El Molcajete — Restaurant in Louisville

If you are not Mexican or "white Hispanic" I would not eat at El Molcajete, especially if you are an African American or a darker skinned non-Hispanic person. The wait staff seems to go out of their way to make sure you know, that your "blackness or non- “white” Hispanic ethnicity" is considered a second-class status at EL Molcajete. And as a result of your ethnicity, you are going to have to wait an extra 15 to 20 minutes just to place your order; then an extra 5-10 minutes to cash out. Also, your food will be the last brought out and of comparatively poorer quality at a higher price. (Example; 4 traditional Barbacoa tacos, plus a single cup of guacamole sauce = 10.06 dollars?) And don't even think about sitting at the bar, because this little taboo will apparently add another 10 to15 minutes of wait time, to the already extra 15 to 20 added for being black. However, if your table party has a Mexican or “white”/Hispanic member, or a Mexican or “white” /Hispanic person is standing behind you, waiting to be cashed out; expect the wait times to be greatly reduced. I have eaten here 8 times over the course of a five month period; and like an abused spouse I made excuses for their bad behavior; saying maybe they didn't see me, maybe they're too busy, maybe this person was here before me and I just wasn’t paying attention, maybe their meal was easier to make, maybe they didn’t hear me say hello, maybe the uncomfortable glares of the wait staff and busboy was because my blood sugar is possibly low, skewing my perception or maybe the servers are overwhelmed. And so, I made every excuse to avoid the reality that I was being discriminated against; specifically, by another minority group. It wasn’t until the revelation of 9-10-2019 eye opening service at El Molcajete, that I had to come to terms with the ugliness of what was really happening. I am going to file a report with the Human relations commission of Louisville; The better business bureau, and every place that El Molcajete is reviewed. As an African American, my ancestors have fought, sacrificed, suffered, too long and hard, to establish a social order of legal protections for equality and inclusion; the very same legal protections that other recent minority groups and immigrants benefit from. So, it was heart breaking and surreal to be obviously discriminated against by another openly persecuted immigrant group. Word to the wise, discrimination is bad...

Not Ideal for Out-of-Town Visitors

As tourists visiting the area, we were hoping to enjoy a local dining experience after a day at the nearby amusement park. We chose this restaurant based on the number of reviews, but unfortunately, it did not meet our expectations.

Upon arrival, there was no signage or staff guidance regarding seating, so we had to observe another guest to figure out the process. The salsa had a very strong lime and chili flavor, which may appeal to some, but it wasn’t to our personal taste and didn’t reflect what we’re accustomed to from other authentic Mexican restaurants.

My husband inquired about a margarita and was asked if he liked pineapple, which led to some confusion. He was ultimately served an unopened glass bottle of a generic lime and agave-flavored beverage—not the margarita experience we were expecting.

The food also left something to be desired. My husband’s fajitas were covered in ranchero sauce, which was unexpected and not to his preference. I ordered the molcajete, given it shares the name of the restaurant, but it was overly complex in flavor, the meat was overcooked, and had a rubbery texture.

Service was another concern. We waited approximately 15–20 minutes for our check, and the server never returned to our table after dropping off the food. Other nearby tables—who appeared to be regulars and spoke Spanish—received more frequent attention. When we finally went to pay, we were informed at the counter (with an oddly dismissive tone) that payment is taken at the bar, which had not been previously communicated.

Overall, this was one of the least enjoyable Mexican dining experiences we've had. It may be better suited for locals familiar with the atmosphere and menu, but we wouldn’t recommend it to...

Each menu had different prices, on one menu all the prices were whited out. The standard salsa that came with our chips was delicious, as were the bottled sauces that weren’t clogged. We also started with queso, which was decent. Our chips were never replenished.

For my 10-year-old nephews, I asked if there were any child-size options and our server listed off some options since they were not listed on the menu. They chose quesadillas and asked if they could also get beans and rice. I got 2 a la carte tacos and my husband got enchiladas. We all ordered soft drinks.

When the food came out, the quesadillas had beans and rice on their plates and the server brought out additional sides of beans and rice “because the kids ordered them.” One of the quesadillas had the wrong filling, the other one went uneaten.

I asked for additional queso for my nephews to drizzle on their meals, was first told I would have to order another full appetizer but then was told I could get a small cup for $1.75, to which I agreed. When it finally came out, most of our food had been eaten and the queso was cold anyway.

We asked for the bill and were told to pay at the register. Rather than give us an itemized bill, she told me a total. SEVENTY-THREE DOLLARS.

At first I gave her my credit card, then I second guessed and asked for a bill. She had charged an additional $11 for the extra beans and rice that of course we had not asked for and had added on an 18% tip. That is when I noticed a sign by the register that said the menu prices were not up to date.

We will...