Gallo's Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Fairbanks

UPDATE: In response to my previous review, Gallo's Mexican Restaurant in Fairbanks has apparently changed its policy of making customers pay an extra fee for using a credit card. The updated version of Gallo's website does NOT include any reference to charging a fee for using a credit card.

Recently, I was considering giving Gallo's another chance following several years since my last unpleasant experience there, which was the subject of a prior Yelp review I submitted. As I was reviewing the Gallo's website, I noticed a inconspicuous note at the bottom of the webpage that indicated Gallo's charges the customer a 3.9% surcharge for paying with a credit card. Yep, that's right -- this restaurant makes the customer pay to pay for its product. Why not just add a surcharge for electricity, and another for the propane used in the kitchen, and another for the heating fuel needed to heat the restaurant? The point is, overhead costs should be built into the price of the product. That goes for any business. Set your prices according to your business model, which obviously must account for business overhead. Do not add an extra charge to the cost of the product and pretend it is necessary for some sort of illusory convenience that the customer is receiving in addition to the actual product being purchased. Coincidentally, I also noticed the same 3.9% surcharge is added by Taco King. Upon further investigation, I discovered that Gallo's and Taco King are each owned 100% by an individual named Abraham Gallo. Neither of these places will be getting my business ever again.

P.S. As an aside, I own a business that receives an enormous portion of its revenue by way of credit card payments. Even if it were appropriate to penalize the customer by adding a credit card surcharge on top of the price of the service being provided to the customer, it is notable that the fees charged by the credit card processing company DO NOT EVEN APPROACH 3.9% of the amount of credit card payments processed. The cost of accepting credit card payments is significantly...

Have been here a total of 3 times in 3 years, and the last two times we severely regretted it...before my boyfriend got sick after eating there, I thought nothing of it because he has a sensitive stomach. The last time my friend and I went it was hard to get refills on drinks or even to order. My friend is a bigger girl and I noticed when we were walking to our table EMPLOYEES not just customers were mocking her and making disgusted faces. TOTALLY RUDE. I almost said something but didn't want my friend to be even more embarrassed. We sit down. The older waiter seemed impatient and like we were waisting his time. the only refill we did get of our drinks wasn't even what we ordered, it tasted like really strong kool-aid, couldn't even stomach it. we finally get our food and it was good! I ate my entire plate. probably because that was my first meal of the day. Then comes time to pay the bill. We told him at the beginning it was going to be seperate checks. he comes to give us our bill and it's one check. I ask nicely to have the check split, and he starts complaining saying it's too much work and we should just split it 50/50 because he doesn't remember who got what. (my friend ordered more expensive food and sides than I did so I was not going to split it 50/50) after arguing for a good 5 minutes we get our check split...and we leave. And I THOUGHT I was done with that meal... I thought wrong. About an hour or two after I got home BAM was throwing up every 30-60 minutes. I was seeing AND tasting my lunch again, approximately 5 more times. I call my friend to see if she got sick and she had explosive diarrhea. 2 times out of 3 coming home sick is enough for me to never go there again. FAIRBANKS BE WARNED. SHITTY FOOD, SHITTY SERVICE, And YOU WILL GET SICK!!! if you want good Mexican food taco king or...

First time visit. Walked in an hour before closing on a Saturday. Fairly empty, one or two other restaurant customers and a couple at the bar. Service was great. Quick and responsive with welcoming attitudes. 5 star so far. I order the ceviche appetizer. Great. Still a five star. I order the menu-labeled "New" Chile Verde Enchilidas. When my plate gets set in front of me, I chuckle out loud since I'm drawn to a couple of over ripe blackened avocado slices centered right on my plate. Huh? So I push those off my plate. Spanish rice was dry. I sample from various areas of serving, even dry throughout. Ehh... oh well, let's try the beans. Bland. Never had to season my own beans in a restaurant. Green enchilidas were okay but looked like they had been microwaved at some point. Anyone that's microwaved leftovers knows what that looks like. So not too happy with that plate. As a visitor to the area for next couple months i would have like to find my go-to place for Mexican food. This is not it.

Edit: Gave 3 stars since this visit may not represent them throughout the week. But if management reads these reviews, whoever worked the kitchen tonight...