Escamilla Amigos — Restaurant in Groveland Township

Family had a late lunch after a small graduation. We chose the restaurant because it was Mexican and close to where we were. I was the first to arrive and was informed it was seat yourself so I sat at a large table. I was asked 3 different times by 3 different people if it was just me and I responded to each of them the same. The third person was our server. Why it wasn't the first person I'm not sure because they appeared to have the entire section we were in and to be friendlier & a MUCH better server. As soon as our server came to the table she appeared moody and brought a different vibe to the table. Apparently she's pregnant. Before she took our our order she asked how bills would be spilt. I don't remember if anyone's drink was refilled. She forgot 1 person's drink and we had to ask the other server. There were 2 baskets of chips & salsa brought to the table and once they were gone we were informed there were no refills. I purchased an extra basket of chips & salsa. When I asked if the paid chips were refillable, the server never came back with an answer. No free refillable, or even paid, chips & salsa at a Mexican is the first reason I would not return to this restaurant. Everyone appeared to enjoy their meal. The mild salsa still has a spice to it. The restaurant has more than Mexican food options on their menu. The lunch menu goes until 4pm. When the checks came there was a question about an extra $1.99 charge. Our server said it was a splitting fee and is stated on their menu. I thought it was due to separating the checks. The second reason I would not return to this restaurant. Later I found out it may have been a fee for 2 people sharing a meal, that wasn't available on the lunch menu. When our server was asked to see the menu, she stomped off to the other server then proceeded to talk about our table to her partner at the end of the bar. The third reason I would not return to this restaurant. The other server let us know, "Due in the world we live that is just the way things are." After this experience I will never choose, or encourage others, to eat here or at their other location in...

So disappointed in my experience with this longtime local eatery tonight. I placed a large carryout order for over $100, and the waitress failed to add a steak salad to the original order even though I had the entire order written down for her. She instead decided to rely on her memory. People make mistakes, no big deal.

When I called to explain the situation; however, the waitress told me the restaurant would still make me pay for the missing item because it never reached the back kitchen. Uhhhh....

Anyway, I had a hungry child to feed, so I went back for the 30 minute roundtrip to get the missing item. When I arrived for the order, the restaurant decided to give me half-off the salad. When I received the bill for my half ($6.52), I shook my head in disbelief and politely tried to give the waitress a simple life lesson in good business practices (even though it wasn't her awful decision) about making things right for good, loyal customers.

Well, brother, she wasn't having it. Instead she explained that she made a mistake (multiple times) and that's just the way it goes sometimes. The waitress asked if I ever made a mistake, and I emphatically concurred that I have on multiple occasions! I also explained to her that we take responsibility for our mistakes and make things right. Once again, not about her - about the restaurant she represents.

I certainly don't blame her; I blame the ownership/management who thought it was ok to waste a solid 45 minutes of a customer's family time, gas, and peaceful coexistence due to their business' mistake, and then to not make amends for it. I tried really hard to explain the principle of the situation and how it had nothing to do with the meaningless expense, but some people just have life figured out and are going to roll with what they know.

Good luck with that! I actually tipped her again, but just for one...

I have been searching out good Mexican food from Texas to California for years after my time south of the border in my youth. I have eaten at over 50 Mexican restaurants some good, some not so good. On a whim traveling through Ortonville Michigan I stopped here with my wife a few years ago. We still talk about how incredible it all was. It is a nice family run business, clean, pretty, and provided EXCELLENT service. But the food! It was the best Mexican restaurant I have EVER been to! We ordered a lot hoping one item would be good. We didn’t expect EVERYTHING would taste amazing!!! We ate ourselves into a food coma! Cleaned each plate! Our waitress who was incredibly friendly always refilled our freshly made warm chips without ever being asked. It would take two more pages to describe every dish, but take it from me it was unbelievably good! Mouth watering, freshly made, hot and spicy but there are so many dishes either really hot or mild so you are bound to find the perfect meal. As my wife and I approach retirement we often say, “could we live close to that restaurant in Michigan?” But for the service and quality and generous helpings of DELICIOUS food, I would drive several hours to go there again! Thank you to all who work here from the kitchen to grandpa upstairs on the back porch. This is without a doubt the BEST Mexican Restaurant in the entire...