Avila's El Ranchito — Restaurant in Lake Forest

Came here yesterday, and had an overall bad experience. I have been to the Avilas in San Clemente many, many times and the Newport Beach location several times, and always had good experiences. I thought this was a family owned company, so I expected the same quality of food and service from all locations, but turns out it's very different.

Waited 40 min for a table. Which was fine - it was Cinco De Mayo so I knew Mexican food places would be busy. Got sat at a dirty table. They didn't bother to clean up in between guests. My feet kept slipping around under the table because of the greasy food left all under the table. The table top was also all sticky. My friends also noticed and were grossed out. If you can't keep the dining area clean, how bad is your kitchen? Also, we were sat where there were animal heads mounted on the wall. Very unlike the vibe at their other locations. My friends and I found it pretty offensive. Strike 1.

I ordered a Banana margarita. Was told that they don't make those anymore. Yet it was on their menu still. Strike 2.

The chips and salsa were terrible. Chips had no flavor and the red soupy water they brought out with a few floating onions was unlike any salsa. Totally different quality than their beach locations. We pushed all the soupy red waters (sad excuse for salsa) to the outter side of table to be cleared out of the way, but our server never bothered to clear it. Strike 3.

I ordered Nachos, figuring I wouldn't notice the flavorless chips with the cheese and sour cream and guac on them. Took 20 min for my food to arrive and then there was hair in it. Even if it wasn't for the hair, I would have sent it back anyway. The whole bottom of the nachos were soaked in that red soupy water so they nachos were getting all soggy. I believe the menu said they would have rancheros sauce. This red water was nothing like rancheros sauce. Strike 4.

I asked them to please bring a 2 cheese enchillada plate (in the hopes of no more red soupy water, and hold the hair please.) You would think they would put a rush on this, since they had just served me nachos with hair, but no. I sat there for 30 minuted with no food while my friends finished up their food. I was just getting up to tell the server to cancel my order, since my friends were just finishing eating, when my food finally came. Strike 5.

My food again lacked flavor so I asked for a small side of pico and sour cream. They did bring 2 small sides. I took most of my food to-go since my friends were done eating and about ready to leave. Finally our server asked how we were doing and if we were needing anything. This would have been appreciated earlier on. Not right before you hand us our check. We could have used more drinks, but nobody stopped by and bothered to ask. I know they were busy, but for how expensive they are, the service should have been much better. Strike 6.

Got my bill and was so disappointed. They hadn't offered me any sort of discount for serving me hair, then making me wait for 30 min for new food to come out. I came here to eat with my friends and I just got to watch them eat. My food came at the end of the meal. At any decent establishment the manager would have come over to check on us after an incident like that, would have offered a discount or a free drink. But no, they did nothing. Then they charged me $5 extra for the tiny (not large) sides of pico and sour cream. Seriously?? I go to a nice mexican restaurant in San Clemente far superior to this one all the time, and they have NEVER charged me for a side of pico. When you are charging $20 for a plate of bland enchillads already, charging 2.50 for a small side of pico is just absurd. .50 cents would have been acceptable for a small side of pico, if they insist on nickle and diming customers who are already spending a lot. But after you serve someone hair, and then make the person wait another 30 min for clean food? Seriously? I hope their manager is aware how they have really dropped the ball with their service, atmosphere, and...

Came here for mother's day because my husband swears by how great the food is. FIRST and foremost, as I am a restaurant GM I understand how a busy restaurant can cause things to happen that under normal circumstances would not. First it took 40 mins to get our table, again not a problem, just be a little better about calling the people on your wait list instead of skipping them if you don't have direct line of sight. We get seated, and are immediately given chips and salsa. We wait another 20 mins and are greeted by a waiter who came to get our drink order. We ordered some guacamole for the table with no cheese. It of course had cheese when it arrived on the table. Again, not a problem my husband and my daughter got to enjoy the cheese topped guacamole and after they cleaned the top for me I was able to enjoy it with them. Finally our drinks come to the table minus my daughter's tea. Her tea was brought by the young man that delivered my husband and daughter's food. I waited about 8 more minutes when the young man arrived with my steak Baja bowl, only it wasn't even my food it was a chicken Baja bowl. The young man confused asked if I still wanted the steak.... now incredibly perturbed, and I responded with a yes. A steak Baja bowl with no cheese. 20 minutes after my husband and daughter's food was brought I finally get the food and find that they scraped the cheese out of a bowl and gave it to me.... I am incredibly disappointed and will not be back to any of their locations. Holiday or now, this is unacceptable. When we asked a young lady about my daughter's tea, she actually had the audacity to say, "I'm not your server" and then my server actually told me not to post this because it was busy!!! ARE YOU SERIOUSLY GOING TO TELL ME I CAN NOT POST THIS!?!? BECAUSE YOU WERE BUSY? It's not even that busy!! We were walked right past 5 open tables. Yes it's dinner time and more people are arriving. This was completely unacceptable behavior. When I asked for a manager the man said he would fix the check if I didn't post this. Needless to say I paid full price for our dinner. As did the table next to us when they were told that even though it was printed on the menu that kids eat free, they would have to pay for the child with them because it's...

I've been going here for years. This place *use to be good (the spot for great Mexican food & dining!)

However, now it's a disappointment. Staff is mediocre. Hostess was tired, didn't say a single word while seating us (rude). We were then seated directly in front of the kitchen where we had the pleasure of watching all the servers bicker and squabble with each other.

Tall Large hispanic female vs. Tall redhead caucasian female server. Total fight night!(Redhead caucasian was working well. Large hispanic woman was in the kitchen refusing to hand the food over. Worst!) I noticed food sitting on the counter for longer than it should.

All the other servers were mediocre standing around. Including our server! He was on a different planet ...

He didn't even get the order right, could barely understand the guy through his mumbling and the noisy atmosphere. We didn't bother getting the order corrected. Ceiling fan spinning 100 miles per hour, flies attacking our food, we just wanted OUT, as soon as possible.

*Chick tacos, Chicken enchiladas ... the chicken had a boiled dryness to it. No flavor. And I could make better rice at home.

Don't spend your money here.

I regret suggesting this place last night. Will not be returning.

For great Mexican food, go to the following: Taco Mesa Mission Viejo, Baja Fish Tacos Laguna Hills, or El Adobe...