El Jimador Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Clemson

This is a beautifully decorated restaurant with solid, gleaming wooden tables and chairs. Beautiful paintings on the walls and super clean. The staff was very friendly. Unfortunately, the food was not to our liking and seemed overpriced. I ordered a chicken quesadilla that cost almost ten dollars and was simply a folded over tortilla with some cheese and chicken inside, a side of chopped iceberg lettuce with a drizzle of sour cream. It didn't come with sides and was on the meal menu where it probably should just have been an a la cart item. The fajitas my husband ordered didn't come with tortillas, or they forgot to bring them, not sure, and he said it was just, "eh." We also had a strange experience and perhaps it's because they had new hires there (all the restaurants are struggling for help.) The server asked what we wanted to drink and I ordered a chardonnay. She looked at me blankly. I said, "Do you serve wine?" She said she didn't know and had to find out. She left and a minute later another server came over and asked what we wanted. I told him another person already had come to the table and he left, but then he was huddled, talking to the original server a table away. A third person came over and said, "I understand there's a special request for wine?" OMG I was getting embarrassed now. I said, "Do you have any white wines?" He asked what kind and I said, "Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio?" He said he'd have to find out and left. My husband said to me, "Stop sending people away!" (He was kidding, sort of.) The guy came back and said, "All we have is moscoto." I really am not picky, but I don't like sweet wines so I just said, "That's okay. How about a marguarita?" (Which I know is sweet, but one wouldn't kill me.)The relief on his face was obvious, and I felt bad because I wasn't trying to be difficult, I've always ordered a glass of wine at Mexican restaurants. He disappears and yet another server comes over. He said, "Would you like to order food?" (We were holding menus.) My husband said, "Yes," and the server mumbled, "I have to get something. " (Or he said he had to do something? Either way, he walked away.) At this point my husband and I are just staring at each other in disbelief. Yet another server comes over and asks if we would like more salsa and chips (which were delicious I will say!) and we said for sure. We didn't have any idea how long it would be for us to place an order and get food. That really didn't take long once someone took the order. Everyone was very nice there, it just was the strangest...

It was a nice evening. Perfect weather, so we sat outside. Immediately, a nice guy came out and took our drink order, and then a sweet lady came with a basket of chips and really good mild salsa. After asking her for a couple more minutes, she took our order. A couple more couples were seated as well as two families of four.

Food was being brought out to the other couples, then the families. Dessert brought to one person, then that family left. Another server stopped and asked if we had gotten our food or needed anything. The hubby said no food yet, but please, another cola. We confirmed what we ordered and he said it would be right out. Minutes later we rec'd our food. The Mexican Street Tacos we ordered with the steak (not ground beef) and flour (not corn) tortillas. They were seasoned perfectly and topped with diced white onions and fresh cilantro. Lime wedges were on the plate and you had a choice of beans or rice. Their refried beans were creamy and slightly seasoned. We also had a side of their corn salad. Love Mexican corn salad, a simple dish of kernel corn drizzled with mayonnaise, parmesan, and a dash of most likely, Tajín seasoning.

Not sure where the hiccup was with service, but the meal was definitely tasty and worth the wait. BTW, we never once inquired about the whereabouts of our food. It was the server bringing out food at the...

I have been working for Doordash as a delivery driver for several months now. I am a Top Dasher, and take pride in getting people their food quickly and efficiently. This restaurant is the only restaurant in Clemson that gives me problems. The owner is always very rude and seems to have a disdain for doordash drivers. For example, I arrived to pick up an order today and got their early (normally a good thing) but she seemed annoyed by it.

I waited until the order came out and thanked her for it and reached to grab the food bag as I always do. But she pulled it back and demanded that she has to put the food in my carry bag herself? Like okay sure, it’s weird but whatever. So she puts it in my bag, and then proceeds to look me in my face and threaten me by saying, “you realize that we get to leave reviews for you online. It lets me say how well you did”. I was taken aback and really had no idea how to respond.

Safe to say I won’t be delivering any more orders for her. I feel sorry for the staff because they all seem so nice but I can’t imagine what they have to put up with. Please consider going to one of the many other Mexican restaurants in Clemson! Monterrey’s is great and has a really friendly owner. Or there’s even...