Las Trancas — Restaurant in Las Cruces

Las Trancas! Hell to the no. ¡Qué bárbaro!

During our recent trip to NM, we stayed in Las Cruces (thanks to its proximity to El Paso and White Sands NM. During our travels, we look for local jewels rather than chain restaurants. This one was highly rated, so off we went.

Thanks to COVID, we only dine outdoors and frequently do take out. I ask a healthy amount of questions, too, hey, is your fish fresh or frozen? Already prepared or do you prepare the fish in house? I'm fully bilingual, so I asked the apathetic staff (that should've been our first clue) these questions and they assured me: fresh, in house, etc. I ordered the Filete Empanizado with a baked potato while my Honey (second generation Mexican from California) ordered Menudo.

There were literally two people eating in the restaurant, and one other person BEHIND me ordering takeout. I paid in cash and left a generous tip BEFORE we got the food (never again, now we tip after the meal). It was a Thursday night and our food took 45 minutes when they said it would take 15-20. Only one other person went in for takeout in the time we waited, so they were not busy AT ALL. I went in twice to inquire about the food "oh, they're making the fish." All I saw was a bunch of people yakking and NO ONE IN THE KITCHEN. One of the times I went in I asked for butter and sour cream (yes, I'm a particular one) with my baked potato and she asked me for a $1 for sour cream. Mind you, this is halfway during the dreadful wait, so I'm not a happy camper. I told her to keep it.

Finally, when I pick up the food, I asked if everything is in the bags (and recap the tartar sauce and lemons, cutlery and all the sides for the menudo which I asked her with the order) to which she replies "yes."

Originally, we were going to head back to the AirBnB to eat, but since we were so hungry, we decided to eat in the car right in the restaurant's parking lot. First, my honey asks "where's the tortillas?" Strike one: perhaps it's a regional thing but everywhere we've dined, menudo comes with tortillas not bread. Strike two: none of the sides for the menudo (onions, cilantro, etc) are in the bag. Strike three: enough cutlery for one (seriously???). I won't continue with the strikes, but lemons and no tartar sauce, the fish was definitely frozen and premade (and bottom of the barrel, too), pats of butter (with the paper, thanks a lot) thrown on top of the fish, the salad dressing packets (think ketchup packets) thrown ON TOP OF THE SALAD (unsanitary and disgusting) and the worse part - the fish and menudo were tepid enough to feed to a baby (obvs no one would, but the temp was that bad).

I went in to ask for things, they offered cocktail sauce as they had no tartar sauce, asked for another $1 for packaged tortillas, all the while with a snarky attitude and acted like she was doing me a favor, and again, the gaggle of them were yakking behind her as if none of them had jobs to do.

They only listened to one thing: no salt on the baked potato, which p.s. was the only item that was hot. However, the fish was a massive salt bomb when I distinctly asked for no salt on ANYTHING, which, of course, points to frozen and pre-made.

The honey said that was the worst, unflavored, awful menudo he's ever eaten.

I'm baffled as to why this place even exists when there are plenty of other great options in Las Cruces. Please change your name accordingly: Trucos Y Trampas!

Translation: DON'T...

Stop letting Luis “ the owners son” talk to the customers. He lacks professionalism on appropriate things that should be said to a customer. I had an issue with my order and his response was so rude that I will never return. He acted as if I wanted a hand out or free food. On the contrary I wanted what I paid for. We orders albondigas (meatball soup). Well it was mainly vegetables and potatoes. The meatballs were the size of a small marbles or pebbles and some were raw. We ordered a large and received only 6 albondigas, the rest was all big chunks of veggies. When I pay for food I expect to receive the proper portion or ratio of albondigas to vegies and caldo.m, but not today apparently! What offended me the most is Luis’s response to my issue. He stated that “no where on the menu does it state how many albondigas we will receive in an order.” I’m sorry but I don’t feel that was a professional nor adequate response to a customer who has been visiting your location prior to and during a pandemic. A customer who gave you a good review 2 yrs ago on Google. A simple apology with how can we rectify the issue and make you happy would have sufficed. I live 20 mins south of Las Cruces which means I was home and would not have driven all the way back for a correction. I was simply informing the management of my discontent with today’s visit. I was told Ramiro the owner was going to call me instead I got Luis. Well after Luis’s poor customer service I requested the actual owner call me. I was informed that he wasn’t available. I asked for him to call me at a later time and was told that he was way too busy. So my take away from all this is that the owner basically doesn’t care about his faithful patrons happiness. That all he cares about is getting a customers money in exchange for what ever quality or lack of in return. The fact that Luis could not take criticism to further his fathers business basically leaves me disappointed and dissatisfied. Michelle, the lady who took and charged me for my order was extremely pleasant and this review does not reflect her great service. It was Luis who left a bad taste in my mouth. To quote him “as long as the food didn’t leave a bad taste in your mouth, it doesn’t matter what taste I leave!” I will make sure not to continue recommending this restaurant. Competition in Las Cruces is fierce when it comes to Mexican restaurants. The track this restaurant is on, Luis will run his dads business to the ground in no time! Bye Las Trancas!

See photo of my review 2yrs ago versus...

My wife,infant child and I were in Las Cruces one afternoon, we were deciding on where to eat. My wife recommended Las Trancas. She had heard great comments on this place from the reviews. I used to live in the Las Cruces area and I remember their food as being crappy,but that was about 5 yes ago. So I Had my doubt's. But after calling thus establishment, they had informed me of a whole newly revamped menu. So I decided OK. What the heck. Upon arriving there was no greeting. Employees were on their cell phones. We at last were seated. We were under a loud speaker playing some god awful music. We ordered our food after 20 mins. I ordered carnitas de puerco served on fajita platter.The pork was dry and unseasoned. They topped them with bell peppers that were raw and the onions weren't properly grilled. My wife had chicken sopaipillas. The chicken was dry and unseasoned toppled off with the worse red chile ever.Bland.To make matters worse they forgot my little ones food. What a horrible culinary experience. The only thing we enjoyed were the beans and rice. Kinda sad when the beans and rice are better than the main entree. We will never eat here again. My advice"Do not Enter. I have been a chef for over 20 yrs. I don't live in Las...