El Vaquero — Restaurant in California

This is a quaint little authentic Mexican restaurant that We will NEVER return to again. It was our second visit in an attempt to see if they could redeem themselves from the first bad experience. Initial hosting service was good, but after that it was a downhill slope. Our server continuously was not attending to his tables. The restuarant was not busy. We had to ask the bus boy for even our first drink refills, he told our server, server came, we told him, waited another 10 mins, when he returned he still did not have our drinks. When ordering, (even with pointing directly to the item wanting to order) he wrote the order down wrong then even charged us for the wrong item(which was over 5$ more). Which somehow the correct item came to the table. But we were still charged overages for wrong item. The dirty dishes were not removed as more were brought to the table, and continued to pile around the table while trying to enjoy the meal. We had to ask for anything needed and not ever approached for regular service attendings. The guacamole was tasteful and tortilla crisps fresh. My chicken tortilla soup had abundance flavour, yet was allowed to sit with the toppings in it, causing them to be soggy and unappealing unlike the crunchy contrast in the soup they are supposed to be. The main entrees' taste and appeal were good and as expected. Again we had to approach the bus boy with any need and had not seen much of our server at our table. To order dessert was a task to have the server finally come to us. Which I regretfully wish we had chosen not to order. When ordering we inquired on the preparation to make sure that a certain ingredient could be left off. Our server had said that ingredient was not in the dessert toppings. ...... Well it was. And therefore one of my guests that had accompanied us was unable to now enjoy their dessert. I had the fried icecream, which left a disdain for this once loved dessert lingering with me. They were not made fresh, and questionably aged from how stale the outer cornflake shell tasted. After receiving the bill, there were discernible errors(one was previously mentioned). After having to prove myself and then the server double checking even just after seeing me calculate in front of him, he reluctantly accepted his error and then changed only part of the bill. So on a positive note, at least the soup...

Well I have got to say in all my 50+ yrs this is the first time I have written a review of a restaurant. Probably because when I am happy with a restaurant I tip well and I let the staff know. This time what I saw in the restaurant and service was so bad that I had to leave my review. Today May 2nd 2021, the family went to El Valqurros mexican restaurant in Arnold Ca. The service was not good. We had to ask for flatware 3 times and the last time we had our food and waited until we got our silverware. I had asked for coffee when I arrived and requested cream and sugar. As you may have guessed no sugar or cream then reminded waitress long wait finally got up to find waitress she brought cream and sugar but we still didn’t have silverware. When we received our food it was ok missing all special add on items. When I reminded her again she came back and slapped the items on table. She was a pretty miserable person so we were chalkingbup to bad day until, you guessed she said she could break a ten dollar bill. She had a really awful attitude. Similar service problem were happening to some other table near us. No flatware, nobody picking up check etc. I over heard two people say the service was just not there or attempt to serve at all. I would suggest Sarafinas, Lube Room or the Bar and Grille down the street. Don’t waste your time here. Oh when my daughter brought all this to the managers (owners son) attention he basically didn’t even listen. Sad service is so bad! We used to go often...

I give the food 5 stars! I sent to snow shoe to get a beer and burger and it was closed 30 min before their posted closing time so I came here. It’s open till 9 but I heard the waitress say should we tell them to get their door to go and it was before 8. Geez this town goes to bed early. So I ordered a beer and asked for a dos eqis and though there are 2 on the menu the waitress didn’t bother to ask which one and brought me an amber. Fair enough I didn’t specify. My wife ordered a fajita salad and kids get steak tacos and a bean and cheese burrito. I order the chili verde and the waitress asks which sauce the red or the green to which I reply it’s verde. She asks again the red or the green which I found very odd, so I just replied green. My food came out as dos chili rellenos. I’m not all that picky with food, Its late, and I’m hungry, so I take a bite and it’s delicious. My wife loved her dinner, my son will devour a plate or rice and beans and my daughter dismantled her steak Tacos and ate each item individually. We’re were out of there by 845 full and will return. Maybe next time I’ll just tell the waitress to surprise me...