Pancheros Mexican Grill - Cedar Rapids 1st Ave — Restaurant in Cedar Rapids

I usually don’t leave reviews unless the experience is really good or really bad. Before I explain the experience I will add that I tacked on an extra star because the food wasn’t messed up and it tasted good still.

The reason there’s only 2 stars as opposed to 5 is the ridiculous work ethic among the people working there. My girlfriend and I were on our way to a funeral and had enough time to stop in for a lunch to go. We arrived at 1:59 keeping an eye on the clock. The line was long and I counted 7 people in front of us. I assumed this might take about 10 to 15 minutes tops and we were reasonably patient. There was 4 people working, they all looked young. A young man would press tortillas and start your order. Followed by a young girl who would add toppings followed by a young girl who just stood at the register and watched those two slowly make orders. There was a fourth worker that floated around occasionally prepping food behind the 3 mentioned workers but would disappear often and didn’t have a hand in helping on the line.

Finally it was time to order and it was 2:23. The girl adding toppings was now on the other side of the register where customers pay, laughing and talking to the girl at the register who hadn’t moved away from the register in the last 24 minutes. The toppings girl then left, I watched her get into her car and leave. At this point the line was out the door and I saw multiple people leave cause of the wait. I’m asssuming she either went on break or was off work. Great timing when you have a line out the door. Now the guy starting our order was putting toppings on and was the only one working.

We left and it was 2:28. We waited 29 minutes to get a couple of burritos that usually takes about 10 minutes. The workers had no rush, no enthusiasm and zero care to even try to go at a faster pace. It was frustrating and I hope this review gets read by the owner and hopefully something will happen. I don’t plan on going there again anytime soon cause well I’m not going to deal with that again. I have no idea who the manager would of been or if there even was one. Pretty terrible and pathetic.

This was on...

I am not one to normally write a review, but the customer service for even the most basic of human interactions was so abysmal that I felt the urge to give feedback. I went in and kindly waited for my turn to order as the person making the wraps had many online orders to get to as well. When it was my turn to order I said "two burritos" and I had to speak pretty loudly due to the music blaring super high in the lobby. I could barely hear anything they were asking me and vise versa. Everyone was just trying to get the burrito made with barely any interaction. That's fine until I got to the lady who was working the register. As I was waiting for my wife to make her burrito I tried to make small talk to her saying "You guys are pretty busy this Friday huh?". The lady looked at me glared and then proceeded to look another direction. When my wife was done making her burrito she barked our total and I asked if we could get a soda, She slapped a cup in front of me and never said another word. I was so baffled by how someone so rude and flat out incapable of making the most basic of interactions is doing a job that requires SOME kindness or even common courtesy. She never asked if I wanted my receipt which I clearly did. I felt asking for my receipt would have involved a lot of problems if i did, that is how hostile I feel she was towards me. The previous times I went to this poncheros was not great, but it is just getting way worse. I understand hiring can be tough but holy cow these are not the people you want running your business. Maybe some training is seen in the future? I figure this will lead nowhere besides a template response from the owner or something like that. My advise go to the...

As I've stated about other eateries in the Marion, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Iowa City and Manchester areas my expectations have been smashed. In fairness partly due to my lack of reading the ingredients or asking the server questions.

Pancheros has boosted my spirits re-affirming you can get a very good Carnitas [pork], Carne Asada [beef] or Polo [chicken] Mexican meal. I've visited several stores in the area all were up to the standards I'd expected. Clean fresh amply stocked ingredients were at the different stations. First I must admit this is another one of my stable comfort foods an immensely well stuffed burrito. Upon entering your guided by a partition towards the hot table serving area. But first you must decide on how HUNGRY you are because you must choose your flour burrito size. Options are a 1, 2 or up to 4 press tortilla, meaning they have a warmed plated tortilla press, if you choose a double press not 1 but 2 flour pucks are placed into the press. They're heated and squeezed into one very large tortilla. Now fill it up with black beans, rice, your choice of the 3 proteins mentioned above, cheeses, sauces, spicy salsa, mild to flaming hot sauces making this establishment a hungry man's eatery. The orders can be for dine in or take out. I caution you seating is limited its difficult to find a table during peak times. The beverages are on a self serve basis.

All in all give Pancheros food portion to cost isn't an issue. When you can get two meals out of one its well worth the value. Give Pancheros a whirl I don't think you'll be disappointed when you pick up and feel the weight of your 3 to 4 pound double/triple pressed stuffed burrito.

Happy...