Fresco Mexican Grill — Restaurant in Bakersfield

We've never had a problem with this place until Taco Tuesday's visit this week.

After sitting down and taking our usual restaurant and food selfies, we noticed that one of the tacos from my honey's combo plate appeared to have been sampled. Take a look for yourself in our pictures below! 👇

Since my honey is disabled from a double stroke and neurological issues, it was me who brought it up to the "manager's" attention who essentially agreed that it had been sampled, but insisted it wasn't any of his employees who sampled it. So, essentially, right of the bat, he accused us of lying.

I assured him that neither of us had taken a bite. All we had done up to that point was take our food selfies! I asked him if he had video surveillance. He said, "Yes."

I said, "Great," as I invited him to review his restaurant surveillance which would easily show that it wasn't sampled by either of us, but he angrily refused, saying,"I'm not going to look at surveillance."

Why would the manager, or owner, admit to having surveillance, but then refuse to review it, especially when he was accusing us of lying? I suspect it was because he knew his surveillance would show that the plate was served with a partially eaten taco 🌮🤦‍♀️

We invited him to look at our selfies to see for himself that the 🌮 was sampled prior to being served, but he just kept denying any wrongdoing by his employees. In the end, he exchanged the plate, but not without trying to gaslight me and accusing me of lying about a measly taco from a combo that cost around ten bucks!

We also ordered two shrimp tacos. The first one was great, but then I took a bite into the second one and became concerned about the texture, or content. I spit it out and noticed that it was foreign to what should normally be in a shrimp taco.

I went back to the manager to ask what it was. He was irritated, again, with my legitimate question, as I showed him the foreign food item. I thought it was carne asada, and after going back and forth about what it might be, he concluded that it was burnt, or overcooked, cheese. Either way, I knew it didn't belong in that shrimp taco and after that much debate about it, why not just replace it? Clearly shutting burnt isn't acceptable! 🤦‍♀️

However, he made no offer to replace it and, instead, watched me toss the uneaten shrimp taco into the trash.

After taking our seats, back outside on the patio where we were sitting, the employee who took our order came to our table to genuinely apologize for what she observed happening to us by her employer, or manager. Clearly, she wasn't in a position to make things right by replacing the shrimp taco, but she felt bad enough to come to our table and apologize to us which means she knows what we knew about today's quality...

#1 We ordered, our first time at this location through door dash. The cashier did not have great customer service. My bf asked for extra salsa the guy sharply repli that its all "rationed" and he would have to charge extra, (we have no problem paying as the order itself was pretty steep for quality of the 3 items) my bf jokingly replied and said oh you charge extra thats a first. And the guy once again sharply replied "thts all businesses dude" and the attitude was what caught us off guard once he continued with it. So I said ok "hey it's the first time he was just making a statement," he then walks to the back and starts telling his coworkers that he was upset csuse he was charging him extra (seemed to be intentionally speaking loud so we can hear) i waited at the counter to go ahead and purchase the salsa. And he comes out and says once again "hes upset because im charging" I respectfully replied to " no friend it's your approach and tone with us" And my bf told me not to worry about it he was going to leave a review. Guy jumps in and says "I could care less about what you guys have to say on there those reviews wont affect me I get them all the time."

#2 we finally we got home and started eating the 2 Enchilada Plate and there was just straight globs of cold cheese in the enchiladas, and the rice was hard and stale. I myself can't risk eating rice that has been left to sit out due to the bacteria that rapidly grows on there.

We love supporting local businesses as I had worked at a small business for 5 years and for the simple fact that they offer vegetarian options this is why we chose this place. I never had any encounters with my customers like this tonight. Which was def a bummer, because even if the food wasnt great we would have loved to try again but with the vibes and energy that were thrown our way we will not be going back. The lemonade was great though! lol I do hope they continue Making good business as it is the livelihood of many others, just maybe go over some routine manners so that no other supportive customers have the restaurant...

Today I felt like waring some chilaquilles so I decided to give this restaurant a try. Ordered 2 Chilaquile plates with egss and Carne Asada. The chilaquiles weren't as crispy at all, but I did take out, so maybe the steam made them soggy, so I can not judge them on that. The salsa on the chilaquiles was not hot, but it did have flavor. The rice and beans were actually good. Overall, the food I have to rate them 5 stars. The service was good at first until I received my food. Once I paid, I waited maybe 5 minutes for the lady to hand me my plates. What threw me off a bit was the fact that when I was waiting, she suddenly opened the window, hands me my food, and closed the window. I wasn't sure if my food was complete since she didn't really say anything. Most places would say something like "Thank you,have a nice day." This lady didn't say a word ,didn't make any eye contact, nothing. A huge thing for me is customer service, and if I feel as if I'm not wanted in business, I never go back again. So even my 5 star review is based on the food. The customer service I give it a 2, because although she did greet me and took my order in a very polite matter, once I paid and waited, I felt as if she didn't want me there. I'm not sure why. With that being said, I don't see myself going back to this restaurant.

2/22/2023* update went there again since my wife wanted Mexican food. This time the Customer service was OUTSTANDING. The young lady with pierced nose is extremely professional and has great customer service. She deserves a raise. This time I got the fish taco trio, Wet Asada Burrito, 4 tacos asada, Carne Asada Nachos and 1 plain chicken taco. The food was great no complaints. The Service was even better. Definitely our new go to...