Little Mexico — Restaurant in Jacksonville

Update: I deliberated for some time about posting this update, but if I can post when it's good, I should post when it's really, really bad.

I am replacing my 5 star review because this one incident was so, so terrible. I don't plan to go back for some time, but when and if I do, I will update accordingly.

We have eaten here literally dozens of times and always had a good experience, with the worst issue being the occasional jackhole customer. But that is unavoidable, at least in this town.

This time, I ordered a dish that is beef, chicken, and Shrimp. When it came out, it only had beef. I didn't complain at the time. It had been the longest wait I'd ever had there by far I was starving. So I let go.

However, my child pulled a large piece of metal out of her re-fried beans. It appeared to be "possibly" from a poorly opened can and was a shard about 1/2" long. The really frightening part being that she would never have noticed if she were just eating them with fork. She had been spreading them on a Tortilla and saw the shiny. Did she eat others before noticing that one? Hopefully, we will never know.

I also would not normally even have alerted the waiter. I personally usually suspect someone is just trying to sleaze a free meal when I hear them complaining about mysterious "things" in their food. We did alert him however as we worried some other child may not see the metal shards in their food and end up in the hospital or worse.

He was polite enough, though he went to the trouble to mention he had been there for months and had never had a complaint??? (Language barrier? No one else complained when they were served metal shards? that one will remain a mystery. )

We specifically mentioned that we just wanted to bring it to their attention. He came back and said (even though we requested no discount) they would still have to charge us for the meal, but he could give us 10% off.

So I guess I am to understand that Little Mexico's policy is: Regular food, full price. Food with Razor Sharp metal shards hidden in your child's re fried beans, 10% off.

I am so very, very disappointing with them, as I've championed them for years as the best Mexican restaurant for miles around. Hopefully, this was just my really, really bad luck and not a sign of the direction they are taking. All the same, I'd either go somewhere else, or pay very close attention to what's...

One word Review:- Frustratingly Slow Service Overshadows Tasty Treats at Little Mexico!

Taste - 3/5. Quantity - 5/5. Quality - 4/5. Value for Money: - 3/5. Service - 3/5. Hygiene - 5/5. Cleanliness - 5/5. Ambiance- 5/5. Overall- 3/5.

— This was my second visit to Little Mexico, seeking out their famous tacos. This time, I tried both dine-in and takeout options, hoping for a delicious and convenient experience. Unfortunately, slow service and unexpected issues took center stage, overshadowing the restaurant's positive aspects.

— Spacious Comfort, Slow Delivery: Upon arrival, I was impressed by the spacious and clean dining area. However, the initial excitement dwindled as the wait for service unfolded. With only two servers managing a busy lunch crowd, both the dine-in and takeout experiences suffered long wait times. My dine-in order took an unusually long time to arrive, and my takeout order was inexplicably forgotten for 20 minutes, leading to frustration and hunger pangs.

— Tasty Bites, But Not Worth the Wait: When the food finally arrived, the tacos did live up to their reputation. They were flavorful and satisfying, showcasing fresh ingredients and well-seasoned chicken meat. The fruit punch was also refreshing and enjoyable. However, the Pollo Con Aproz was overpowered by cheese, rendering it less enjoyable. Ultimately, the delicious food couldn't compensate for the lengthy wait times and service mishaps.

— Cleanliness & Ambiance: A Saving Grace:- On a positive note, the restaurant deserves praise for its cleanliness and pleasant ambiance. Both the dine-in and takeout areas were impeccably clean, creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. This aspect did contribute to the overall experience, even if it couldn't fully redeem the service issues.

— Costs are little expensive. However, the extra charges added to my takeout bill without explanation only added to the disappointment. They charged 2$ extra for my To-Go service. When I asked, I literally frustrated for the billing person smiling.

Overall: Potential Unfulfilled — Unfortunately, my experience at Little Mexico was a case of unfulfilled potential. While the food had its moments of deliciousness, and the ambiance was inviting, the slow and unreliable service, coupled with unexplained charges, significantly impacted my enjoyment.

Thank you...

First, I believe this is a decent restaurant that serves food I like. Tonight though, was I to break my habit of using silverware? A total of four servers were at our table from seating to the entree being in front of me. Really? I have to ask for utensils? Yep. Of course I just sat there, the waiters return trip to ask how everything was, my gf asked for silverware. After his trip to the back and dropping two bagged fork & knives on the table we each took a bite off the top, of cold food. I tried another piece because I thought, no way is it that cold. The look on the gf and I knew hers was cold too. I didn't want to eat what was supposed to be hot cold, so we asked for hot entrees. Our server acted as though he didn't understand what we were asking for. Another waiter translated, uh, perhaps. Mine came out the 2nd time with more stuff on it than it was originally served.?? It was better. Hers was good too however, barely above warm, and we managed. I am very familiar with the up charge for using a card for payment. It's ok, I understand, I do, we all still have options! At the register, I asked if the 3.0% service charge itemized in my before tax total was for using a card. The response was, yes. I said, "I will pay with cash." He gladly gets busy on the register and by removing the $1.38 before the tax service charge lowered my total bill $0.94. I spill more than that occasionally and I wouldn't hold up the nice folks behind me over it, but sitting at home now I just couldn't leave it be and sought a place to leave a review for a restaurant I eat at several times a month without complaint. I haven't paid a service charge I didn't expect since I paid for a wedding 32 years ago. Hey, ignore the lack of silverware, cold food that should be hot and four bits we had a delightful evening. I didn't get this far in life being stupid, I would appreciate more respect for my business and money. We still...