Mesa Loca — Restaurant in Cincinnati

My parents celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary and generously included their children (me being one!) on their dinner date. We had been to Mesa Loca before and my parents already had their favorite entrees selected and were excited to celebrate here-a new area favorite.

Things got off on the wrong foot immediately when we were attempting to find the right table for our party outside. It was hard to find a shaded table and the staff wasn’t sure which tables were/were not available. When we found a table we were decently okay with (not where we really wanted to sit), the male host boomed at us in the loudest and most aggressive voice: “have you finally selected a table or are you going to keep switching around?” This was not said in jest. His extremely rude and hostile tone and physical stance, and subsequent “stalking off the patio” indicated that we had violated some sort of personal boundary this unhinged host felt he could inflict on PAYING CUSTOMERS! This experience set a very negative tone for the rest of our dining experience as we all looked furtively at the waitstaff, not sure who would snap next.

On top of this, my parents ordered their customary/favorite entree, and when it was dropped off at the table, it looked like a third rate version of what was typically ordered. When my parents dared to ask about this, the waitress said that certain recipes had recently been changed. Okay? Don’t you think this should have been mentioned prior to us placing our order? She reluctantly grabbed my parents’ plates and returned with them covered in some cheap, oozing cheese sauce (this isn’t how it was ever prepared in past). Fearful for a negative reaction from staff, my parents quietly accepted the new “version” and we left, silently vowing never to return to a restaurant that had previously been a new favorite.

Needless to say, excellent customer service needs to be a high priority in a restaurant seeking to leave a lasting (positive) impression on...

If I could give zero stars, I would. We arrived at 4;50 PM Friday evening. My wife and I went to this place full of excitement because it is new to the area. We were seated all the way in the back and there was 1, yes 1 other person seated in the entire back section.....so no reason for a server to not be at our table quickly. The water person was there immediately....by far the best part of our experience, so thank you for that to whoever the guy was who brought us the water. We had every intent to order a margarita for each of us. More than 10 minutes go by with NO ONE coming by our table. Some server spent that entire 10 minute timeframe talking to the only other person in the entire section....looking over at us a couple different times at least....but NEVER coming over or even stating something to like...."I'll be right with you"..... nothing. Still being patient, we discussed what margarita we wanted to order, checked our parking situation, and talked. Still, not one person came up to our table. Even the very timely waterboy walked by multiple times carrying additional plates, napkins, and other "prep" items to the back room corner; never saying a word. Finally decided to get up and leave. No one, no one said a word to us....hell, I doubt they even noticed that we were leaving because they never noticed we were there in the first place. The restaurant wasn't even busy and yet, the MOD, multiple servers, and other staff never took the time to say one word to us.....until we were walking out of the restaurant where the same hostess who sat us, said "Have a great night"....ha! We will not be back, but I'll be sure to let everyone I know to stay away from this dump. We went to El Jinete on Red Bank and as usual, had great service, food, and yes......

We have enjoyed dinner and drinks at Mesa Loca almost every week since the opening, and it is now our go-to place in Hyde Park. The ambiance is perfect - not too loud but lively, friendly and a fresh change from more subdued settings typical of Hyde Park. We like to sit at the bar to dine, the better to enjoy watching the drink creation (the Smoked Old Fashioned being a real treat!) and the friendliness of the bartenders and servers. Both the Mesa and Premium margaritas are delicious and a great start to any meal. But the real treat has been the topnotch food and service. The Elote is consistently fabulous, even in the winter when sweet corn is difficult to find. Our favorite entree is the Allen Brothers skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. Wouldn't ordinarily order skirt steak, but this is extremely tender (try it rare+), sliced thin, and the sauce is delicate and incredibly flavorful - not too spicy but enough so to add interest. The sweet potatoes, stacked like Jenga blocks and topped with grilled microgreens and just enough habanero aoli, are a great side dish. Food is always promptly served, hot, very fresh and delicious, and the dishes are all great for sharing. We are anxiously awaiting the return of spring weather and the opening of the outdoor dining area at Mesa Loca. Great addition to Hyde...