La Hacienda — Restaurant in Boonville

La hacienda was one of my favorite restaurants after El Maguay, due to the similar flavors of my two favorite dishes, chicken chimichanga and steak fajita. BUT, I have been noticing a difference in service usually related to changes in servers more so than flavors of the cooking, except I have been noticing a significant difference in the lunch dish portions because sometimes their is hardly any meat in the fajitas. When I first started going meat portions were neither generous nor only looking like a few remnants. Lately I have been frustrated enough to question the prices charged after entering the restaurant during lunch hours and being charged for dinner. For example today, I entered during the one o' clock hour. A young man that I did not recognize that appeared to be an employee was on the phone as I entered. Although not immediately, he did seat me in a timely manner, but he walked off without taking my drink order and did not return to take my order for quiet a while, so I was not sure that he was actually a waiter. Instead he stood outside the register area and was talking on the phone. I had my android and would not have minded a reasonable wait, but I began to think they were not going to take my order and thought about leaving. I may have already started eating the chips but am not entirely positive. I looked toward the young man and he nodded in acknowlement but he stayed on the phone and a waiter still was not in sight for several minutes. It was slow, I was the only new customer there and I saw the waiter serve the remaining dishes to everyone else shortly after I walked in. About the time I thought about getting up to go inquire about a waiter, the young man who was still on the phone came and took my order. Because lately they have hardly put any cheese on the chimichanga, I requested extra cheese but did not receive it. The previous time I requested extra cheese it tasted wonderful but honestly a little too much. This time I did not get the extra cheese nor was it dry, the amount being the expected amount previously received as a regular amount. I was irritated in regards to lack of service but kept quiet about it at the time until I received my bill to see an extra charge for the extra cheese that was not on my dish. I also came in during lunch and ordered a chimichanga listed on the menu as a $7.xx dish. I ended up getting charged and paying a total of $9.50. Tax @ 8.25℅ is approximately 61cents for an $8.00 food bill. After questioning the extra cheese charge. I assumed they corrected it but after walking out realized they only gave me $10.50 change. Obviously I am tired of being duped and dealing with people in a prison town trying to make an extra dime. If being overcharged and being given dishes with hardly any meat had not become their habit, it would not be so frustrating. I think they have been retaliating in this fashion because I questioned similar issues before and their tip reflected it. When I came back in and asked to relook at their menu to verify price and then asked for the manager. The previously freindly young man responded to me with a thuggish look then at the man at the register, then they both looked at me and refused to let me talk to someone in a higher position. I let them know as I walked out that I was fed up with being overcharged and let them know I was upset enough to call the better business bureau, which I did shortly after getting home. I had a conversation with someone in the City Hall who was able to give me the name they do business under and they gave me a number to the attorney general's office. I am fed up with being pushed around by people in a prison town. Unfortunately, they are connected to my favorite Mexican restaurant El Maguay, but the one I used to go to on Conley Lane is closed down. I have never experienced this at one of their other restaurants and think it is limited to the Booneville local. Until today I did not know the two restaurants were connected. After going to El Maguay for a few years ordering the same dish, I know...

Unfortunately had to revise my review from three years ago. I used to regularly visit this place before moving, and it was much better then. Sadly, it's gone downhill - especially with the service.

In my visit tonight, we had a waiter who couldn't communicate very well. I'm okay with language barriers, but I had spent about five minutes explaining what I wanted before the manager came over and helped him. This restaurant doesn't have the one meal that I get from every other Mexican Restaurant I've been to, so I had to order the one I used to get here and modify it.

While waiting for our food, the server more/less ignored us until our food was dispatched from the kitchen.

When I got my dish, it was wrong. I didn't bring it up to the waiter (should have) because I didn't want any further confusion or mess.

The food I received was fair. (Nothing to write home about, but not horrible.) They have remodeled since I last visited, but not all changes have been for the better. Unfortunately, I would no longer recommend this place to anyone.

(I'm trying to be generous as I know we're in the middle of a pandemic, but I'm truly disappointed by my experience. I've been ordering take-out from other restaurants, and even ate in at another Mexican Restaurant before dining here, and have not had such a poor experience elsewhere.)

Updated:...

You can tell if the food is going to be good in a Mexican restaurant by the freshness and quality of the chips they serve while you are ordering. Mine were as hard as a brick-bat, stale and just of very poor quality. The Salsa was bland tomato juice. I ordered steak fajitas which came with beans and rice. The food was hot (tempature) but as far as taste...pretty bland. It was edible but I want MORE than edible. I had to get up and request my own soda refill. I saw the waiter once when he brought my food and then when he plopped the ticket down on the table. I realize this is Boonville MO but why should we pay the same prices as a big city with minimal quality? Total price for one person, $15.58, no tip. I'll stick to Taco Bell, 3 taco supremes and a burrito supreme with a large soda for $7.00...