La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Jacksonville

Editing 4-1-24 visit. I officially give up. I feel like I have given them a generous amount of times to get their act together and I have defended them for years but not anymore. This most recent visit was downright absurd. I'm sorry but if management (or other servers even) can't tell how utterly incompetent and unable to perform their duties an employee is then that right there is a problem in itself. I'm sorry but this girl we had serving us does not belong in that restaurant serving. End of story. no wonder there was only two or three other tables in the whole place and that's how it's been the last visits. With the place being completely empty it still took us forever to even be acknowledged and asked for drinks. Then after being asked three times if we were ready to order while we were still obviously looking at the menu she never came back and we had to wait forever to order. My food was wrong four times after that so I'm not sure that I need to continue on. I will not be back.

How about instead of thanking everybody for their wonderful experience you acknowledge the ones who had horrible experiences multiple times in a row? That would definitely exemplify much better service and management. I have spent hundreds of dollars there on horrible food and service and I just get ignored. Also defending you in food Community forums and friends and family only to be disappointed over and over to the point where it was so absurd I had to say I can't come back here and waste my money on this horrible service again. The food could have been okay but I'll never know

editing & updating.....AGAIN... we actually just went again a few days ago because the other two places we wanted to try were closed. The food was better in the weight was shorter but I'm still sad to see the decline. I stood in the doorway for at least 15 minutes while employees walked by me and even stood right next to me to bust a table before they acknowledged my existence. There's a few people there that are good at what they do and make you feel like coming back but overall I think they need to have a staff meeting. Well at least the food was better this time though because as you can see in my next sentence the last time we went it was extremely disappointing and I hadn't planned on going back for quite some time. I'm going to give them back the star I took away last time for now. they lost a star.. it has been consistently worse and tgecservice even more disappointing. This pains me.. I've defended this place so many times, but this was the 5th time. Ive given plenty of chances..

Not consistent but when its good, its one of...

I originally left 4 stars for this place years ago and after tonight I had to come back and say I received the worst service and experience EVER since moving to Jacksonville in 2016. Tonight our server (Nallaly at table A2) spoke ONE word to us "READY" when she came to greet our table and take our order. I ordered a meal by it's name and she opened the menu and looked for the number at our table then did the same to my daughter when she ordered. We then got our food without one word being said to us. I had to stop another server to ask for extra napkins and was told "she will be with you in a minute". 4 people had walked in during this time and none were greeted. THEY had to find someone to help. 2 other employees were working the register and bar bussing all while eating their own food at the bar then licking their fingers! Our server had a table of 4 friends come in and she was lively and attentive to them - EVEN ALLOWING ONE GIRL TO COME BEHIND THE BAR AND TEST HER MARGARITA WHILE SHE WAS MAKING IT! These are all huge health department violations. I had to twice ask for a box and our check because she was too occupied talking to her friends. The restaurant is a regular of ours both online and in person but after tonight I will NEVER again give my money or patronism to this establishment. I am disgusted at their lack of attention, customer service and cleanliness. I paid my bill and for the first time in my adult life I left without tipping!

In response to the owners question to this review: Why would I ask for the manager when this behavior is allowed when he/she is in the building and when I cannot even ask for napkins and a box...

I liked the La Nopalera in San Marco (outside of extremely slow service), but this Phillips highway location is not good. It's closer to my home, and I was hoping it would be like my experience at other locations.

I don't know if they just use cheaper ingredients, or if the cooks are not as good, but the food is not good at all. What's funny is, usually I add salt to Mexican food, because it's not something they tend to use a lot of. But this place has everything so salty that you can't stand it.

I was also a little weirded out that they had so much stuff piled up in their kitchen. I honestly don't know how they haven't been shut down by the health department or the fire department yet. Small businesses have a lot of difficulties with all the codes they have to meet, but I have known business owners who couldn't even open up their business for way smaller issues.

I happened to be sitting at the back near the kitchen, and all of the employees back there were complaining about their bosses (I think? A guy's name, Juan maybe, and a chick's name.)

Ooooohhh! Also, they don't actually give you BOGO Margaritas here anymore. They don't tell you until afterwards, and even then only if you complain. I'm pretty sure you still get BOGO Margaritas in San marco. Maybe this place isn't even part of the chain? I think businesses should have to advertise that...