La Mesa Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Lansing

Before I tell about how bad the food is here let me give a little background on myself.

I have been in culinary for about 10-12 years now. Working as a head chef or kitchen manager in all establishments. Nothing less then 3 and 4 star restaurants. This includes restaurants at 4-5 star lodges such as Keystone ski resorts. So I like to think I am a little experienced in the food industry

Now to the actual review!

We came in ordered food for my wife, kids, and myself. What we received was rubbery chicken and crusty dried out rice and beans. We were not even waiting a 5-10 minutes until our entire order was brought to the table. Chicken takes at the very least 6-7 minutes to fully cook. So this seemed a little impossible. The lettuce was browing, rice was dried out, and the beans well you could take a pinch of the beans (I literally did infront of the manager) and it crumbled like powder. All signs of being reheated and cooked in a microwave.

I asked for the manager and asked a simple question which turned out into the manager fighting for himself. I asked him how old the food was and pointed out it looks smells and tastes like it was cooked in the microwave. In return the manager did NOT deny it. Instead he admitted the rice and beans were cooked early in the morning and reheated in a microwave.

With my experience in food business, any restaurant worth their salt makes these side dishes alone fresh each shift. A shift being for lunch and for dinner. The manager then continued on telling me this is how jose peppers does their food and he knew the owners personally. First and foremost I'm not going to a fast food mexican "restaurant". I am going to La Mesa as it is a legitimate restaurant who claim to serve fresh food.

For 30 minutes the manager kept trying to explain how food is suppose to be re-heated in the microwave... Sad. I was very nice and told him we will not back and I wished the best for his business. Still as I was walking out the guy would not stop explaining himself.

Both the La Mesa's in Saint Joseph and Omaha serve great fresh food.

If you the manager read this please remember how these sides should be served. You use a steamer! Not a microwave. Any chef or even cook knows you do not microwave food in a place of business.

Funniest part of all this about a minute before we received the food a friend texted us and told us to get out. We asked why later and she stated her and her family recently got FOOD POISONING after...

First Mexican Restaurant I've tried in the Leavenworth area and I am very underwhelmed.

First, I picked up on a little attitude from the hostess when we walked in. I chalked it up to her having a bad day and let that one slide. Minor down tick.

Second, the chips were average at best and the salsa was nearly tasteless. I did, however, like the fact that they give each diner their own bowl for salsa and provide a carafe for the table to refill your own dish. A down tick and an up tick.

Third, their take on tortilla soup. This was probably one of the worst that I've eaten. I don't know if they cooked the tortillas in the soup or if it just sat on the counter long enough for them to get soggy, but it made the entire soup taste like it was leftover from somebody else's bowl that they didn't finish. The soggy tortillas also make the soup taste stale. I recommend leaving the tortillas out of the soup while cooking it. Right before service, fry the tortillas and either provide them on the side for the customer to garnish their own soup, or place them on top of the soup. Another down tick.

Fourth, plates were hot, food was barely warm. Don't need to expand much here. Serve hot food!

Finally, service was terrible! Our waiter was very inattentive. He never brought the extra plate we requested so my wife and son could share their meal, didn't come by to check on us for drink refills, and never even bothered to bring us the check. Fed up with the food and service we got up and walked to the counter to request our check. I would be more understanding if the place was packed, but this seemed like an average night with less than average performance. Won't be going back to this one. I'll let you know how Tampico stacks up once we try.

Until...

Be careful if you have food allegies or don't like hostile order takers. Went for take out for a terminal elderly gentleman. It was what he wanted.

I ordered what I was told to order, he is a regularcustomer. The La Mesa guy taking the order argued. Evidently it is not on the weekend menu. I told him I needed the same items in a weekend available meal. He became obviously very angry. He argued and started throwing menus and order tablets around. This was obvious and I was upset by his obvious hostility.

I am allergic to pork, it makes me very ill and miserable. I ate there years ago, chicken tacos, and discovered they had lard (pork fat) in the flour tacos. I asked if they were still made with pork fat. La Mesa order taker said "No, you order chicken you get chicken". I asked he please double check with the cooks since the problem had previously been in the taco shells. Response was "No" and he wouldn't double check. Really?

How very, very rude. Asked the lady at check out when I paid for the meal the same question about the pork and she did check with the cooks. She said they don't always understand. Really? This is Kansas and I speak very clearly. Told her, and I mean it, that the attitude was not appreciated and they should have someone who does understand interacting with the customers. Their lack of caring should not be made my problem.

Didn't eat my part of the meal. I don't trust they didn't lie to me about the pork and I can't afford to be sick while taking care of my sick family, so I can't speak to the...