken was battered and fried, he tasted it but that was it, he could not eat it. The guacamole that came w/his dinner, was from a bag, not fresh, but we already knew it would be, he did eat most of the rice which was probably from a bag ....heat- n- serve, same w/the veggies that came w/his meal. My husband asked Juan about the grilled....fried chicken and Juan said he got what the menu said. My hubby did let him know he expected grilled chicken. I went and got a menu to check what it said, maybe my hubby made a mistake....wwwell.....he hadn't, the menu stated grilled. Juan come back w/the check, I showed him the menu, and said maybe they had a miss print and should correct it....cause that was ....not grilled chicken.

We did not want to pay for something we did not order....nor could eat. Juan said he would see what he could do. He comes back w/the bill and said he took off 50% of that meal. Well, that's better than full price, we were happy..... We look at the bill .....ha....50% off my ass....someone doesn't know their math...$3.00 off of 13.95 is not 50% off last I checked. We got a good laugh off that one.....and needless to say we will not be going back. Shame on you chef.....what happened to a fresh product? Not fresh frozen....heat-n-serve. Enough about the food, the service was good, great marg....but if the health department ever comes to visit....I'd run and...

Went here for my birthday and literally had the worst service! Didn't get chips and salsa until 30 to 45 min of sitting down, completely messed up an order and the fat hostess from front laughed about it as she talked to the manager about it. The waiter "offered" me a free drink seeing how it was my birthday then charged me for it. I asked the hostess for a receipt and was told they don't give payment receipts. After asking to speak with the manager the same hostess walked back to the manager pointing and laughing at my family and I as the manager joined in on the laughing. My family and I spent $75 of our hard earned money for horrible service and to be laughed at when asking to speak with management. Thanks for a horrible birthday experience. Neither me or any of my friends or family will be giving this location our business again. We will also be contacting the owner from the white...