Santi’s West Ashley — Restaurant in Charleston

I went here yesterday and had a chimichanga and a margarita around 4pm. I do want to say all the food tasted amazing. Best chips and salsa, and my chimichanga tasted amazing, possibly the best I’ve had. I also had an al pastor street taco. I left wanting to return very soon, poor service aside.

Unfortunately I will not be returning as the following morning i was struck by the worst FOOD POISONING I’d had in years, honestly ever. I actually had to call EMS because I was scared I might pass out and no one else is there to care for my baby. I really hate having to report this but perhaps meat was left out of the proper temperature zone, maybe thawed and refrozen and then thawed again, maybe too old… I’m not sure but the only thing I at yesterday was the food from Santi’s (I ate my leftovers for dinner). I am literally on the toilet (still) writing this review. Such a shame because the food tasted good and I loved the environment. If this review does anything, hopefully someone will investigate kitchen conditions.

The girl at the front had me seat myself, and then disappeared. Someone brought me chips and salsa and I saw a table of 3 get sat right next to me about 5-10 minutes after I arrived. They received their drinks before I even got to order a water. It took at least 10 minutes for her to come back and take my order and at that time of day there were only 2 tables in the restaurant: me, and the 3 other people. I finally got a different server, a young man that was very helpful and efficient. He took my order and brought my food very fast. Perhaps he saw I had to get up multiple times to get menus, napkins, silverware, etc, all while the other table was able to get them from the waitress...

I love mexican food - I can even be happy with taco bell tacos, but when you go to a restaurant, you do expect better. The food quantity was fine, portions are large, but the taste wasn't that great - just kind of bland. I ate less than half my plate and normally would have taken it home to eat the rest later - but no, just wasn't good enough to eat any more. Forget the chips - they're awful. I think they must fry up flour tortillas - they're not the typical corn chips you might expect. They're thick and hard. Salsa is watery and runny and pretty much tastes like tomato sauce. They got our order wrong, even though we explained it to three different people (it was simple - nachos with beef and cheese and beans - but put the beans on the side. Nothing else, no additional topping, just chips, beef, beans and cheese). The staff members were pleasant and maybe some of the issue was a language barrier, I don't know. Service was quick, but not accurate. I do have to say that the girl from the kitchen who brought our food out to us was super kind and efficient. Somethings were just petty and little, but they added up and were annoying. Things like handing us straws that had been in their apron pocket and were clearly bent and crimped and not usable and then when we asked for replacements (there were two of us), they brought only one replacement. Oh, and the cheese melted on top of the nachos was so thick and rubbery to chew you could literally choke on it. Anyway, very nice people, but I won't be returning. Good luck to those who decide to give it a try and best wishes to the...

We got there at 5 pm they seem very disorganized when we walked in. We seated ourselves waited for someone to take our order finally they did. We asked for water got 1 glass finally asked 4 times and got the other glass when we were ready to leave The decor was very thought out lots of stuff on walls etc. Too bad the didn’t think about glassware The water and 1 soda glasses were plastic tumblers with the Walmart stickers still on. I doubted they wash them fresh stickers were in perfect condition Now the food We ate 3 or 4 times at the santi in mt pleasant food was good hot seasoned well Being from Arizona the food at the mt pleasant restaurant was good Here not so much I ordered chicken enchiladas Suize A tablespoon of watered down 3 beans brown juice 2 tablespoons of rice not fully cooked or old and new rice mixed because of the hard rice in it The chicken enchiladas had no seasoning just dried chicken wrapped in tortillas I don’t know what type of cheese they used to top it but was just a glob of rubbery stuff No one seemed in charge Some guy in a jacket and white scarf was taking food orders but was also running around He asked the table next to us how everything was never bother to ask anyone else So no we well not he back to wa location Also I don’t recommend this restaurant For what you’re paying and what you’re getting for your money is just 2 steps...