Mexican Table — Restaurant in Hockessin, Delaware

HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT

I am editing my review of this restaurant from a few years ago. In that review, I gave it 5 stars. Despite a few unpleasant experiences with one of the managers, the outstanding good will of the other managers, the presence of Mauricio, the bartender, and a delicious menu with great specials brought us back time and again. That review is below.

NOW We finally settled on Tuesday evenings, in no small measure because it's the day off of the manager at issue. We go every Tuesday, and always sit at the bar, where we have great camaraderie with Mauricio and other guests at the bar.

On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, we arrived at the bar area of Mexican Table at 7:52 p.m. According to the sign in the window, the hours on Tuesday are 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The bar was relatively full, with only four seats available, two near the door (it was very cold that evening, so no one wanted to sit there) and two near the kitchen area. We proceeded to the two seats nearest the kitchen, and the manager, whom we didn't expect to be there, walked up to us, said "We're closed," turned around and walked back to the kitchen area.

She gave no explanation, no excuse, no apology -- nothing. I've never experienced this before -- a restaurant, whose business is hospitality, turning away customers with no explanation.

I've learned that we're not the only ones who won't go to the restaurant when this manager is working, and it's unfortunate. This is a nice restaurant with loyal patrons and many great employees, but it's sad that one disagreeable manager can discourage people from being return customers.

Previous review:

It's NOT what you expect from a restaurant that looks like a hundred other Mexican restaurants. Food is spectacular, with specials that change about every months. Wonderful soups, as well as salads with Mexican ingredients that we gringos might not have experience with. Highly...

As soon as you come in, you are expected to know you have a 1.5 hour time limit to eat, especially if you didn't make a reservation ahead of time. Owner stares and checks constantly that you and server are keeping with the pace to be out of there quick. We do love their nachos, queso, and quesadillas, but desserts are odd and don't taste very good at all. Prices are expensive, especially if you want queso for more than 2 people. A tiny side bowl of queso for $5. $15 for more queso to go, but I would expect to get at least SOME chips with it. Had to question why I wouldn't get any chips with the queso, since the server and owner said queso dip doesn't come with chips at all. When I looked shocked in disbelief, the owner decided to give us a 1 small bag of chips with the huge $15 queso. Spent $90 for our dinner, but felt rushed and not welcome at all. Owners and server were stand offish and not nice. Makes the environment super uncomfortable when they stare at you and rush you for the 1.5 time limit. We spent less than an hour there, never felt welcome, and were quick to want to leave. Check was given immediately and no dessert offered. On the way out of restaurant, we could hear the female owner talking loudly on phone about making a reservation for 15 minutes from then. Why is that fine, but we can't dine in and spend $100 if we are there willing to be customers? Love some of their food, but won't be back again...

When we walked in there was nobody at the front counter. We waited 5 minutes or more to be greeted. The hostess asked us how many? We replied 3. She then asked if we had a reservation. We walked in about 7:15 or 7:30 and by that time they were only 1/2 full and it only got more sparse as the evening went on. The waiter brought us chips and salsa after only 5 minutes or so seated. It appeared as though they had changed brands of both. These new chips were thick and a bit tough, not thin and crispy. The salsa was bland, much like pureed tomatoes with no chunks of vegetables and had very little flavor. We each ordered enchiladas, one of us ordered them with green sauce, the other with red sauce and I ordered mole sauce. When our order came there were 2 with red sauce and one mole. When we mentioned it the waiter apologized and broght a bowl of green sauce. The two orders with red sauce were very dry. They looked as though they had been pre made and refrigerated for a lengthy time, thus drying them out. The order with mole was good. The drinks had very little ice floating on top and were only 2/3 full when brought to the table. Refills were not full either. Had this been our first visit to Mexican Table it would be our last!! But since we have been there many, many times my hope is that this review will assist the owners in improving their, greeting, drinks, chips, salsa, service and...