Locales Taco + Tequila Bar — Restaurant in Denver

So I come here often as a resident of the neighborhood and today was a really disappointing experience. I went up to order at the actual literal second of 6pm as happy hour was ending and was only seconds late because of the party before me wouldn't step aside from in font of the ordering space in time (with two bartenders on and an uncrowded bar no less) I order two double shots of well tequila which are 2-4-1 during happy hour. I received my bill after ordering the shots and was charged $14 for each well tequila shot (also unmeasured so no way to determine actual amounts) and I mentioned something to the bartender working. I said that it was 6:00:30 (30 seconds into the minute of 6pm) and I asked why I didn't get happy hour pricing. He said there was nothing he could do because their system doesn't allow them to ring it in after a certain moment. Cool - totally get that with POS programming and I can't argue that.. However my major issue and more than likely why I won't be coming back at least on their shifts was I was like "yo so you could've a) let me know before pouring the price would be different" or b) when I asked to speak to a manager about either an industry discount (I'm also in service) or some other form of consolation due to the lack of communication/transparency and the discrepancy in price, it was rebutted with extreme rudeness. He said he was the manager and could do nothing about it; So it's off putting to know that if there is an error in items charged or any other mistake due to human error that either the manager on shift is not allowed to correct mistakes or doesn't care to. Been coming there for at least two years and I'm bummed out because now moving forward it definitely forces me to deter myself and others from going there, which was a 3-4x weekly...

There is a large difference between appreciation and appropriation of a culture; unfortunately, Locales does the latter.

First, the most important thing in a restaurant—the food. It is blatantly obvious that there is no soul connection to Mexican cuisine at this establishment. The tortillas tasted like Mission brand from the grocery store, the chips were stale, and the taco fillings and salsas were bland. I hate to admit that Denver often lacks in the Mexican food department, with the exceptions of La Abeja, La Diabla, and La Lotería and many food trucks like La Reyna del Sur and Maíz, but this has to be the worst offering of so-called ‘Mexican’ food I have ever experienced.

Normally I would feel guilty for skewering a new business. However, there doesn’t appear to be a cultural connection to Mexico, former Mexican territories in the current U.S. Southwest, or any Latin diaspora beyond the desire to make a buck. This is simply not your culture to appropriate for a profit. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

If I am correct, however, there is no right to use Día de los Muertos or Catholic imagery in your decor. Día is a deeply spiritual and centuries-old tradition with indigenous roots, while Catholicism persists in Latin America as evidence of a complex colonial history. What Locales is doing is equal to someone not of Indian heritage opening a restaurant with a watered-down version of Indian food and decorated with Hindu gods.

I think of all the marginalized communities who lack the resources to open a place that would genuinely share their cultures with the people of Denver, and I grieve that they are pushed out by ventures...

I have NEVER in my life left a review on a business. However, after half a dozen visits to Locales, I am compelled to say: the food is AWFUL.

Truly, eat before coming. It’s not worth it. I have had tacos, a chipotle chicken salad, jalapeno poppers, a quesadilla, and nachos and they were all truly so flavorless, drenched in grease, had terrible MOUTH TEXTURE, and just genuinely so so so bad.

I wanted so badly to like the food here because the vibes are great, the drink menu is solid, the servers and bar tenders are all wonderful, friendly people, and I love the full calendar of events – all the makings of a great neighborhood spot!

I’m honestly easy to please, I like almost any kind of food – fancy food, bar food, asian, mexican. And yet Locales can’t even manage a palatable $4 taco.

So, to the owner and/or GM of Locales, I emphatically beg you – end it. End it now.

Unless you do a complete overhaul, I will never eat your food again. Please, just STOP offering food. Instead, consider this business proposal:

Reduce to an appetizer-only menu and allow outside food to be brought in. You are located next to a plethora of actually incredible mom-and-pop restaurants (and Ideal Market’s hot bar). Embody the name LOCALES and become a hub for local eats.

What an incredible community partnership this could be! And of course the improved overhead costs in your own kitchen. HELLO???

Genuinely, all my love to the staff at Locales. I’m posting this on all review platforms because I’m truly, truly rooting for your bosses to right...