Te Deseo — Restaurant in Dallas

The security staff here is lazy.

I was a customer here every weekend for months and now I am not.

P.S. How do so many people know who the manager is in these reviews when I wasn't even allowed to talk to him at a critical time of need?

Here’s my story: Me: (Minding my own business spending 95% of the night sitting on chairs looking at my phone because I am new to Dallas and don’t know anyone yet.) Bouncer: “You match the description of someone who was recording videos of people. I am kicking you out.” Me: (Confused and flabbergasted) “You have the wrong guy. Can you please look at my phone. You, or someone who works here, can look through my phone as much as you like and you will see I have recorded no videos.” Bouncer: “I don’t care. Other people described a guy who looks like you.” Me: “Looking like someone is not always the same as actually being the person. Can I please speak with your manager and they can look at my phone. I guarantee that after two minutes you will realize you need to keep looking because there are no videos on my phone from here.” Bouncer: “No, I am not going to let you talk to my manager. You are leaving.” Me: “I don’t want to be permanently banned from my favorite bar for something I didn’t do. Can someone from the staff or your manager please look at my phone. You can look at my phone as long as you like so you will know I am innocent.” Bouncer: “The night is just ending early for you. You will not be banned. I know this sucks, but it is no big deal.” (The bouncer lied) Me: (I decide not to keep trying to see the manager since I was told I will not be banned long-term and the night is just ending early). Me: (Next day I try to get tacos and I get stopped by the blond haired doorman bouncer) Bouncer: “I cannot let you in here. We aren’t feeling it after what you did.” Me: “I did nothing. I tried to get the other bouncer to review my phone so I could prove I did nothing. I just sat on the couch for 95% of the night and didn't interact with any other people. He said I was not going to be banned. The night was just going to end early. Can I please talk to the manager about this.” Bouncer: “Nope. Manager is busy. We aren’t feeling it. Go somewhere else.”

Summary: I was a customer for months and now Te Deseo is losing revenue from me because the bouncer kicked out the wrong guy. He was too lazy to keep looking for the actual perpetrator and review evidence for TWO minutes that would easily prove my innocence.

I was also publicly humiliated in front of several dozen people for doing something I didn't do.

There was no concern for accuracy by the bouncer to make sure the right person was...

If I could give this restaurant less than zero stars, I would. Our experience was nothing short of disastrous from start to finish.

We had a 6:45 PM reservation, well before the peak dinner rush on a Saturday. Upon arrival, we were informed that our table wasn’t ready because the previous party was still paying their bill. Fair enough—we were told it would be 10–15 minutes. However, after one drink at the bar, I asked for an update and was then told the kitchen was “backed up” and it would be another 30 minutes. Keep in mind, the restaurant opens at 5 PM, and they had only seated their first round of reservations. How can the kitchen already be overwhelmed? By this time, it was 40 minutes past our reservation, and we had tickets to a comedy show at 8 PM.

Trying to stay patient, we asked the hostess if we could sit at one of the five empty tables near the bar due to our time constraint. Instead of accommodating us, they seated our group of four at a small two-top table. Again, we kept our composure, paid our bar tab, and moved to this less-than-ideal seating arrangement.

Once seated, we immediately placed our dinner order, hoping the food would come out quickly. Another 30–40 minutes passed with no food. We repeatedly asked our waiter for an update, and after another 10 minutes with no resolution, we decided to cancel our order since we were now at risk of missing our show.

What happened next was shocking. Instead of apologizing or attempting to make the situation right, the waiter had the audacity to bring us a bill for the drinks we’d ordered while waiting at the table—even though we had already paid a tab for our first round of drinks and queso at the bar. When we raised the issue, the waiter called over the manager, who—astonishingly—needed us to explain the situation from the beginning. Shouldn’t a manager be aware of how their customers are being treated?

After over an hour of waiting, we left the restaurant having eaten nothing but queso. The lack of professionalism, accountability, or basic courtesy from the staff and management was appalling. Even as we walked out, we overheard another group behind us complaining of the exact same issues.

This was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. The staff and manager showed zero remorse and made no effort to rectify their mistakes. They didn’t even offer to refund our first check. I will never return, and I would urge others to avoid this poorly run...

UPDATE 8/29/24 To Robert, the GM at Te Deseo. I appreciate you for reaching out and correcting our bad experience and making it a wonderful one. The food was absolutely delicious, although I didn't get my skull yet, I will definitely be returning again. Christian, our waiter was superb this go around. If you haven't been, it's definitely a must. Thank you, Te Deseo **UPDATE

*UPDATE 8/3/24 I have personally spoken with the GM, and he offered to make it right. He has invited me and my guest for a night out. He was really nice and apologized for the horrible experience. He sounded very sincere, and I will take him up on his offer soon. I will update then and do a whole new review.

UPDATE!! AS OF 7/26/24 Be AWARE Keep your receipt because if your server is Christan, he will update your tip without your consent. I don't have my receipt anymore, but I will be disputing the charge and calling since I left my contact information and no one has called me from their relations department yet. You give bad service, you get the tip you deserve, not what YOU want to give yourself. *

This was our first time here, the ambiance was nice, the food was great, my drink Deseama was wonderful. Now, the waiter Christian lacked customer service. When we walked in for our reservation, we had to wait a few minutes, so we went to the bar, grabbed one drink, and our table was ready. Waiter never asked for our drink, I had to ask for a drink. We ordered our food and fajitas, and we had to ask for tortillas because it didn't come with the plate. He said tranquila the kitchen is getting them ready. I'm thinking wow the food is going to get cold before they come out."" Finally, they came. He never really checked on us, never asked if I wanted another drink, never refilled the soda on the table, and we had to ask for that as well. We wanted dessert, but he seemed to rush to worry about anything we needed, so we didn't ask for anything. He brought the tab and no pen, not even a thank you, just gave me my tab and walked away. What could have been a great first experience was definitely not. It left a bad taste, to say the least. I doubt I return, I had been so anxious to check this place out and finally had the chance for service to ruin our...