El Sombrero — Restaurant in Lewiston

This is a REALLY hard one, because I've been eating here for 15 years. The food is great. The service is 5-star all the time, they are so gracious and polite and eager to serve.

But if you go look up a lot of these "menu" websites that have uploaded pictures of the El Sombrero menu, it's like stepping into a time machine...but only going back two years. They have literally DOUBLED their prices....which yes......inflation...economy...makes sense at a steakhouse...but they have doubled their SMALL COMBINATION prices...that are literally 60% Rice and beans....and a couple enchiladas, or a couple tacos. Literal. Time. Machine. $7.45 for Two small tacos, beans and rice.....they are now $14.95.

I really hate leaving this review...but I just won't go there anymore. It's my not only firm belief, but educated opinion that they are price gouging, and passing it off as economic hardship and higher ingredient prices. A ribeye steak at a steakhouse isn't even up 20%, and El Sombrero has raised the prices of some of the most BULK BUY, easy to come by ingredient dishes by 100%. I'm not buying it. I feel the pain of the times in a McDonalds drive thru looking at the price of a Big Mac....but I feel like I'm being cheated going here now. 15 dollars for two 2.5 ounce tacos, some rice, and refried beans....Was paying 8.95 for that at lunch, not even 3 years ago. Those prices are off the takehome menu in my office desk at work. We frequented sometimes twice a week.

Raise the price of the Pollo Chicken Ranchero. Raise the price of the Carne Asada, The BIG BAD BOY PLATE, the Pancha Villa...was $16.95, it's now $25.95 as I'm typing this.

This review won't change anything, but it's needed. Folks are keen to the organic price increases over the last few years in the food scene in Lewiston, but El Sombero's price increases are NOT organic, are NOT calculated with whatever rising food costs. It's gouged. From twice a week, to haven't been in 6 months...once I saw that $14.95 price tag on what used to be the best value AND tasting Mexican cuisine in the LC Valley.

It's rice and beans guys....calm the F...

The food here is just ok, its not at all authentic mexican food (except for the rice). Its majorly americanized assembly line "mexican food" which is sometimes a bit bland. It comes out super fast and hot because of such so that gives it a star in my book. I usually get the enchiladas with shredded beef, they are just OK, beef isn't very seasoned but better than the dry chicken and more interesting than the ground beef. Worst chili rellenos I have ever eaten and not worth it, just breading and cheese. Drinks from the bar are pretty weak so don't waste your money on those. Order something simple with a pop and you won't be terribly disappointed as long as you realize what you are getting is not authentic, I can't stress that enough. Service and atmosphere are great and the food comes out fast and hot which is why it gets 3 stars. Overall this place is highly overratedbut thats understandable for a valley who has nothing to base it on. Oh and FYI, the location on main street has...

Although it is known that Idaho isn't taking COVID particularly seriously, I came here to treat my dad to a Father's Day dinner. I was shocked to see that there was no effort in social distancing between tables (ok, whatver, it's Idaho), but what really got me was that our waitress was not wearing a mask, even when her face was directly over our food. She also was handling money and food at the same time (and no gloves, whatever, it's Idaho), the hot sauce on the table didn't seem like it had been washed since the previously customers, there were no discardable paper menus. They were not following a single recommendation besides a handful of a employees wearing a mask.

Even keeping in mind that Idaho isn't taking covid seriously, there should be SOME minimal effort by the restaurant. If you are slightly worried about catching COVID, don't bother...