La Morenita — Restaurant in Ceres

LARGE GROUPS - BEWARE OF THEIR MANY RULES- I've been an event planner for over 25 years and have also planned large corporate group dinners and I have NEVER ENCOUNTERED such outrageous and ridiculous conditions for ANY GROUP OVER 8 people!! My daughter was graduating college and wanted to go here. I called 2 weeks in advance to make a reservation for 20. I was informed of the following: "Groups over 6 ppl are charged 20% gratuity fee I will be charged $15 per person for anyone who doesnt come. (If I reserve 20 ppl and 18 ppl come, I'm charged $30) will split bills up to 4 separate tags -but no more. must arrive 15 min prior to reservation time must have 2/3 your party in lobby or bar BEFORE they will seat you (we needed 15 ppl inside their tiny lobby before they'd seat us) $100 deposit and must have over 20 ppl to host a large group in the outdoor eating area. But it's not exclusively "your room" (the outdoor room is still shared with other patrons) Because this is where my graduating daughter wanted to celebrate, I agreed to their ridiculous large group conditions and made sure to reserve LESS people than I KNEW were coming, to ensure I wouldn't be charged the $15/pp for anyone who, idk may have had an emergency or God forbid a car accident on their way to the resturant!

The service was...

The food here is wonderful! My favorites: Garlic shrimp and flour tortilla chips. I used to live in Turlock and this was a favorite restaurant. The food hasn't changed one bit. The service, however, was pretty crappy. I was there alone and had a waitress promptly. Ordered a beverage right away and that was brought fairly quickly. I ordered my little meal and that was also brought fairly quickly. After that, pretty much crickets. I waited at least another half hour before she came back to check on me. My drink was long gone and I'd been struggling to cut my shrimp with a fork and spoon (why?). Perhaps knives are taken frequently? By the time she got back to me, I'd given up on the shrimp -- it was too much work, but as I'd just come from a funeral for a dear friend, I wanted another drink. When she finally returned and asked how everything was, I told her the food was excellent but a knife would have been helpful. I also ordered my drink. Another long wait before that was brought and I asked for the check, but she'd disappeared again. I finished my drink and waited. Around 15 minutes later, she returned with the check and I was out of there.

As I said, the food here is awesome. I guess I got unlucky with the server. At least I hope so! If you go,...

Jesus!!! "The Manager" was the most incompetent rude manager ive ever met. My girlfriend ordered the wedding chicken she asked " please no beans. Id like a small salad on the plate" He IMMEDIATELY said NO! You cannot do that. That is not allowed. She asked.. how come we do this everytime we come. We live next door to hear and come here often. He said rudely with a very cocky smirk. If you got it like that.. you got Lucky! Then started to chew on his words. Jesus all she wanted was less carbs and a small salad on the plate. But your rude attitude sucks! You had to throw out there. "I'M THE MANAGER SO I KNOW WHAT IS ALLOWED. " She asked nicely 3 times. He was rude and obviously not happy at work. So then i got rude and said look...

Fine get her the plate with salad. Add a plate of rice. Thank you! With a look to kill. He got the message. WELL MANAGER.... I OWN A LOCAL RESTAURANT LOCATED IN MODESTO AND IF I WAS THE OWNER OF THIS COMPANY I WOULD FIRE YOU IMMEDIATELY FOR YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TO MY GF and I. You have a huge ego for your new position as "MANAGER" AS long as you are a manager we will not be back. I will be sure to...