Casa De Bandini Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Carlsbad

If i could give it 0 stars i would… from the start to the middle, didn’t get an end… horrible service from all over. was told our wait would be an hour, instead waiting over 2. was sitting up front waiting and the host didn’t realize we were apart of the party she started talking about and proceeded to tell other the other hosts how “the party of 12 was supposed to be sat a while ago and we had a table ready for them but then other guests pulled one of their tables over to make more space for them” and instead of saying anything to us, we sat there and waited for over 2 hours… then we had Nancy as our server. Took over 10 mins for her to greet us and another 5+ to bring our drinks. She was triple sat including our table so I gave her grace there but it didn’t last long. She then ignored us for over 20 mins and then when she started to take our order, i went first and asked if there were peppers and onions in the chicken taquitos (there are) and i asked her to come back to me as i now needed to figure out what I was going to eat instead. she proceeded to take the rest of the tables order and then left our table and took 3 other tables orders…. not ever coming back to me to take my order until i flagged her down… fast forward we waited over 30 mins for our food, all her other tables that she took the orders for after ours, had already received their food and was done with it by the time we got ours. we also sat with empty drinks those 30 mins as well. she did stop by the other end of our table to ask if they wanted refills on their margaritas (trying to upsell our ticket) but ran off before our end could flag her down…. then the food comes out and i had ordered a basic cheese quesadilla… and low and behold, there’s huge slices of bell peppers throughout the entire thing (remember how i didn’t order the chicken because it had peppers and onions in it) and when i flagged her down 5 mins after our food being dropped off, and i showed her that my cheese quesadilla was full of peppers, nancy says “that’s how it comes”….. and i told her i didn’t want it and to take it off the check and that also our half of the table needed refills, she stormed off in the middle of us talking to her and only brought my refill back, not the 4 we needed….. Ended up leaving the rest of our party due to it being 9pm and having waited for 3 hours and still had not eaten.

oh and during all of that, a server who was rolling silverware knocked a stack of napkins on the floor and another server picked all of them up and put them back on the counter for the first server to keep using them. yummy. awful service. aw. ful. will not...

My family and I recently had the pleasure of dining at this renowned Mexican restaurant, and I must say, the exceptional service provided by our waiter truly enhanced the entire experience. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted and seated promptly. The attention to detail and genuine care displayed by our waiter throughout the evening left a lasting impression on our group.

Our waiter, Hector, exuded a perfect balance of professionalism and friendliness. He was well-versed in the menu and confidently guided us through the extensive selection of tantalizing dishes. Hector patiently answered all our questions, offering insightful recommendations that suited our dietary preferences and ensuring everyone felt included and accommodated.

What impressed me most about Hector was his attentiveness. He was constantly aware of our needs, refilling our glasses and attending to any requests with a friendly smile. Even though the restaurant was bustling, Hector made sure we felt like valued guests, checking on us periodically without being intrusive.

Hector also demonstrated a deep knowledge of Mexican cuisine, passionately describing the unique flavors and ingredients in each dish. He went above and beyond by sharing interesting anecdotes and stories, elevating our dining experience to a cultural journey. It was evident that he took great pride in his work and genuinely enjoyed creating memorable moments for his customers.

In addition to his exceptional service, Hector's professionalism shone through in his efficiency. He seamlessly coordinated with the kitchen staff, ensuring our meals were served promptly and piping hot. The presentation of each dish was impeccable, and Hector ensured that our plates were cleared in a timely manner, making room for the next course.

It is worth mentioning that the overall atmosphere of the restaurant was fantastic. The vibrant decor, lively music, and friendly staff contributed to a warm and inviting ambiance. However, it was Hector's remarkable service that truly set this restaurant apart from others.

I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience. The exceptional service provided by Hector, our knowledgeable and attentive waiter, added an extra layer of enjoyment to our evening. We left the restaurant with satisfied taste buds, happy hearts, and a desire to return soon for another remarkable experience.

Thank you, Hector, for going above and beyond to make our evening unforgettable. Your dedication to ensuring exceptional service is commendable, and you truly are an asset to the...

Loud, busy, lots of food scent, very lively! My friend and I had been here before for a drink, and we decided to come back for food. They don't have reservations but you can call ahead to see what the wait is. We did that, which was good, because this place is busy despite being so big! Your whole party has to be here to be seated, so just plan accordingly.

We got seated in the second seating area, which was a little quieter but not that much. You probably will have to speak louder than usual to have conversations on your table.

We got the house margaritas for drinks. Remember that the "small" here is a whole drink! It is a good margarita - smooth and strong, just pretty big!! We ordered the fajitas, the spicy chile campana, and the mole Poblano.

The food was excellent! My friend enjoyed her fajitas quite a bit. The other two dishes were absolute stars. The spicy Chile campana comprised two cheesy baked red peppers - one stuffed with shrimp, Serrano peppers, salsa Verde and the other stuffed with chicken, chiles, diablo sauce, with a side of rice and beans. I LOVED the chicken stuffed red pepper. The shrimp one was a little bland and missed the mark a little. They should just replace shrimp with chicken in the other red pepper too. It came with freshly rolled out tortillas.

The mole Poblano was the hit on our table. It had sauteed chicken deliciously steeped in mole Poblano sauce with rice, beans and some veggies. I love mole sauce and adding the Poblano to this one elevated the taste to the highest level! We could have eaten that mole all night long and for several days!

Now, this place is expensive for a Mexican restaurant. The food is good and a large enough portion size that you can share one dish between two people and still have some left over. So, I guess that evens out the pricing a little bit. They also have mariachi music sometimes. So, come here to be amazed by the...