General Zapata — Restaurant in Bethlehem

I fondly remember Zapata's from the 1970's; A great neighborhood bar and restaurant on Bethlehem's East Side, with magical recipes for Mexican food! What a great place it was. Imagine how thrilled I was to come back to Bethlehem 30 years later, and find the restaurant alive and well on Bethlehem's South Side. Well, sort of. Alive, maybe, but well, no. We gave it a try on a recent Friday night; it wasn't crowded, but take-out business was strong. We brought our BYOB, ordered chips and guacomole, and asked for a bottle opener, and then, asked again after 15 minutes! We watched in horror as a group of 6 were seated, order taken, and served their dinners, before we got our bottle opener! Another 30 minutes before our dinner came! The owner came into the restaurant, and we told her what happened. Her answer was, we should have called the waitress. We did. What a disappointment at a restaurant that has such a great story. Oh, and the chips and guacamole? Yeah, we never got those, but we were asked if we wanted them after our dinner was served! I'm thinking General Zapata would roll over...

I hate to post negativity about this place because I've been here before and the food is phenomenal. I love the cool little restaurant vibe even tho very small... brings families together and to the table. However the other night I went in an was shrugly greeted at the door. It was 6:22pm. I was told "um we are only taking takeout orders" I'm like uh okay... that's fine...

I'm thinking okay cool... I get it it's getting late they want to leave on time its sunday...

then I sit down and she goes to the back and comes out and says... "ummm well it's going to be a long wait is going to be about a half hour and we close at 7 so......." I was shocked. It was 6:22. Even if it took 30mins it's still before you close... at 7!. Way to push your guest out the door! It was incredibly uncomfortable. She didnt ask if I still wanted to order I had to insist after driving clean across town to get food from there. I was pretty embarrassed after bragging about the place to the friend I brought there for the first time.... not a very good first...

I would not even give 1 star but unfortunately you have to give a star to give a review. Service is very slow. Photos of food look great food is no where near the photos. I called to give my complaint the female said she was the manager so disrespectful yelling at me cusing asked to speak to the owner she refused to allow me. I went on when i was able to get a word in to tell her the food is nowhere near what they place on their webpage she staed after laughing that they have no websight...what sight am i on???..I am calling the BBB Monday reporting her and this place food was horrible I did not get what I ordered and paid for but since I got the food drove 35 mins. Home and then noticed this and called ASAP I cannot get any form of refund or come back another day we will take care of it.if i dont bring the food back this evening and prove my order is incorrect....then she HUNG UP!!!!! Do NOT go here give another business who is respectful your money. Horrible manager VERY...