Catrinas Tacos & Tequilas — Restaurant in Independence

Catrinas Tacos & Tequilas Review

I’m very disappointed with our recent visit to Catrinas Tacos & Tequilas for my friend’s birthday. She spent two weeks trying to do the responsible thing and alert management about our large group of around 20 people. Even knowing reservations aren’t typical for many Mexican restaurants, she wanted to give them notice. Despite multiple calls, she got no clear answers or help at all.

When we arrived, the staff acted like our group was an inconvenience. There was no welcome or hospitality, just clear irritation. Our server, Mauricio, was especially rude and dismissive, which set the tone for the entire night. For a birthday dinner, it was embarrassing and disappointing.

The food was forgettable at best. It was not terrible, but it was bland and uninspired. Proteins lacked seasoning, sides were dry and flavorless, and presentation was sloppy. Nothing suggested pride in the kitchen’s work or any real effort to deliver a memorable meal. For the price point, it simply was not worth it.

The drinks were the only highlight. Cocktails were well made, balanced, and creative. The bar staff clearly knows their craft, which only made the poor quality of the food stand out even more.

The worst part of the evening was the handling of the bill. I fully expected automatic gratuity for such a large party, and that part was fair. What was completely unprofessional was the failure to communicate it. I didn’t see it clearly listed on the menu and no one mentioned it to us. On top of that, they simply kept the change without asking.

When I asked for my money back, I got attitude and condescension, as if I was wrong for wanting what was mine. That level of arrogance and disrespect is completely unacceptable in any restaurant, especially one charging these prices.

I’ve eaten here before but after this experience, I will not be returning. Treating customers—especially those bringing in a large party for a special occasion—with such disregard is unacceptable. I hope management takes this seriously and improves their communication, service, and respect for customers. Until then, I cannot recommend Catrinas Tacos & Tequilas to anyone planning a celebration or expecting even basic courtesy.

In response to the owner's reply:

The issue was never about how fast you set up the table. The real problem was the complete lack of communication in the two weeks before the event.

My friend called multiple times specifically because she knew you do not take reservations on weekends. She was not demanding one. She tried to be respectful by warning you about the large group so you would not be caught off guard. Instead, she got vague answers and no real plan, which left her stressed about even bringing us in.

You mention we had more guests than stated, but that is why she tried to confirm a number in advance. No one on your team would engage or offer a clear process.

Regarding the gratuity sign at the entrance, I do not doubt it exists. But relying on a single sign people might overlook when arriving for a celebration is not clear communication. A professional server would mention it when dropping the check. Instead, it was added with no explanation, and my request for change was met with attitude.

As for the kitchen, I am glad you take pride in your ingredients. But our experience did not reflect that. Our dishes were bland, under-seasoned, and sloppily presented. That may not be your usual standard, but it is what we were served.

The problem was not a 30-second delay at seating. It was the dismissive attitude throughout our visit, the failure to communicate clearly before and during the meal, and the disrespect shown when handling the bill.

I hope you actually use this feedback to improve how you handle large groups. They deserve better planning, better communication, and genuine...

11/3/24

Wife and I stopped in. We are young GenX. So I enjoyed the loud electronic music. Reminds me of the club that has a restaurant. ❤️

Oh you want to know about the food service and such? Oh sorry.

Service: I'd have to say I couldn't count how many people work there because there was that many. Many people will come and greet you. The manager, the waitress and hostess and.. well I don't know everyone's title.

Food: I got pollo asada. Comes with a - Flattened chicken breast and it great. Spanish rice was great. Mixed vegetables and was great! The street corn on the cob however. I'm used to that being cooked but then having turned over a flame. This was not. Didn't care of it much. I feel like it was missing another season on that corn? Also came with tortillas. Not sure why.

Salsa: I'm picky about salsa. It was good. Thick uh.. onions and such. I swear it may have mango? Maybe I'm crazy but if it do, then I liked it. I asked for hot salsa and they explained they have hot And choke you to death and I passed and just regular.

Chips: I'm picky about chips sorta. I prefer flower. But the corn chips was thick and hard. Wasn't bad at all. I was ok considering corn.

Alcohol: I know many people judge from alcohol. Sorry I didn't drink. But I did notice it's nothing cheap about it. Kinda expensive for me. When I seen $20/$40 I passed for frozen and other mixed.

The good: I enjoyed the electronic/club music. The art work and colors kept the place looking busy. Food was decent. I enjoyed the Dr pepper.

The weird: Not everyone enjoys a club music with no dance floor. The restroom for men has two stand up urinals with no wall or privacy. The booths are small. I'd say if you're a larger frame, the tables chairs looks great, but not wide enough for bigger people but it works.

The bad: At first you have no idea who's serving because so many people are coming to you. Took a while to order, then to pay took a while. Getting a refill was a bit longer then normal. Wife didn't care for the loud electronic music. It's not a place you want to take your older parents.

Final: I doubt I'll ever come back. They told me the drunk white people complained about the street corn on the cob over flame was disgusting. That's sad they changed and I asked if I asked for that they can't. Lunch cost me $47 and I got 2 meals with soda only and the experience was ok, I had fun until the family of 8 came in next to us.. But I don't...

I walked into Catrina’s alone on a cold Sunday night around 7PM not knowing what to expect but looking forward to a good bite to eat, and boy were my expectations more than met.

As I walked in I took into account 3 things almost immediately: One being just how clean the place was, I mean it was genuinely spotless and looked incredible. All of the employees were dressed sharp and professionally in their uniforms and finally, my mind was whisked away by fun and energetic dance music booming over the speakers but just at the right volume for the amount of guests that were in the restaurant.

I was sat almost immediately and greeted by Ingrid who was nothing short of kind and was an amazing server with a great professional attitude. I took her recommendation for the Jalisco Mule to which absolutely stunned me by how flavorful it was. It was cool crisp and refreshing with the notes of silver tequila shining through the juiciness and freshness of the ginger and herb.

The chips and salsa were also fantastic with the salsa having good amount of spiciness to it while also not forgoing the freshness of the tomatoes and a rich garlic flavor.

The absolute standout of the entire experience was the Quesabirria which from the first bite I forgot all of my worries in the world and was enveloped by the experience. The birria itself was incredibly tender and juicy while the consome only added to the experience. The onions were crisp and after a hit of some lime and some salsa verde I had indeed stumbled upon the Holy Grail itself. I substituted the refried beans for some extra rice which was just alright but not disappointing by any means.

This was genuinely some of the best Mexican food I’ve ever had and the fact that you can tell me how much love and pride has been put into the business only elevates it that much more. I’m not kidding, you can absolutely tell this is someone’s baby. I will 115% be back and I will be spreading the word as best as I can.

If you’re looking for a fun atmosphere with great food and friendly service, Catrina’s will fulfill all of those desires and then some. This would also be an excellent location for any sort of celebration with friends and family or even just a fun date.

Thank you again and I look forward to...