El Caporal Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Cle Elum

We live in Cle Elum and have been coming here for probably 15 years, at least. Always top quality mexican food, friendly, attentive service, and a great atmosphere. The last time we were in, the table next to us, in the dining room, were ordering some sort of desert drink "slammers".... The bartender serves these himself. There is a process that is so annoying it completely disrupts and shocks the entire restaurant. He slams the drink on the table 4 or 5 times each time hitting it harder and louder to mix the drink properly and obviously to get a lot of attention. We were so shocked and finally so annoyed after the 3rd one that we asked the owner if this was the customer doing this or the bartender. He gave us a very curt answer and implied that this is a party atmosphere and insinuated that we had to put up with it. It completely ruined our dining experience. Maybe we are just getting to be old fogies (really cool old fogies), but the entire restaurant, and it was full, would turn in shock and stare each time this happened. Our opinion is that this drink should be served only in the bar where, I guess, anything goes. Anything within reason. So...back to the food, service, decor, etc.....all this was overcome in a very negative way by this one activity along with the owner/managers attitude. We don't want to stop patronizing El Caporal, but if this happens again, we will ask the owner/manager to stop doing it. Hope this does not sound too harsh, but it is a family restaurant, at least in the dining room. Please stop serving slammers in the dining room. Thanks for taking the time...

While our food was fantastic, and our service was excellent.. I wanted my review to highlight the unfortunate kinds of 'industry integrity' required by the staff who was working that day. And similar scenarios that are forced to take place throughout the service industry.

A man was sitting across the restaurant from us, and toward the end of they and their partner's meals decided he liked one of the plants decorating the interior of the store enough to take it and make the newly uprooted foliage a permanent fixture in his own home. Whether that was acceptable was only inquired about upon their imminent departure. He made a point to invade the personal space of one of the staff as he was in the middle of assisting another set of guests seated behind my own table, insisting to the wait staff that "you're making a really good long term customer, here". Suggesting that if they really wanted to, they could call the cops.. like anyone calling police on a middle aged white male was ever going to do anything. And who wants a guest in their home who takes something that belongs to you with them every time they visit?

You shouldn't have had to deal with that, ever. We saw and sympathize.. and hope this 5 star gives you even a portion of the credit you deserve for being forced to put up with the stupidity and privilege that took place in your...

I was in town for business and tried this spot because of its reviews. I did not have high expectations going in; however, I was still disappointed.

I had a chicken burrito. The chicken was very chewy and dried out along the edges, indicating that it had been cooked in advance and reheated for my order. I could hear the microwave beep in the background as other orders were processed. I was hoping that a $15 chicken burrito would at least be cooked fresh.

In addition, I asked if anything that I ordered had bell pepper as I am allergic to it. I was told no; however, I am pretty sure that there was bell pepper in my rice.

The decor was typical and the benches in the booths were long since worn out and uncomfortable to sit on. The staff was friendly and attentive to drink refills, but apathetic. I was asked if I was enjoying my meal. I replied, unenthusiastically, that it was okay. There was no follow-up, nor did I expect one. I will not be returning, nor would I recommend this...