Taqueria Downtown Catering Co — Restaurant in Jersey City

Had lunch there today and had a deeply disappointing experience. We took the outside seating they offered us and were brought outside to a table for two which had no umbrella to shield us from the sun. We also had a two year old, for whom they brought a high chair and sat her on the outside of the table. Within minutes, she was completely exposed to the direct strength of the sun and was turning red due to overheating. Her mother asked if we could move one of the umbrellas closer to our table so the baby could have some shade. They told us that they couldn’t move the umbrellas but never gave a reason why. We then asked if we could move our table back just a bit so we could be under the shade of the nearest umbrella. After explaining that we needed the shade for the baby, they relented and allowed us to reposition. We had to move our own drinks while they moved the table and chairs. After a few moments, someone came over and told us that we couldn’t stay there, that we couldn’t have the table in that spot. We explained our situation once again and explained the fact that we didn’t move the furniture, our waiter did so because we needed the shade for the baby. She left and came back and said that we could stay there. Then a different woman came back and said that we couldn’t have our table, that we needed to move the table back. Again, we explained why we needed the shade and that we didn’t move the furniture ourselves but that our waiter moved us and someone else told us that we could stay there. We asked this second woman if we could move an umbrella closer to where they seemed to want the table and she said no without giving a reason. When we asked to be seated inside because the baby was rapidly overheating, she acted as if this was a huge inconvenience and said she’d have to see if they had anything open. She left and came back and we were shown to a table inside. The seats were filthy, the table was right under the AC, which was turned up way too high and the music was so loud we could barely hear each other across the table. We got hit with flying ice, which no one explained or apologized for. And the entire time, instead of showing concern for the safety of the baby, they acted like the most important thing was the positioning of the tables. No one ever came and gave us an explanation or offered to compensate us for so many interruptions to our meal. The sad thing is...the food wasn’t bad at all. But the service was so bad, I won’t be going back. It was an incredibly disappointing experience. Nothing is worth being...

This is very disappointing, however I have to write this poor review. They discriminate against disabled people. I have a ADA Certified medical service dog, a small one, that I had with me while I was walking home from work. I stopped in to make a quick order to-go. The woman quickly and rudely told me I couldn't be in there with my dog and they would not serve me. When I told her he was a service animal, she didn't even ask for his card and rudely told me to leave. When I offered to show her his service dog papers (which by law I do not have to do) they said they didn't care and wouldn't serve me. I became very upset that I was being blatantly discriminated against and I again stated that he is a federally certified service animal. I said this was discrimination and again they said they didn't care. So I called the police to file a complaint. They DEMANDED I wait for the police outside in the freezing cold and snow. When the police officer showed up, I showed him the certification and he told them that it was valid and that under the law the had to serve me. The manager Gisselle then told the police officer no.... Even after the officer told the manager, Gisselle, that she doesn't understand the ADA federal law regarding service animals, she continued with her claim that the only people protected under the act are BLIND PEOPLE, again the officer told her this is false. He asked her for the owners name and number. She refused to give us the owners name (apparently at the owners request) until finally the officer told her she HAS to give us their names and information. The owner refused to give his phone number. THen I was threatened with them filing a complaint on me. When the police officer asked "for what?!" they had no answer. To The staff at this place is incredibly ignorant, rude and disrespectful. I will NEVER order from Taqueria, not this one nor the one on Grand street. The owners of this place have trained their staff to discriminate against people with disabilities and to be disrespectful and...

Overall: I don't really have complaints about the food or drinks besides the drink menu being quite basic. If you don't want a margarita, Mexican beer or sangeria, you're stuck with soda/water. However, the chicken soup and tamales are always my favorite.

So why 3 stars you may be asking. It can't just be the drinks. You're correct; it's not. It comes solely from the very young, immature, unprofessional young girls they keep at the front... The "greeters". Unless the policy is the greet with attitude, total bias and then nonsense BS sarcastic innocence and apologies when called out, THEN YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE! It's happened several times! A continuous behavior. I walk in, you're running your mouth but I wait patiently. Another couple walks in well after we've been standing then. All of a sudden, your conversation ceases and you look directly at them to seat them ahead of us 🤔. Sorry not today. Then you get an attitude when you're are corrected! Then while seating us, gets another attitude because I requested she didn't sit is directly in the sun!

Isolated incident... Nope! A worse situation happened months earlier with an entirely different hostess. Then that girl lied as well like I'm dumb but was totally caught in her lie that her open handwriting and notes on the waitlist confirmed. That day was my husband's birthday and we came to celebrate so I promptly handled the situation with a manager. But our night was already ruined.

The point I'm trying to make is, if those females are the first face your customers see and ultimately the face of your restaurant, they need to get it together. No matter what kind of restaurant I'm walking into from Mickey D's to Ruth Chris....a certain level of decency and quality customer service is expected and required. No one wants to pay for garbage, be it the attitude or food. If as a customer, I'm expected to not be an ass; those getting paid to serve me should lead the way. Good luck to the regulars, I don't think...