Jalapeño Heaven — Restaurant in Branford

Friday 4/1/22 I was thinking this was an April Fool's joke, but it wasn't. I have been here over 20 times over the years and have NEVER had an experience like this one. My friend and I had a long work week and decided to have a couple drinks and enjoy some delicious Mexican food. Upon arrival we ordered 2 shots, 2 mixed drinks and 2 waters. The waiter stated we can only have the shots first and then bring the mix drinks... no problem. Took the shots back fast so we could get our drinks. Waited about 10 minutes for our drinks to come, when they did, they were watery/ melted (No problem, I honestly didn’t care at that point). Waited another 10 minutes for our waitress to return to take our dinner order. When the waitress returned, I ordered the steak fajitas- she asked “how do you like your steak cooked” I stated “medium”. She took my friends order and then I had to ask again for water. 15 minutes go by and another waitress brings over food (which I did not order). I suggested it may be the other table who ordered before us, she brought the food to that table. That table stated that wasn’t their food and she brought the food back to us (after it sat in front of the other people). I stated I ordered the steak fajitas, she said “no you ordered the steak quesadilla” … Now I know what I ordered. And it was the fajitas. This lady proceeded to bring back the original waitress to tell me what I ordered. When I KNOW what I ordered. Long story short, the waitress brought the check before bringing me my correct food. (how do you know I am done ordering? What if I wanted more drinks? More food?) I was so perturbed that I asked for the manager. The manager proceeded to tell me I ordered in “bits and pieces” … I told the manager that is not what happened and the waitress messed up and then didn’t bring my food (MEAN WHILE MY FRIEND HAS HER FOOD IN FRONT OF HER….). I told the manager I was not going to pay for the food. My friend didn’t even like her meal (was greasy and smelled off). The manager said no problem. Brought me the check with just the drinks… the shots were $13.50, and the mix drinks were $13.50. Most expensive shots I have ever purchased. I will NEVER go back. Terrible service. Outrageous prices. Sad. Used to have great...

Jalapeno Heaven is my new go-to place on the east coast -- the two-hour drive was TOTALLY worth it. Being a California native and having visited Mexico, I've been disappointed by many "Mexican" restaurants that actually serve Tex Mex, americanized Mexican (think Chipotle), or authentic non-Mexican hispanic cuisine (Guatemalan, Salvadoreño, Costa Rican, etc). Don't get me wrong, those restaurants are often very good in their own right... but sometimes I just want a good tamale, complete with corn husk wrapper.

The food here was amazing -- the tamales gave me a serious foodgasm, and the taco, enchilada, and burrito that came with the "Heaven's Combo" were all fantastic too. I think my favorite of the three was the burrito, which I got with ground beef, but the chicken in the enchilada was very flavorful, and the steak in the taco was very tender (I got it medium-rare, and it was nicely pink with a hint of red, but not all bloody)... I think next time around I'll try a burrito with chicken. The only thing I wasn't that fond of was their habañero salsa; it was definitely hot enough, but didn't have a terribly robust flavor.

Service was great -- the place was packed and it did take a little time for our food to come out, but I've waited longer for less at other restaurants, and the waitress was friendly and sociable with us, offering suggestions at our request, and willing to listen to the story of my quest for real Mexican food on the east coast without acting impatient or trying to brush me off (I did try to keep it short, since I knew she had other tables to wait!). After refilling my water for the second time, she brought me the carafe so I wouldn't have to wait for subsequent refills, which I considered very thoughtful.

My only other quibble with Jalapeno Heaven besides the habañero salsa would be the price. For dinner for two, two orders of tamales (I just had to get one to go), and dessert, the total came to $71 and change without tip, and of course I had to tip well for the awesome service so I came out spending about $85. Regardless, I'm already contemplating my next day trip to Connecticut so I can get...

Strange place with stranger cocktails and outrageous prices. I’m giving two stars for the nice server.

I visited for the first time on Sunday with a group of four. The front door was locked and the back patio completely empty. A woman greeted us after a few minutes through a takeout window and guided us to the back back patio for lunch. She gave us three menus that were all completely different and asked that we all share them.

We ordered three margaritas and one long island iced tea. I asked whether the margaritas are made with fresh lime juice and in a very long explanation she basically said no, sour mix. I asked if I may have mine made with fresh lime juice, she said yes for a $1 up charge. My friend asked if they make jalapeño margaritas, and she said yes so we all three changed our choice to jalapeño margaritas. The drinks arrived and the Long Island was fine. My drink had no jalapeño inside and was served in a champagne flute with a gigantic pickled jalapeño as a garnish. I also received a second champagne flute 1/4 full that the waitress described as the overflow. Why not just put the drink in a normal glass? And how are you charging extra money for a “ jalapeño margarita” that includes no jalapeño??? The other two margaritas also contained no jalapeño, were served in tall thin soda glasses and were garnished in the same fashion.

After our unsatisfying round of cocktails we all decided not to endeavor in ordering lunch and go elsewhere. We asked for a bill and it was $52 for our one round of drinks!!! $11.50 each for two (not jalapeño margs) $13.50 for a champagne glass mostly filled with ice marg (by the way not a $1 up charge but $2 for fresh lime juice) and $12 for the Long Island. We hadn’t even eaten lunch and spent $50. And the margaritas were not even good.

I haven’t even tried the food and I would never recommend this...