Amigos Mexican Cocina — Restaurant in Chattanooga

Don't make the same mistake I did and get this place confused with the Brainerd restaurant of the same name but completely different ownership. This place was a waste of time and money and I'll never go back.

Called in an order and was told they had one cook and a large party so it would be about 20 minutes. Completely understandable situation and still pretty dang fast.

However, arrived and was told another 20 minutes, after pushing the cashier to go ask the cook exactly how long because "I don't know" isn't an acceptable answer.

Returned after 20 minutes, then waited an additional 45 minutes to get our food after being told every 15 minutes (only upon asking) that it would be another 5 minutes. Watched parties come in after us, get seated and brought food despite us sitting there in the lobby clearly waiting.

The place was half full at best. Watched most of the staff walk around looking busy despite obviously doing little to nothing when they could have been helping the lone cook or offering us water or chips.

Finally asked for a refund as our food was coming out only to be asked in a snarky voice, presumably by the manager, "so you want to take your food AND get a full refund?" He didn't introduce himself and wasn't on the floor at all in that hour and a half until he was needed for the refund - hopefully he was working in the kitchen.

Then he proceeded to give my friend cash even though we both paid on cards and when I asked for a refund to my card, got more attitude with "cash would be faster." Then he held us up 5 more minutes while he fumbled around clearly untrained on the register.

Got home only to realize the person who entered our phone order STILL got my dish wrong after being told 4 times what dish I wanted and to verify that she understood (it was enchiladas, a staple at any Mexican restaurant).

Clearly a terribly mismanaged restaurant with mediocre, pre-packaged foods. Zero reason to ever go there.

If it were my restaurant, I would fire the manager and the cashier on shift this afternoon. And then I would actually train everyone else correctly and study how to hire a proper manager before...

This thing wants me to share my experience? Well, mine was more of a 'lack thereof experience.' As both their website AND posted store hours on their door/window state they close at 10 p.m., you can imagine my dismay after having driven out of my way for Amigos only to find that their doors were locked at 9:31p.m. Albeit, not the most convenient situation for the employees, (as I have personally spent many years working in the restaurant business, meaning I'm a VERY good tipper) I consider this unacceptable and poor business practice! I will never again go out of my way for subpar, heat lamp-scorched $hitty 'Mexican' food at Amigos in Chattanooga. I realize that simply lacking my (a single patrons business) will have little to no effect on their overall profit margins, but I felt obligated to make others aware that AMIGO'S LIES ABOUT THEIR HOURS OF OPERATION, so that no one else wastes their time and effort in an attempt to contribute to the capitalism of Amigos anytime past 9:30 p.m. Mon-Thur. ALSO, LAST TIME I WAS AT AMIGOS I FOUND 3 VERY DARK, VERY LONG HAIRS IN MY TACO SALAD...ONLY TO BE ACCUSED OF IT BEING MINE.

AVOID AT ALL COST!!! THEY HAVE RATS/ROACHES IN THEIR KITCHEN THAT FALL INTO THE CHEESE DIP AND SALSA.

I SAW OUR SERVER TAKE USED SALSA FROM AN OLD TABLE AND DUMP IT INTO THE SALSA SERVING BIN FOR OTHERS TO USE. THEY ALSO RECYCLE THEIR UNUSED CHIPS FROM EACH TABLE, HEAT THEM UP, AND SERVE THEM TO...

After work, I met two lifelong friends to catch up after not seeing them for about a year. We were quickly seated and our service started well. She took drink orders, brought chips and salsa, and gave us a few minutes to order. Once orders were placed, she pretty much ignored us. She had tables around us and as she walked by us numerous times, not once did she check on us or even look our way. When our food was delivered by someone else, she ignored us. She had some friends come in and sit at the booth next to us and she kept her back to us talking to them almost constantly from there on. My friend wanted more chips and tried for 10 minutes to catch her attention. Finally, she took the bowl from my friend's hand and set it back on the table! Another server brought a bowl of chips, just by noticing what was going on. The server gave us our check, although she didn't ask if we needed more drinks or anything. I've never had service that poor in all the years at this location and I know it isn't the norm. Typically, my family orders food to go from here and that will continue. If I eat there again, I will be certain to not be served by this server.

Food was excellent and the margaritas were very good. Would have enjoyed another. Restaurant was fairly busy, was clean and other servers appeared to be...