El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Blue Ash

I took note of the previous reviews when making a reservation at this restaurant. I like to think that they really are honest. Perhaps the person who was so enthralled really DID have a wonderful experience. I'll never know. But I will likely never go to Cazadores Mexican Restaurant again. In Blue Ash or ANYWHERE.

We had been to this restaurant once before. It was in the summer of 2011, I believe. Any "problems" we had I sort of excused because we were in a large group. And I note that there were a lot of diners that last time.

Last night I called ahead for seating of 14. We ended up being 16. It was a struggle to get an extra table added to the end of ours, even though there were almost no other diners, and no one was using any of the tables or space we needed. When the table was finally pulled over, we had to ask the server for utensils and chips/salsa. It seemed an imposition to expect these. The waiter was so inattentive, that finally, someone seated several away from the end guests asked for chips and salsa for those on the end, and it was brought. The waiter paid no attention to beverage levels and had to be asked more than once for refills. Our orders were a mess. No sense of order - no numbering or identification - so that when they were delivered, and we didn't know specifically which "number" we'd ordered, there was trouble sorting this out.

Our server did NOT interact with us as guests. Instead, we seem to have been bothering him. Several times we needed to ask a food delivery person or another server going by for something. There seems to be a game of playing "I don't understand your English," when these guys have obviously been around for a long time and appear to speak perfect English when it is time to ask for the money.

The chips have no flavor. There appeared to be no mild salsa available, since none was brought when requested.

The food was hot - or at least the plates were (from sitting in the window waiting to be delivered) so most came out at the same time. Portions were so-so. Ordered "chicken fingers" for my granddaughter from one of the food deliverers. What was delivered was over-cooked seasoned french fries and 3 of those "fused" fake chicken pieces. Gross.

The waiter had probably worse handwriting than a doctor's as seen on a prescription. When we got our bills we couldn't easily make out what we were being charged for...nor what we were to pay! My bill had my niece's food on it, so we decided to just each pay our portion of the bill. But one discrepancy mid-table where the order wasn't totaled properly had me question my own total. The waiter was not happy about our questions, was not gracious or helpful and again, we were a "bother" to him.

I left this waiter a tip, even though he certainly did not deserve it. Judging by the lack of patrons and open seating throughout on a Friday evening, this place won't last long, although I assume because of its location, it likely does get a pretty good lunch crowd. After the meal was ended my cousin mentioned to me the reason why she had been slow to agree to coming to dinner at Cazadores: the last time they had a group gathering there, 5 of the party became sick with food poisoning! I asked her why she didn't say something sooner. I sure hope everyone in our party from last...

We chose El Vaquero over the other Mexican restaurants in the area because we have enjoyed the one in Columbus many times. L Pro: -- We were able to sit outside--in fact right on the railing so we had plenty of fresh air and space to ourselves;

Cons: --When we were finally greeted by a server the first thing I noticed was that he had a significant amount of black matter under almost every fingernail. Further, he was not wearing a mask; --Speaking of masks, it was not uncommon to see servers without them or with them pulled under their noses. --We're used to being served chip and dips immediately, but this server asked--twice--if we wanted them and then there was a significant delay before we got them; --Our server's command of the English language was quite limited, and as such he needed help from another person whom we assumed was the manager; And it obviously wasn't just us--when a nearby table of six had difficulty with each of their bills. --We had to ask multiple times for chips/dip as well as water. We wanted extra napkins but gave up on that. --Nothing was cleared fro our table during the meal until iI finally stacked thing up and put the at the edge of the table.

--Most disappointing was the bland food and weak Margaritas--especially we ordered a $25 pitcher. As mentioned previously, we eat at the Columbus brank often and their service and food/drink;

--The woman's bathroom was designed for one person at a time which could be problematic on a busy weekend. For as few of people who were there I would expect it to be cleaner, but the floor was littered wit scraps of paper and the seat had been urinated on. Finally, there wasn't a hook or anything else on which to hang one's person. Thus, one had to hold it on her lap or put it on dirty floor.

Suggestions:

The manager needs to inspect her/his employees before the shift start--for things like hygiene (especially under the nails, The manager needs to instruct and demonstrate the proper way to wear masks and gloves--which need to be changed often likewise, they need to be taught not to touch their face/hair. If it happens automatically to chance gloves, was hands and tart ver v The woman's bathroom needs to be checked and spruced up requarly 4, Something needs to do something to update the taste of the tired dishes they're serving now.

I wouldn't care to eat...

It's too bad they aren't better represented on the floor by wait staff, who numerous. My waiter stopped just short of refusing to give me rice AND beans with my dinner. Apparently that is unheard of in his world. I was served chips and salsa - the salsa was good but the chips were cold and I could feel a coating of grease form on the roof of my mouth two chips in. I ordered Aztec soup - it was good but would have been better if it had stayed hot or at least warm for more than a few bites. I ordered the carnitas tacos with the mango sauce. It was served on a cold plate so it never had a chance to be warm much less hot. The rice and beans each came on their own plates and they were hot so I know they are familiar with the concept of hot food but with a hit and miss execution. The rice was flavorless and, in spite of the hot plate, was dry to a point that one wonders if was left over from lunch. The beans were on par with the rice but they were hot, making them sort of the Lone Ranger of the whole experience. I've read they tend to favor regulars and perhaps that is true. I hope they favor someone. It's really a shame. They have some good recipes but poor...