Chico Cantina — Restaurant in Brookhaven

Extremely disappointing experience…

I hate to say this, because I genuinely love Chef Mimmo, & his Botica location has never disappointed me — but my experience at this location was far from enjoyable.

I brought a friend visiting from out of town for a quick late lunch, thinking this would be a fun, casual spot. I usually go to the Botica location for tacos & great service — but this location was closer today.

When we arrived, there were only two bartenders and just two other customers at the bar.

While our bartender greeted us and took our drink orders quickly, we weren’t offered water, which is standard bar etiquette. Both bartenders seemed distracted by a man showing them content on his phone.

After returning from the restroom, I asked for water, and shortly after, our drinks & food arrived — but our tacos were served cold.

While eating, we witnessed the male bartender & the other customer openly discussing and showing sexually explicit videos of women in a derogatory, objectifying way — right in plain view.

Even more disturbing, it was clear from their conversation and the content they were sharing that these women were being treated like commodities, as if they were being trafficked for profit.

This behavior was appalling and completely inappropriate. My friend, who is usually VERY generous with tips, said he was over it and wanted to leave immediately.

Overall, this experience fell far below the standard I’ve come to expect from Botica. I had hoped to share a casual, fun experience with a visiting friend, but this location did not reflect the same level of service, professionalism,...

If I could give this place a negative star I would!!! Not for the food or the drinks, but for the Bar manager John specifically. Is it protocol for the manager to get belligerently drunk while on the clock? On top of him getting sloppy drunk, he was also harassing the nice young bartenders and being AGGRESSIVE. He even went as far as to throw money at one of them as if they were a piece of trash. I’m completely in awe of his behavior and will tell everyone I know to not go to this new establishment! This is unacceptable and something needs to be done about John. Apparently this isn’t his first rodeo being drunk on the clock, seems to be a recurring issue from what I hear. STAY AWAY FROM CHICOS CANTINA!

Updated Review:

After being contacted by the owner, Mimo, I’ve decided to update my review. He took swift and responsible action—not just relying on what I shared, but personally looking into the situation with the bar manager, John. I’m relieved to know that both staff and customers will no longer have to deal with the unprofessional behavior displayed by John.

Aside from that incident, my experience at Chico’s Cantina was truly enjoyable. The food, atmosphere, and staff (excluding John) were all excellent. Thank you, Mimo, for listening, taking accountability, and making the...

Just had an amazing experience at Chico Cantina and I'm still blown away! Chef Mimmo and his entire crew has created something truly special here. The food quality is outstanding - seriously, every single bite was better than the last. You can taste the care and attention that goes into each dish. The staff was incredible too. Everyone was so friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, making great recommendations that really enhanced the experience. The service felt genuine and welcoming from start to finish. I have to mention the renovation because wow - they completely transformed this space in such a short time. What used to be a run-down shell is now absolutely gorgeous and easily rivals the restaurants you'd find in Buckhead. The atmosphere is perfect. You can tell Chef Mimmo puts his heart into every aspect of this place. He's clearly a hard worker with real pride in what he's doing, and he's also a fantastic host who makes you feel right at home. This place is a gem and I'll definitely be back soon. Highly recommend checking it out if you want an exceptional...