El Rodeo | Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Durham

I was so disappointed with my service last night! I love this restaurant and frequent the location off of 15-501. Last night was my first time trying the N. Duke street location.

Upon arrival our waitress greeted us and was very friendly! She asked me and my friend if we want a drink. I asked for a Texas Margarita. She did not know what that was, i tried to explain what i was talking about by using my hands to describe the size. At the other location, i tell them a Texas margarita, they ask me the flavor, and if i want salt or sugar.....it’s never a guess game of what I’m talking about.

When it was time to order food, along with verbally saying it i pointed to what i wanted. I stated I wanted one Chimichanga with shrimp, extra sour cream. She came back and let me know I get a side with that, i said Oo! Because i did not read that on the back of the menu under A la Carte, from which i ordered from. Well since the chimichanga doesn’t come with rice on the inside, which i thought was weird, o told her to please make that my side. After she left the manager comes and ask me is it ok that it is an extra $5 for shrimp. I said that’s fine because i can’t eat any other meat. The way she explained it made me think there is an up charge like any restaurant when you substitute one meat for another, especially shrimp. I said it was fine.

When i received my food there were two Chimichangas which was a whole separate price. I let my waitress, who i later found out was new, that i only asked for one. She kept trying to say i had to get two with the meal, but in the back of the menu there was an option for one or two. I said i know you are new and i don’t want to make you nervous or be mean to you so please get your manager. The manager was so rude and nasty! I replayed the whole situation for her but she kept opening the menu to tell me what they gave me! What they gave me is not what i ordered. I explained and my friend explained how i never initially asked for a side (which seemed to be the argument of why i knew i was getting the complete meal) the NEW WAITRESS came back and told me I got a side. She then, she being the manager, insulted me by saying “it clearly says here that you get ..........”. Clearly the new waitress did not understand my order and rather than just apologizing she kept insisting it was my fault.

I sent the extra chimichanga back, because I NEVER ORDERED IT, and that was the first thing out my mouth when the lady brought it. She did give me the “lunch price” but that was about a $5 dollar difference of what i originally thought i was paying. I left feeling cheated and insulted. I will never ever go back to that location. I have never experienced a manager so unpleasant...

I’ve been going to the various El Rodeo branches since I was a child over 30 years ago and went to the original Chapel Hill location. I went on an elementary school field trip and tried one of the teacher’s mole poblano and it blew my mind.

Throughout high school and college and then whenever I would visit my family in NC I would make sure to go to the branch across University Drive from South Square Mall, the one in downtown Durham, and (more recently) the one on Westgate Drive. I always either get Tacos a la Diabla (steak and slightly spicy chorizo tacos), mole poblano, or shrimp cocktail. It has been remarkably consistent over the years—until now.

Coming to Chapel Hill for a week to visit family I was bummed to find out the Westgate location had closed and the only one left was a 25 minute drive from my parents house in north Durham close to where Duke St intersects with Roxboro road. We got enchiladas chipotle (horrible), tacos a la Diablo (mine— pretty good but so much drier than usual), and quesadillas (not great). It was kind of a depressing experience.

Along with Neo China and Tandoor Indian Restaurant, El Rodeo is one of the restaurants that introduced me to international cuisine and I’ll always love it. There are many Mexican spots in the area that are much more authentic (including at least three close to this location on Roxboro Rd). Still, El Rodeo held a special place for me.

In short, this takeout meal was not pleasant and I doubt I’ll go out of my way to go unless for some reason I am already in north Durham while...

First and last time at this place. Party of 6, Ordered the shrimp soup plus 5 other items. The food took a long time. Server said it was because of the soup. An hour later the food comes out, the soup was the last item brought out and it was the wrong soup. I let the server know but she insisted it was right. I handed her the soup and said it was wrong. They brought out the seafood soup instead of the shrimp soup. Another food item was also cold. I asked for a manager. When the “manager” came to the table I asked explained that we waited over an hour for our food and the soup was the wrong one. The manager said the soup is made to order and takes 20mins. Then said the server is new and that the kitchen made the mix up. Nothing but excuses. I explained that the person who the soup was for is diabetic and now they had no food. The manager asked if we wanted to order something else. But we weren’t going to wait another hour after already waiting long enough. The “manager” did not even address the other issue of the cold food. Lost my appetite and didn’t finish my meal. Manager didn’t even come back to the table to check on us. The bill had a 10% discount for the inconvenience which was only $8 on a $160 bill, that’s not 10%. won’t...