Puerto Vallarta Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Council Bluffs

WOW, where to begin! We have eaten here several times in the past and although the service was usually lacking the food and atmosphere were good enough to warrant return visits. Today was the worst I have ever seen this place and we will never go back again. They have changed the reception area so that if there isn't a hostess, which there wasn't, you can be completely ignored. I waited for 5 min. with out even an acknowledgement that I was there even though at least 2 servers looked right at me. I was the only one in line to be seated until a larger group came in and was mistaken for being with that group. It was explained to me that they were running behind and would I please have some patients with them. Not a problem for me. Our order was taken and at that time we were told that the machine that makes the chips was broken and that perk was not available at that time. disappointed but sometimes things happen. I ordered the Flaming Cheese Fajita, she got beans, rice, tortillas and Guacamole dip. We both had soda. My dinner with drink was $17. Hers was $12.50...... really, for beans, rice, dip and a soda. I might add that you get every thing she had with the meal I had ordered, the only difference being that I got meat with mine and I'm not sure what the flaming part was but the plate was so hot the bottom of my food was burnt, black and hard burnt. All of this was on top of, and I'm not sure if he was an owner or manager or just another server, not ours, but he was having a problem with another table and I could not hear the complaints from the customers but the server was being very loud and rude to them about the complaints and was complaining loudly about them as he walked through the room. At one time he explained that he nothing better to do then to make them happy. Again we will...

3rd time eating here and it will be the last. The first 2 times we ate here there were no problems. Food was good, service was good, my girlfriend was thoroughly impressed with the margaritas. Prices were great with the amount of food we got and it came out steaming hot. Our 3rd time was horrendous. Took almost 10 minutes to be seated when there was only 2 tables occupied in the whole restaurant. My main problem is with our waiter, santiago I believe his name was. First, charged us for 3 meals when all we wanted was a simple substitution on my girlfriend's meal. He said he understood that, obviously he didn't. That's not what I have a problem with, my problem is I don't like being taken advantage of. Or thieves. Our check totalled $31.02. I gave a $3.00 tip, due to poor service and quality of food. Total w/ tip it was $34.02. Later that night when I was checking my emails, I came across an email from my bank posting about the transaction like it always does when I use my card. But it wasn't $34.02 as it should of been, it read $39.02. He changed the tip and total I wrote down to give himself an $8 tip. $5 may not mean a whole lot to most, but I am not wealthy and I work hard for every cent I get. I cannot stand, nor tolerate a thief. I hope management reads this and sees that due to Mr. Santiago's audacity and greed, lost 2 good and decent patrons who had nothing but high praise about their restaurant. Over $5. Sad and upsetting because we really enjoyed your place. Do better please.

Before anyone brings up a race issue, I am Native American. We hate...

This place is very small, about 12 tables total over in west Council Bluffs. I really enjoyed that it was obviously owned by a family that seemed to run it without any other help.

I went around 4:30 on a Thursday and I was the only table.

Starting with their house salsa and chips, the salsa was somewhere around a medium heat. I prefer mild, but the flavor was great. I got the regular queso dip and a large guacamole as well. Queso was a bit more spicy than I expected. The guacamole was almost creamy.

I ordered my go-to favorite dish on pretty much any menu. The Carne Asada. Their steak was the standard thin cut, possibly flat iron steak. Not enough marbling for it to have been skirt steak. Very strong flavor that was spiced just right. I never get beans, but their Mexican rice was perfect. I always mix guacamole in with the rice and eat it with each bite of meat.

I very much enjoyed that they do grilled sliced sweet onions with their asada. Usually most places do a couple green onions and a grilled jalapeño. The menu said it should have come with Pico and sour cream which were missing. I am okay with no sour cream. But usually I enjoy mixing the Pico into the rice and guacamole.

All in all it was...