La Fogata Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Cleveland

In a culinary landscape where appearances often deceive, La Fogata Mexican Restaurant stands as a prime example. Tucked away from prying eyes, this dining establishment challenges even the most eagle-eyed food enthusiasts to discover its location. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I ventured into this mysterious eatery, only to be greeted by an eerie sight – a virtually deserted dining room. Yet, paradoxically, an army of servers bustled about, their energetic movements contrasting starkly with the void of patrons.

In a twist that left me perplexed, an abundance of servers failed to prevent my drink from lapsing into emptiness throughout my meal. As I delved into my chosen dish, the notorious 'Papa Loca,' my taste buds were met with disappointment. A supposedly simple baked potato, adorned with either steak or chicken, sour cream, and cheese sauce, proved to be a letdown of epic proportions. The potato, far from fresh, bore the telltale signs of aging – wrinkled skin and a transformation from baked to boiled. The once hearty core had surrendered to time, its transformation to a brown and unyielding mass a testament to neglect.

Not even my loving wife's selection, the potato-stuffed enchiladas with rice, escaped unscathed. While the enchiladas danced upon her palate in a symphony of flavors, the rice – an unwitting victim of overcooking – straddled the precipice of becoming mere mush.

As the meal unfolded, a haunting suspicion began to take root. Could La Fogata's missteps stem from an ambitious expectation of high-volume traffic? Is their kitchen caught in a time warp, churning out surplus sustenance in anticipation of ravenous crowds that have yet to materialize? It is with a heavy heart that I ponder this question, wondering if the heart of the issue lies in their persistence to serve well beyond the prime of their creations.

In conclusion, La Fogata Mexican Restaurant offers a glimpse into a culinary world of promise, but its potential remains shrouded in the shadows of questionable practices. Until the day arrives when fresh fare takes precedence over pre-cooked convenience, I shall abstain from revisiting this enigmatic establishment. In the labyrinth of eateries, may you find sustenance worthy of both your curiosity and...

This is based on 2 visits.

1. A waitress should notice if your drinking glass is low or empty and offer a refill. Not just stop by and ask if you need something. I am usually talking or in deep thought and may not notice my glass is almost empty. So both times we went we did not get a refills offered. The 2nd visit we got ignored so there was no one to ask.
2. Many people really enjoy the white cheese sauce at a Mexican restaurant and more is always better. If my dish lists it as one of the ingredients I want plenty of it. We had to complain the first time that my son’s chicken and rice was dry to get more. The 2nd visit I didn’t want to be charged for extra cheese sauce again but my fajita nachos chips were mostly dry chips except for ones on top. When I said something to the waitress she said they use a measured amount for each dish. Well if you’re going to be stingy with the queso I am going somewhere else to eat. Also I specifically asked for a small shrimp portion of fajita nachos which on menu gave you a choice of steak chicken or shrimp. It said $7.99 for small and about $10.99 for large with shrimp being around $12.99 or $13.99. The waitress didn’t say we don’t have that a small portion of that. I received a small plate portion while my husband received a full order of some other nachos on a large platter. I counted 5 shrimp. Fajitas should have grilled vegetables that are browned. My peppers onions and tomatoes appeared to be steamed because they had no brown on them at all. Sautéing veggies makes them have a better flavor. So that was not good. The worst part was they charged me full price for a dish that had 5 shrimp, lousy flavor and almost no queso so I ate dry chips. When I complained at the cash register about the high price I was told that there is no small portion of shrimp fajita nachos on menu. So apparently that’s what $13.00 gets you there: 5 shrimp...

I want to start by saying that the staff has been nothing but kind at this restaurant. My group used to regularly attend El Maguey (the sister company), and we have found this place to be much quieter and better with service. My issue is with the owners of this company.

Earlier this year, March 23rd, my wife accidentally left her purse at the restaurant. I went back the next day to retrieve the purse and found that all the cash in the purse had been taken (around $200). While all the personal belongings were there, and the cards had not been accessed, the cash was definitely gone. I immediately talked to the manager about this issue that night (March 24th). She reassured me that she would contact the business owner and request that the camera footage be pulled to figure out who might have been responsible. Once we had video evidence, we could talk about getting the cash back. She told me to check back in a couple days.

A couple days later, I called in and asked if there was any update. The manager informed me that she had been unable to get in contact with the owner. Again, I was told to check in later. In short, I have checked back in every week on the status of my request to try to get my cash back. After now 6 times of being told that the owner was unreachable and has not looked at any of the camera footage, I am starting to give up hope of ever getting the cash back.

So, I am writing this one-star review in hopes to reach the owners of the company, and to warn others to keep track of your belongings/cash here. It would appear that if you lose it here, there is no getting it back...

Update 6/22: I discussed this issue once more this month with the manager, Grace, and she has updated me that the situation is now completely out of her hands. It's now been 3 months since the incident, and I have received no communication from the owners either independently or via...