Mariscos La Hacienda — Restaurant in Corning

I've been here twice and both times had mixed feelings about this place. The first time my parents and I visited, we asked for salsa because they gave us ceviche with chips. The ceviche was fine but my mom doesn't care for shrimp. Not only did they NOT tell us we had to pay for it, but it was literally the ceviche prep minus the shrimp and lemon juice! No flavor whatsoever, just plain tomatoes, cucumbers and onions. The main food was good so we figured we'd give it another try...just went there with my family of 5 last night and service was awful. They did have REAL salsa this time but I guess you only get 2 bowls (but it can be a combination of salsa and ceviche) because the waitress said, "We charge on the 3rd bowl." Fine, no big deal, just a heads up for future groups. The food arrived pretty quickly but on 2 or 3 trips. 3 of us ordered fajitas and it took over 5 minutes to get out tortillas. She asked if anyone needed refills and then disappeared for another 10 or so minutes. But the part that really bothered me is their pricing. 2 of us ordered the "Beef or Chicken with Shrimp" fajitas, marked 13.99 in the menu. When the bill came it was $32 for those two items. We asked the waitress for clarification, and all she said (verbatim) was, "I don't know I'm just a waitress," before storming off. She didn't offer to see our check or ask us to clarify, she didn't check a menu, or get a supervisor. We went to the front and asked another lady how much the fajitas were. She said she didn't know. She checked the computer and said our bill was correct. I asked if the price was pre or post-tax because it doesn't add up (31.98 divided by 2 comes out to 15.99 each). We then grabbed a menu and showed her. We eventually paid the correct price is 13.99 but they almost seemed upset at us for no reason. We weren't rude or anything but it was as if we were a burden for pointing out (politely, I might add) their own contradictions. I know 2 bucks isn't a lot (4 if you count the two orders) but that could have gone towards her tip. Not to mention if other customers aren't paying attention to the bill, they're potentially scamming dozens of people per day.

So long story short, food is good but...

No bueno, slow, the server/busgirl had no personality. Had the 3 fish taco appetizer. Fish was, seemed deep fried from a package. The taco I tried to eat was encased by a partially hard corn tortilla, the fish had zero flavor and mayonnaise (not appetizing) was, I guess, the sauce? Toppings to cover the fish, large pieces of iceberg lettuce, 2 slices of cucumber and 1 slice of tomato. Could have diced up the tomato & cucumber added a little cilantro and lime juice. Not a fresh slice of lime on the plate any where. Here's a hint, use fresh fish and make a fresh lime cilantro sauce and soft corn tortillas, smiling staff, and a little faster service at lunch time would be helpful. Most likely...

The food just isn’t great. The menu is too large, and as a result, nothing feels well-executed. I’d suggest focusing on fewer options with bolder flavors and fresher ingredients. Right now, it all feels kind of bland.

I keep coming back because I see potential (and they have a bar), but I’ve never had a truly good meal here. It honestly feels like the chef or owner has lost their passion. This place would be a perfect candidate for a Hell’s Kitchen makeover—no joke.

There’s so much potential! The service is good, and the staff is friendly, but the restaurant itself could use some updates, and the food seriously...