Modern Margarita — Restaurant in Chandler

We have been to this location once before months back and enjoyed it. We regularly go to the High Street location and our first experience at the new location was great. Yesterday however was a totally different experience, we arrived around 4:30pm on a Sat. and it was not very busy (last time was packed). We were seated at the booth next to the bar and immediately I realized why...dirty! Floors where covered in crumbs, underside of bar back splash is completely marked up from shoes and grim, walls dirty, looked like they haven't cleaned the service doors they go in and out of since it opened. The female bartender was done with her shift and she put on her crop top inside out and poured herself a beer, not a big deal. Until she decided to cut oranges and Lemons with no cut glove and CUT HER FINGER! You would think she would throw the oranges and get a new knife, bandage up ect. But instead she went to the back and grabbed a bandage and had the male bartender help her put it on. Then SHE WENT RIGHT BACK TO CUTTING AND PUT THEM IN THE BIN AFTER SHE LABLED THEM!!!! YUCK!!!! She continued to cut lemons while texting with her gloves on and using the same knife and cutting board she got cut from and blood on! I'm not sure if slippers are also what they are allowed to wear? The male manager was walking around with the water refill with his hand fully around the top and his thumb touching where the water pours out. The runner who brought or food said nothing and wore sun glasses. I would say they need to clean this place, wash their hands, and learn about knife safety and blood born pathogens again. The ONLY plus was our food! We will not however be going back to this location until the manager gets this restaurant location under control. We will however continue to go to the other location, always clean, always friendly, great food...

UPDATE

I love Modern Margarita. The food is solid (I love the chips and salsa) and the drinks are fantastic! Even more, the staff has been consistently awesome. I go often and all staff are awesome! Special shout outs to Chera, Devon, Nikki, Terra, Sarah, and manager Chandler! Easy 5 stars!

None of the below reviews are recent or of this brand new location. This is a review for MM that just opened at the intersection of Gilbert and Ocotillo.

It was literally day one, so the slow service was expected, especially with the place being completely packed around 3pm on a Friday. I sat outside at the bar. The interior decor, bar layout, bar seating and outside seating was nice and modern.

Service was professional and friendly. The margaritas were very, very good. I tried the blood orange and the mezcal margarita and highly recommend both. They have standard as well as frozen margaritas and other cocktails all around the $10-$14 range with one or two around the $18 mark. The chips and salsa is around $3.50 but very good. A large bowl of fresh, homemade, thin, salty chips and the salsa was also delicious with a hint of heat and smokiness to it.

I ordered three a la carte tacos at $5.50 a piece; shrimp, miso mahi, and fried fish. All were very good flavoring.

All in all, Modern Margarita is an excellent place to grab some good drinks and tacos. Definitely on the higher price range. Service was friendly and I’m positive the speed will pick up as they get their footing. It’s a solid 3.5 a 4 stars right now with potential to get even better! I will...

Update:

Kind of want to come back, but past reviews don't indicate anything has changed. Syrup margaritas, no fresh ingredients, not impressive food, average at best service/experience/atmosphere.

Just binge watch kitchen nightmares for a weekend and get the place in shape. Create an action plan focused on quality. Train your staff and set them up to succeed financially. Become the best restaurant around here.

Prior review:

I would stay away from this place.

1. I'm not picky, but the brisket Tacos were absolutely disgusting, I don't know if they were old or what but Jesus. Dry, and the smell as abhorrent.

2. Mango Margarita with no Mango, just some syrup, place is called Modern Margarita. Nothing modern about it.

3. Service just awful, place was empty, not one customer there for the CFP championship and no wonder. Girl texting on her phone, no personal element at all, then just disappeared for what felt like forever.

4. Asked for Manager, he was taking a phone call and I waited like 15 minutes with nobody around.

5. No iced tea at a full-service restaurant, very disappointing.

Overall, it was incredibly embarrassing.

They did comp the meal, because I took 1 bite and probably 2 sips of the Margarita, so I'll add 1 star of service for that.

I'm really not surprised the place is empty, makes me wonder how they stay...