Los Arcos — Restaurant in Gastonia

We had a really unfortunate experience at Los Arcos, which disappointed because it looked AWESOME! The short story is the staff was dismissive and almost rude at times, the bathrooms were very dirty, and we waited forever to be seated (after having a reservation) and for orders to be taken/for our food to arrive. Read on if you would like more details.

The first detail to know is that we were a party of 20, and I totally understand that that is a LARGE party to handle. We had a reservation for 7pm. We arrived at 6:40, with more people trickling in until around and just after 7. (But basically they knew we were there as of 6:40.) This is the first time I used the bathroom. 2 of the 3 stalls needed attention but the sink area wasn't bad. The paper towels also needed attention/refilling. When I came out I let the ladies at the front know the restroom needed some tlc. Every party of people continued to be sat while we waited. Once it was 7:05-7:10 we started getting very antsy. We had waited nearly 30 minutes, and now nearly 10 minutes past our reserved time while everyone else continued getting tables. How would room for 20 open when they had already sat at least 20 others in smaller groups? My husband went to the bar to get us a margarita and another friend went for beers. The beers were 2.50 each, she owed $5. She paid with a 20 and the bartender left with it. He came back for my husbands order and no change. After asking about the change they were rudely told "Yeah I'm getting it what do you want?" Not a big deal but it was our first negative encounter. The margerita was ALL ice and had maybe 3 sips for each of us (6 sips total) so that disappointed. I will post a pic of the margarita. We finally sat at 7:20 after the surprise guest of honor already arrived (and it somewhat ruined the surprise.) The outer edge of the restaurant is all booths. The center room where we sat is all tables. Instead of seating the other smaller parties in booths, that room was PACKED full and our group had to sit at 3 separated tables. It was just another thing that made me wonder why they sat everyone in the area with us instead of putting tables together for us differently and utilizing their booths. The staff seemed very harried and all over the place, very disorganized. As the night went on some drink orders never arrived, food arrived at different times (but better hot than not!) And bills got a little discombobulated. That's all an understandable part of being such a large group. When my son needed a diaper change just before food arrived I went to use the ladies room changing station. The bathroom had gotten much worse and there was vomit in the stall with the changing station. I took my infant out in the rain to change him in the car instead lol. After that happened my appetite was a bit lost. We asked the ladies up front for a to-go bag (so that I had a place for the diaper once changed in the car.) One girl ignored us and one said "ok just a minute" and then ignored us. I just went out and changed him. I let them know for a second time that the ladies room really needed attention. None of the women in our party went back to use the restroom after that, and I kept watching and never saw any staff head back there. (I could have missed it toward the end of dinner but by then that's too long to leave vomit in the bathroom, I'm sorry.) The shrimp (fajitas) were way over done but chicken and beef were good. We thought they were going to be red/green peppers but they seemed to be green peppers and large red chunky strips of tomatoes. If they were red peppers something was wrong with them...so I'm going to stick with the tomato theory. 🤞 The fajitas only come with 2 tortillas so be...

After experiencing a mid Mexican buffet a few weeks ago, I set out on a quest to find a GREAT Mexican buffet. Thankfully, my search didn't take long.

I was there to turn the key at 11 and was welcomed by a wonderful server and staff.

First stop, bathroom to peeps and wash my hands before lunch. Nice clean bathroom.

Checking out the buffet, there is a nice selection of Mexican food along with some "non Mexican." Large salad bar along with taco/taco bowl bar. Enchiladas, cheese quesadillas, chicken or beef with vegetables, skillet selection, and a chicken, vegetable, and queso mix. Rice, beans, guacamole, pico and much more. Chicken wings, fried shrimp, and a spaghetti dish among the less traditional fare in a Mexican restaurant.

As you can see from my photos, I had a little of almost everything. EVERYTHING tasted fresh, and nothing tasted canned or overly processed. The fact that they had guacamole and pico says a lot. Neither of those are quick to make, and guacamole isn't cheap. Beans and rice were nice, a very good standard rice and beans. Moist and good flavor. There was nothing that was bad. Chicken wings were moist, and pasta was actually pretty darn yummy. Enchiladas had a nice flavor. Not over powering nor underwhelming. I tried the green salsa which had a slight heat to it. Table chips and salsa were perfect as well. Great crisp in the chips and flavor with the salsa. They were useful for my pico and gauc which I took a hit of overtime I got a new...

Ate here 3 times. First 2 times food was good, service good. Kind of expensive for what you get, though. 3rd time (tonight) was disappointing. Ordered Pollo Napolitano, which the menu described as chicken breast stuffed with ham - and pictured like a Mexican version of Chicken Cordon Bleu. It was delivered as breaded, fried, sliced chicken lunchmeat, cut up, stacked and topped with sliced ham lunchmeat. The chicken was thin (lunchmeat) and overcooked so it was like leather. I was so disappointed! I told the waitress it was like leather and showed her so she took it away. I was too disappointed to eat anything else. I told her later the guacamole was good, though, so she offered to bring me more and I said yes, thanks. We were charged for the extra guac, but not the Pollo Napolitano. No one came to our table asking about why we sent the dish back, or offered any apologies or discussion about our experience at all. Seems like they've gone downhill since our last visits. I observed the other wait staff as mostly inattentive, maybe not enough of them. News channel was playing stressful things on the display above us. Not too pleasant atmosphere even though the place looks great inside and out. It doesn't measure up to its looks for the most part. Not sure if we will go back, too many other better restaurant choices...