Mambo Seafood — Restaurant in Houston

Best michelada in town...eventually. The best word I can use for this trip to Mambo is disappointing. We stopped in for a long anticipated meal, one of our first since the stay at home order was lifted. When we arrived, we were seated immediately, so that was nice. We sat for about ten minutes before anyone visited our table for a drink order. Our first round was a little slow, but not too bad. Our server was nice and seemed to be in good spirits. From there, everything seemed to grind to a halt. We ordered popcorn shrimp for our little one, and a shrimp cocktail for my girlfriend and I. The kids meal took about 20 minutes to reach the table. The shrimp cocktail, made of mostly ketchup and very little pico arrived about 15 minutes after that. We had to request crackers, as the appetizer itself was dropped off without a word. Our drinks were empty, but no one seemed to notice or care. We finished the mediocre mess without drinks, as we were extremely hungry. A different server took our drink and entrée order about 25 minutes after the appetizer was dropped off. Approximately 10 minutes after that, our original server showed up again and asked to take our order. We told her that another server had taken out order, and that was the last time we ever saw her,except for when she passed by to attend to other tables. This is where things get very frustrating. I ordered the redfish filets in tomato garlic sauce. My girlfriend tried to order redfish filets from the "fresh seafood market". We were told that she could not get the filets, that they only had whole snapper. We didn't understand this, since the menu seemed to imply that her fish would be cut to order. Again, the server insisted that filets were unavailable, but whole fish was. We were given the option of paying for a whole fish, but only receiving the filets. At $36 with no sides, (the redfish filets I was able to order with sides was less than $20) this didn't seem like the best thing to do. So the fresh seafood market is using prepackaged filets? If they weren't available, and they refused to cut to order as implied, that must be the case. Which leads me to my dish. I highly doubt what I received was redfish. It had the taste and texture of tilapia. So maybe they didn't have redfish filets at all. My beautiful girlfriend decided on the salmon instead, and found it to be very well prepared. The major complaint with the entrees, was the rice. The world famous Mombo's shrimp fried rice was less than spectacular. It seemed old. It had the look and taste of fried rice that had been stored in the fridge overnight and reheated. It was greasy and not very flavorful. We ordered another round about halfway through our meal with yet a different server. 15 minutes after we finished, we still hadn't received them. I had to go and find the hostess to track them down. 10 minutes after that, we were served the wrong drink order. We did finally get what we ordered, and the margarita was pretty good. Of course the boxing up, check and payment process took much longer than it should have. What started as a quick stop for dinner, eventually took more than 2 hours to complete a dinner...

I used to frequent the North Freeway location when I worked out there a few years ago and it was great. I had always driven past this location and wondered if it was as good as the one I used to go to. So, finally, after some years I gave it a shot.

In sum: It is absolutely terrible and I have some serious concerns about how they possibly view certain customers of a certain background such as myself. The explanation follows. It's important to read this.

I ordered a Calamari appetizer, 1/2 lbs fried shrimp and the shrimp fried rice which I remembered fondly. I had instructed the waitress that due to religious restrictions I can not eat pork, so to please make extra sure that attention is paid to the fact that I ordered SHRIMP fried rice. I don't know how much more you can emphasize that.

The calamari was extremely cold, hard and FISHY as was the fried shrimp. I could tell it had been sitting for a long time. I've never had calamari that smelled and tasted like it came out of an aquarium.

The SHRIMP fried rice came with shrimp and LOADED with tiny bits of pork sprinkled throughout. It wasn't an accidental piece that found it's way in there. It was literally teeming with little pork bits. What is interesting is that this is not even an option on their menu! Someone intentionally mixed pork throughout the rice. The only way you could get this is if you specially requested "Please put pork in my shrimp fried rice". It's just not on the menu. That's interesting considering that I specifically emphasized that I can NOT eat pork. You judge what was going on here.

When I told the waitress, she seemed completely unconcerned and took the plate and said she'd be back. She came back and asked, "Do you want another one?" I said, "No. I'd just like to leave. Please bring me the check." She brought the check and they removed the fried rice. To me, that's no big favor that they didn't charge for trying to feed me pork and sending me home hungry.

I went and talked to the manager and she said, "Yeah I know about that. It was a mistake." Not ONCE did she say sorry or even implicitly apologize. I remained polite but stunned and finally, hoping she would at least say sorry, I said, "I'm sorry but I will not be back." I kid you not, she literally snickered! I left extremely disappointed and sad that the Southwest location is run and staffed by such insensitive people who care so little for their customers of different...

I called to place a to-go order. I spoke with a young lady who said her name was “Rosa.” I first ordered the Salmon “plater” something that I’ve ordered before from this same place. They always ask me would you like it Zarandeado or Grilled. Even on the menu it says that & explains the difference. “Rosa” did not ask me & just said is there anything else. The problem is the person requesting this dish likes it Grilled & well done. We have gotten it before & it’s been pink in the middle & it was thrown in the trash.

I tell her can I get the salmon grilled not zarandeado. Rosa tells me “it’s the same thing” (at this point she had an attitude) I JUST WANTED MY FOOD MADE RIGHT! I said if it’s the same thing then why do they give me an option between grilled or zarandeado? I just want to make sure it’s well done & it’s not pink in the middle. Rosa says ok grilled & I’ll tell them you want it well done. So I keep ordering thinking maybe it’s a small mis communication. & it will be smooth sailing from here on out.

Wrong! At one point I order a cóctel de camarón she asks regular or large. I say small (it’s just a habit even at Starbucks I say small). So she repeats regular or large. I say small again because she has an attitude STILL & I don’t apréciate how this whole phone conversation is going. She is very rude, also it’s not my fault she does not know how to CORRECTLY take to-go orders! People like this give restaurants and customer service a bad name.

So to continue she decides to say large. So because I say small she wants to go the extra mile to spite me and say large! When she doesn’t even know the difference between grilled or zarandeado salmon at a restaurant that she works at. She thinks it’s the “same thing!” I say no I did not say large. She says ok small. She tells me the total & hangs up. Now I’ve worked at customs service jobs before, I know first hand that its not easy. (This is the only reason I didn’t ask to speak to a manager) I know how frustrating it can be. I’ve been to this restaurant many times to point that I can tell you I’ve seen “Rosa” here I know that not that long ago she was pregnant. It’s always hit or miss here with the service but after this I have to give them this rating. Please do better! But this is the last time I order...