Uncle Julio's Orlando — Restaurant in Dr. Phillips

I want to mention, look at all my reviews, I am one of Google's Top Contributors, in terms of content and my reviews are mostly positive. The atmosphere/vibe of the place, an employee by the name of Gaby, and the chips and salsa is what earned this place two stars.

Service:

It all began when immediately upon arriving to get seated we were told there would be a two hour wait. When we looked around, the restaurant was clearly empty. Mind you, there were reservations slots on their site showing plenty of times available. We were told reservations made are NOT GUARANTEED and "doesn't really work." So keep that in mind when making a reservation. The excuse was that the kitchen was severely backed up, which is what was causing the delay. So we gave them the benefit of the doubt, and agreed to wait. I came back in to ask if we could order drinks at the bar, a very nice staff member, Gaby, had told us we could absolutely go there and even order food from the bar. So my partner and I agreed to do so. We ordered drinks and food and got our food in 20 minutes! We were shocked considering being told the cook time would be two hours! We felt racially profiled at that point, but we just sucked it up and decided to eat.

We paid our tab, took our food outside where we wanted to sit and then I decided I wanted to get one last drink. A female bartender comes up, tells us the bar is closed, but we could order shots, suddenly the male bartender (that helped us initially) comes out and serves someone mixed drinks to a couple right next to us! She asked if I closed my bar tab with the food I ordered earlier, so I told her I did, and she went to the male bartender and asked him in front of us if I paid my tab as if I was lying. At least be discreet and professional about it.

Food:

• I can only speak for the tacos *

After returning to the table outside to eat, that we had to sit ourselves when everyone else was seated (mind you), the food came out to be terrible, and trust me I am not a picky eater like that. The meat was cold, the beans seemed like they came from a can, the rice tasted like a batch from the day before, and the taco shells were extra greasy. No bueno.

This happened the night of Sept 14, 2024 around 1030pm, so this was a recent experience depending when you are reading this.

Moral of this story:

I honestly would not recommend this place at all (for tacos or if you want exceptional service). There are PLENTY of better Mexican spots with better food and service around this...

After a long day at Disney, our party of eight decided to eat at Uncle Julio’s. Our server, Gabby, was very nice and offered great service throughout the meal. When our food arrived, she noticed that two of our dishes — the skirt steak fajitas and the chicken and skirt steak fajitas — were not cooked to the requested medium rare. Gabby immediately flagged the issue herself, apologized, and offered to have them refired, which we greatly appreciated.

However, the experience quickly deteriorated when the food was returned to the table. The female manager and a male manager/food runner (with tattoos) brought the plates back, rudely pointed at the steaks, claimed they were medium rare (they were actually medium well, with no red or warmth inside), and essentially slammed the dishes onto the table without apology or concern. Their attitude was dismissive and disrespectful — as if to say, “this is what you get.” A simple apology or explanation (“this is our standard for medium rare”) would have sufficed.

Feeling uncomfortable, we asked to speak with someone. The male manager returned, he approached the table laughing and smiling, saying, “Who asked for me?” This further escalated the tension. My father requested to speak with him privately on the patio and explained why the situation was unacceptable. The male manager eventually returned to the table to apologize, but the manager quickly followed, interrupting by saying, “You wanted a manager? Well, here I am.”

When we calmly tried to explain our concerns about the rudeness and lack of hospitality, the female manager argued with us instead of listening, repeatedly interrupting everyone at the table. She claimed the food had been properly refired — but if that was true, it certainly wasn’t handled with care or sufficient time as it was returned in an instant of sending it back. At no point did she sincerely apologize or attempt to offer a solution, and the conversation became unproductive as she continued to argue with members of our family rather than taking accountability.

Recognizing that the situation was going nowhere, we requested the check and ended the discussion.

While Gabby truly deserves recognition for her professionalism and attention to detail, the rudeness and poor management by the female and male managers completely ruined what should have been a relaxing meal after a long day. We sincerely hope Uncle Julio’s addresses these hospitality issues...

I recently visited Uncle Julio’s with my boyfriend for a casual dinner, and overall, our experience was quite enjoyable thanks to the delicious food and the great service from our servers, Julio and Lulu. We opted for takeout but also wanted to enjoy a couple of drinks while we waited. The ambience was inviting and set a nice backdrop for our evening.

However, our experience took a concerning turn when the manager or supervisor approached Juan to scold him in front of us and other customers over an issue regarding a mixed berry margarita order. This interaction was unsettling for several reasons. First and foremost, the manager didn’t even acknowledge us with a greeting or a smile, which is standard in hospitality settings.

It would have been much more professional for her to address any concerns privately, perhaps by calling the bartender aside instead of creating an uncomfortable scene. I’m not sure if the mixed berry margarita isn’t on the menu or if there was a specific reason for the reprimand, but as a customer, witnessing this type of behavior towards an employee raises serious questions about the management style at Uncle Julio's.

It's essential for a restaurant to maintain a positive atmosphere not just for guests but for employees as well. Scolding staff in front of customers is unprofessional and can lead to a negative perception of the establishment. I believe this manager could benefit from some training in effective communication and leadership skills to ensure that staff feels supported rather than reprimanded in public.

In summary, while we thoroughly enjoyed the food and the friendly service from Julio and Lulu, the encounter with the manager left a sour note on our visit. I hope the owner takes this feedback into consideration for the overall improvement of the restaurant’s atmosphere. With some adjustments, Uncle Julio's can be not only a fantastic dining destination but also an...