Zapata's Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Charlotte

I refuse to lie and say that the food wasn't good (which it was) or that we didn't enjoy it (which we did and the portions were generous), but I can't not mention how utterly rude and unkind the employee at the cash register treated us.

We were really craving some Mexican food so we decided to give this place a try for the first time. We ordered our food online from our PC (not with our phone) via doordash and headed out to pick it up. Both me and my husband left our phones at home because we simply did not need them. Yes, not all people on the planet carry their phones around everywhere.

My husband walks in to the store to pick up our food, the cashier lady asks him his name which he provides her with. Then she asks him if he has his phone with him so she can check and make sure that we weren't stealing, he said that he didn't have his phone on him. She then proceeded to ask him what exactly did he order. He told her every dish that we had ordered. Then she asked him multiple times to confirm which service did he use to order, doordash or uber eats. For a millionth time he said that it was doordash. As if that wasn't enough, she then asked him what kind of meat was in our food exactly, chicken or steak.

Excuse me, but what the... ? Was that TRULY necessary? Is it possible that they had 20 orders laying around, all with matching food choices, all with a same name? Somehow I REALLY doubt it. Why treat a person like this? He said his name, he said exactly what we had ordered. Why ask what kind of meat is in the dish?

If you're SO paranoid that you're treating people like petty thieves going out of their way for some tacos then maybe you need therapy before anything else. What is wild to me is that the manager stood right next to the employee and allowed the cashier lady to get away with her overly suspicious behavior. There are PLENTY of ways to make sure you're handing the food to the right person, you don't have to be so unprofessional and treat people like trash. Incompetent and rude.

Will not come back again. (which is a shame because the...

EDIT: Sent two emails to the main email and I received no response. Sent an email to the restaurant I had trouble at and it says the mailbox is full and won't accept it. I called and spoke to owner about the food poisoning, he swore up and down that it was not his food that caused it. We were sick within 20-30 minutes of eating. I had to turn my car around when we were halfway to the movies because of it. Owner was asking for the doctor bill for the food poisoning (which he didn't know what food poisoning was). Well there is no doctor bill. No one goes to a doctor for it unless it's a very young child or it's severe. He requested that I come in the next day to speak with him in the middle of the week on a workday. I work a corp 9-5pm job. He says "I need to speak with you face to face and maybe refund you". I understand his skepticism on the issue, however I am not the only person who has had this problem at this restaurant and I have been there a few times with no issue in the past. I just want a refund for all the food I had to throw away and the desert I barely got to touch and had to throw out. I don't even want a refund for the drinks, just the food. If you ever need to have something fixed here, just don't bother. It's not worth your time people. FYI, this is NOT a chain. There is no corporate to complain to. Basically, if something goes wrong you are screwed unless you have a legal case against them.

Original: Food seemed good and drinks were great, but date and myself got mild food poisoning. This was the only food we ate all day until after the problems started. I didn't check reviews and sadly others have had the same problem. I'll be calling their corporate office to let them know this is an ongoing issue. I suggest waiting a few months to let them fix this situation. I'll also be requesting a refund as I had to throw away my to go desert and my leftovers in fear it may cause...

I would like to lead with TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE.

I called and placed my order for lunch. I went off of the online menu description and made sure to reiterate that I did in fact want my food made properly (according to the description). I get back to work to realize not only was it made incorrectly, but that it also was missing my guacamole and was cold. I called and spoke to Juan who told me the manager (Carlos) was not available—- which he is the one who gave me my food. Juan— who told me HE was also a manager— told me that he would comp my order next time I come in. I called today and spoke to Carlos and then Juan. Juan got on the phone and told me that my meal will NOT be comped but half-priced. He told me that Carlos is not allowing him to do what HE SAID he would do. I then asked to speak to Carlos who CONTINUED to speak over me all to argue with me about what HIS online menu says. I asked him, “You manager told me yesterday that my meal would be comped and now you’re going to turn around and tell me it’s not— do you think that’s good customer service?” Bottom line— he does not care. It costs maybe $3 for him to make a meal that I paid $16 for. I frequent this establishment at LEAST once a week. He is rude. His business is unorganized. I will dispute the charge as well as never go back to the business.

It’s sad because restaurants are struggling post-Covid…. there really is no room for THIS POOR OF...