Hacienda Vieja — Restaurant in Grimes

Went here for the first time a couple nights ago and will probably be my last. Service, if you can call it that, was extremely poor. The staff was made up of about a dozen highschool kids who would rather sit behind the bar chatting rather than do their job. No attentiveness to refills, seeing how the food was, or if we needed anything. Our drink order was taken by one person, food by another, food was brought out by another, drink refills by someone else, etc. When we did need something we had to grab someone.

When the bill came they did not ask if we wanted to split (two clearly different couples), we gave a card to one person, and then a completely different kid came and gave it back just setting it on the table saying nothing and walked away.

Food was mediocre at best, there are much better mexican joints around the DSM area than this (Guadalajara in Ankeny by 1000000%). My fiance has also been sick since we have came here, which could be unrelated, but I also felt like garbage shortly after eating here as well.

Atmosphere was fine, the place seemed new and updated, but definitely did not feel like authentic mexican. It was also very loud, to the point it was difficult hearing the person across the table from you. I am in my late 20s and have no hearing problems that I know of, but still had to practically yell across the table to talk to someone.

Overall, this place had the lowest tier service, mid tier food at best, and was nothing special. I would recommend getting new wait staff/hosts instead of hiring half of the newest highschool class. I am typically easy to please, generally tipping ~20% for average service, but this place I was inclined to leave nothing, which is more than our waiter/s? (again, he was too busy talking to other staff so we had...

This place was odd. We walked in, four teenager workers are chatting around the host stand. They disperse but it kind of immediately felt like no one was in charge. We are brought to a dirty table which the host has us stand by while she cleans it (this was 4:30pm, only a handful of tables are even in use). Our server greets us, we ask if there is a drink menu. She gets us one and gives us waters. Since this is clearly trying to be a step up from the usual Mexican restaurant with the decor, the drink menu was underwhelming..basically beers and a few drinks (no list of tequilas or specialty items like a jalapeno marg or the like). We order a beer and margarita. When those arrive we ask about chips and salsa, which all other tables have but ours. Server brings salsa, queso and chips. The queso is a nice touch. The margarita (ordered like on the rocks) was orange flavored water that didn't seem to have much, if any, tequila...total disappointment. The salsa is bloody Mary mix with onion in it. It was not good. Jarred salsa is better. We order, our food comes it is hot and good. No complaints. Little generic and could use more umph but it was fine. We did ask for the hot salsa which was MUCH better than the regular salsa. It wasn't hot at all but had actually flavor, that should be there regular salsa!! The atmosphere, food and service where just a mismatch. Service was good and the food was fine but the atmosphere didn't match. I dunno we would probably try again but there are enough negatives that I doubt we...

We have been on a long search in the DSM area to find a Mexican restaurant serving food in the style we have learned to call Mexican. Several times we have come close, or thought we had, only to be disappointed and dejected upon subsequent visits to learn that they just had a very few of the attributes and flavors we desired. Now jaded after innumerable dinners, we think we can assess the desirability of a Mexican restaurant in just one visit. We went to Hacienda Vieja, the old farm house or ranch, and tried them out. Some good things. A unique and spicy hot house salsa that took a meal to grow on me. Complementary corn chips came with their house salsa and warm queso. The house margaritas were large although they were priced large too. They had reasonable prices on their entree’s, drinks and ala carte items, which is saying a lot in today’s restaurant scene. The decor is modern-Mex, sophisticated and not the stereotypical garish furnishings and artwork one finds at nearly all traditional Mexican restaurants. That alone was refreshing, and appealing. The service was just OK, but in fairness we interacted with just two people, who may have been having an off night. The food was also not totally traditional Mexican fare (although the names were) which can be good or bad. I kinda liked their take on a few items, but it is my personal taste. We’ll likely give them another visit before casting them a good dining option or...