Pancheros Mexican Grill - Coralville — Restaurant in Coralville

I have visited this particular location a few times when visiting the Iowa City/Coralville area. I have usually had positive experiences when dining here and I would like to have provided a better review after my most recent visit this weekend. My grievances related to this review are not because I thought the food was bad or was of poor quality. My low rating is related to perceived poor food handler hygienic and food safety practices.

Upon approaching the ordering counter, I observed the handwashing sink next to the food preparation line was potentially unusable because an employee had placed a box of food handler’s gloves in the sink. This is a sink where food handlers should be washing their hands. The individuals preparing my food were wearing gloves (as they should be), but food handling gloves can be easily contaminated if an employee does not first wash their hands prior to putting on gloves. I’m sure there was another handwashing sink in the back kitchen area which employees could have used; however, handwashing sinks need to be conveniently located and accessible to promote food handlers to wash their hands frequently and when needed. If a food handler has to leave the food prep line to walk to the back kitchen area to use another hand sink they may pass up instances where they need to wash their hands because it is inconvenient to use a hand sink which is further away, especially if the store is busy.

My order was taken and made quickly and I had no issues with the flavor or quality of my food. I enjoyed my meal, just like the many other times I have visited this location in the past.

After eating my meal I waited in line to use the restroom. I had to wait because the restroom was occupied by one of the store’s food handlers. I had previously observed this individual assembling food orders when I ordered my own meal. Upon entering the restroom, I noticed that the hand sink was completely dry. My perceived thoughts at this point is “did this food employee even wash their hands after using the restroom?” Perhaps the food worker thought they would just wash their hands in one of the hand sinks in the kitchen area before returning to food preparation duties; however, as a customer what assurance do I have that this individual did wash their hands (either in the restroom or the food preparation area)?

My confidence in the ability for employees to wash their hands appropriately, and when needed, was already in question based upon my previous perceptions and observations when I first approached the ordering counter and noticed the hand sink there was not readily useable because of the box of gloves being placed in it. My confidence was further diminished after the food employee exited the restroom and returned to food preparation without possibly washing their hands; after all, the only hand washing sink I could readily see in the food prep area was not easily accessible for use.

I do admit, I have no concrete evidence the employee using the restroom did not wash their hands before returning to preparing food; however, perception of wrongdoing can be damaging to an establishment’s reputation. I have worked as a food safety professional for nearly 20 years, and I understand the importance of handwashing as it relates to risk reduction and the prevention of possible foodborne illness. Food service workers are required to wash their hands after using the restroom, and before putting on gloves to prepare an individual’s food. I am also certain other customers are wise enough to know and understand the importance hand washing plays in the role of food safety and food preparation.

I will likely give this location another chance, but I do hope that management will continue to educate employees about, and stress, the importance of proper hand washing. I also hope that individual employees will hold each other accountable when, and if, they observe their co-workers engaging in poor food handling and food...

This was my 1st time to ever eat in a Pancheo, I was taken by a friend who couldn't believe I hadn't ever been there. When we walked in we were greeted by 2 very welcoming employees. The food looked fresh and smelled great. My friend decided to order for me and them himself. Enjoying the company of my dinner guest and the 2 employees preparing our food we all were laughing and visiting. But that all changed when a man came around the corner and started to flip my quesadilla and turned to us and said what was that noise. We all begin to look around wondering what he was hearing that we didn't notice. Then when we explain the we never heard anything he said I'm talking about your laugh. I then explained that the four of us had been discussing all of the additions made to the burrito by my friend and teasing him for putting so much on one sandwich. Then to top the uncomfortable way he asked that question he then took it to a level no one would ever be prepared for when he said ,"no I mean the noise you made, not what you were talking about" at that point I was totally confused and responded with the only noise other than teasing my dinner partner was me laughing at him trying to fit all those sides on one burrito. Then he said no that wasn't a laugh, he then said "was that racist" I asked what he was talking about. He then said my laugh sounded like I was making monkey sounds, and again asked me if I was a racist, I was appalled and have never been treated this way before in my life. By the way the two employees preparing our food in the beginning we're both minorities and were very pleasant from the moment we entered the store until we were treated as 2nd class citizens buy the third employee that came around the corner. Both my friend and myself was shocked and so we're the 2 employees who were laughing with us, as they both turned to him just as confused as we were. Unfortunately I will say this was the first and last visit to any Pancheros restaurant I will ever make. I believe the employee is a presentation of the business and I hope to never be made to feel that way again in my lifetime. When I walked out without my food I called the store spoke to the assistant manager Mike about the circumstances he apologized for the incident. I then asked what the manager's name was and he told me the general manager name was Stacy. I asked him to store number and he told me it was store number 60 this is in Coralville Iowa. I've never left a negative review on any restaurant or any other place of business until now. I hope no one else will ever have to know what it feels like to be treated that way buy another person let alone someone preparing your meal because nothing will take your appetite...

My wife and I go inside to order, short line, and order within a minute of walking in. I order chicken tacos - my wife a cheese quesadilla. I watch as the lady with the scoop of chicken makes sure one at a time diced chicken falls onto the soft taco laying on the counter - in total about 5 pieces of chicken land on my taco, goes onto the next soft taco and does the same. I stand there in amazement that she makes sure each 1 inch of the soft taco has exactly 1 piece of diced chicken. Proceeds to pass it down for the toppings. My taco ends up being about 90% flour tortilla and toppings. God forbid you give the customer value for what they order - seems like pancheros has gone the way of subway - 90% filler, 10% actual meat. My wife as mentioned above orders the cheese quesadilla. We checkout at the cashier with our order and sit down. My wife’s quesadilla is entirely unmelted cheese - like if you threw it on the skillet for a few seconds a side. So between the extremely skimpy chicken tacos and unmelted cheese quesadilla - very poor...