Azteca D'Oro Mexican Restaurant Lake Nona — Restaurant in Florida

Disappointing Birthday & Mother’s Day Experience

We chose Azteca de Oro to celebrate a combined occasion—my birthday and Mother’s Day—with close friends and family. While the décor and ambiance initially impressed us, unfortunately, that ended up being the only positive part of our visit.

The service was extremely disappointing from the start. After ordering our drinks, it took nearly 20 minutes to receive them. To make matters worse, the rum that our server initially offered wasn’t even available, and we only found this out after another long wait. Everyone at the table had their drinks—except for my wife—so we waited for hers to arrive before continuing. It was an uncomfortable and avoidable delay.

While the food itself was good, the service did not match. The restaurant was not full—there were at least eight empty tables around us—so the slow service felt unjustified. Simple things, like offering more chips when we had none left to enjoy our guacamole, had to be specifically requested.

During one water refill, the waitress spilled water on the table, didn’t apologize, and left it for us to clean up ourselves. This level of disregard continued, culminating in the most upsetting part of the evening: during the birthday song, the waitress spilled a full glass of water on me. I kept my composure for the sake of my 7-year-old daughter, but instead of receiving help or even an apology, the staff laughed and kept singing like it was some sort of joke. It was humiliating.

We asked to speak to a manager and were met by Gianni Almeda, who approached us with a dismissive attitude that immediately made my wife, daughter, and guests uncomfortable. When I calmly tried to explain our concerns, he interrupted me to tell me that his dad had owned the restaurant for 55 years and that he “didn’t care.” He clapped mockingly and smiled as I spoke, which was incredibly disrespectful. My wife, who had stepped outside, came back in to address his behavior, only to be spoken to rudely by him as well.

It’s disheartening that someone representing the management would show such indifference and even hostility toward customers raising valid concerns. As long-time residents of Lake Nona, we’ve supported many local businesses—but we’ve never experienced something quite like this.

Because of this experience, we will not return to Azteca de Oro, nor will we recommend it to others. We intend to share this review on additional platforms and are also considering filing a formal complaint with the BBB.

This was meant to be a joyful evening, and it turned into a deeply disappointing and...

I recently visited Azteca, a Mexican restaurant that had garnered some positive reviews in my local area. Excited to try their renowned tacos, I entered with high expectations, only to have my hopes shattered and my appetite ruined by a shocking and revolting discovery: I found a plastic piece inside my taco! This incident was not only a colossal disappointment but also a matter of concern for the overall quality and hygiene standards maintained by Azteca.

First and foremost, finding a foreign object in a dish is completely unacceptable. It not only reflects the lack of attention to detail in the kitchen but also raises serious concerns about the safety of the food being served. The fact that such a blatant oversight occurred in a seemingly professional establishment like Azteca is both alarming and downright disrespectful to their customers.

The taste and texture of the taco were overshadowed by the horrifying encounter with the plastic piece. It left me questioning the cleanliness and overall hygiene practices employed by the restaurant. How can one trust a place that fails to ensure the basic quality of their ingredients and neglects to thoroughly inspect their dishes before serving them to unsuspecting patrons?

Furthermore, the response from the staff when I brought this issue to their attention was far from satisfactory. Instead of showing genuine concern, they appeared dismissive and apathetic. The lack of accountability and responsibility displayed by the management only worsened the already dreadful experience. It is disheartening to witness such a blatant disregard for customer satisfaction and safety.

Considering the multitude of options available for Mexican cuisine in the area, I strongly advise potential diners to steer clear of Azteca. A dining experience should be enjoyable, free from any distress or health hazards. Unfortunately, my encounter at this restaurant was nothing short of a nightmare.

In conclusion, my visit to Azteca was marred by the shocking discovery of a plastic piece in my taco, which exposed their poor quality control and questionable hygiene practices. The unimpressive response from the staff only added insult to injury. I strongly recommend avoiding this establishment, as there are countless other Mexican restaurants in the area that prioritize the well-being and satisfaction of...

The ambiance is nice but the food is subpar.

Visited for dinner on a Friday night and the place was packed. Definitely a go-to for many in the area. They offer valet parking, which is nice. But that also means if you opt to self-park you’ll be walking quite a bit from/to your car.

The outdoor space is ample and very nice. If you are sensitive to loud music, I would suggest you choose outdoor seating as the instruments for birthday celebrations and general love dedications are common and very loud. The music is nice, but may startle someone who isn’t used to the types of instruments used.

We waited about 30 minutes for a table, not bad for a Friday night. They take limited reservations and call ahead is not an option.

The indoor seating is very nice as well. Light fixtures and decor around the space really capture your attention. The lighting is quite dim. They feature great walls of bottles and a big selection of alcohol, especially tequila.

My husband, a margarita connoisseur, said there’s was pretty good and worth the price. I was shocked to find that a shot glass cost more than his mixed drink.

Our guests had a variety of items.

Elotes Mexicanos - the toppings were nice, but the corn itself tasted very bland. I’ve had much better Mexican corn elsewhere.

Shrimp Tacos - shrimp were cooked perfectly and had great flavor. The corn tortillas did not taste fresh.

Enchiladas a la crema - tasted good. Nothing stood out but they emerge good.

Overall, I would say this place is okay but extremely overpriced. I probably would only return for a drink, but likely would skip...