Papa Gallo — Restaurant in Lynchburg

I am going to be completely honest with this review. This is our favorite mexican restaurant in the Lynchburg area. We have a family of 6 and we regularly go out of our way to go here to eat. The food on every occasion has been exceptional, including our meal this evening. But the service we recieved before we were even seated is the reason for the 1 star review and it would most certainly be a 0 star if that was possible.

We arrived at the restaurant at around 6:00pm and was told our wait would be approximately an hour. Not a problem we know how it is to go out on a friday in the burg. An hour and 10 minutes later we made our way to the waiting area in the restaurant because we knew it wouldnt be much longer. As we were sitting there we noticed a group of 8 across from us in the waiting area was talking to one of the waiters and he told them "as soon as the next party leaves in his section he will seat them." I did not think anything of it immediately and we continued to wait. I looked at the list and saw the group of 8 had come in about 40 minutes after us (see pictures attached) and thought that there would be no way that we would get jumped and the next table that could accomodate us would most certainly be ours. I was wrong, when they cleared the table they brought in 2 extra seats and proceeded to take the group of 8 to the table. For people who have been to the restaurant this was not one of the long rectangle tables against the wall that can seat 12 or so people this was one of the adjacent round tables that seats 6 and chairs can be added to them to fit a couple more people as needed. If it was one of the long tables I would be more understanding of seating them first because of the bigger party ect.....but it wasnt.

I was confused and went to the hostess stand and asked why we were skipped over and she said, "I have no idea." Shortly after I asked one of the staff who I thought might be the manager why we were not seated and she said, "I made a mistake." and continued to take the other party to their table. She was certainly not aware that we were sitting right there when the waiter had the conversation with the other party. In the second picture that I posted you can see that the group of 8 that was in line after us got cleared from the list while we continued to wait (see picture). I contemplated just leaving at that point wondering if they didnt want to seat us because we had children or maybe it was some other reason that would make me even angrier but we had been waiting almost 2 hours and the kids were hungry so we just stayed. We were eventually seated and the meal went as expected. Great food with friendly staff but it was ruined by our experience. With the cost of going out to eat these days and the influx of new restaurants in the area I feel like, I would hesitate in the future to go back based solely on the service we recieved and try to find something our family enjoys at another establishment. Which is a shame because as I have said numerous times in the post, this is the best la carreta in the area in...

My wife and I recently enjoyed a delightful date night at Papa Gallo's Mexican Restaurant, and we had an incredible experience from start to finish. Adolfo, our server, played a significant role in making the evening memorable with his friendly demeanor and engaging personality.

Adolfo greeted us with a friendly smile and made us feel right at home. He took the time to engage in friendly conversation, creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. Adolfo's genuine enthusiasm and cheerful disposition added an extra layer of enjoyment to our dining experience.

Now, let's talk about the food at Papa Gallo's. In all honesty, it stands out as one of the best Mexican restaurants we have ever had the pleasure of dining at. Every dish we ordered exceeded our expectations in terms of flavor, presentation, and authenticity. From the vibrant salsas and perfectly seasoned guacamole to the mouthwatering Super Chimi and the Pollo Al Tata, each bite was a burst of culinary excellence. The menu offered finely selected options and catering to different tastes.

Apart from the delectable cuisine, the atmosphere at Papa Gallo's was truly next level. The restaurant had a charming and authentic Mexican ambiance that immediately transported us to a vibrant cantina. The colorful decor, tasteful lighting, and well-chosen background music all contributed to creating a lively and immersive dining experience. The attention to detail in creating an inviting atmosphere was evident, and it enhanced our overall enjoyment of the evening.

In summary, Papa Gallo's Mexican Restaurant exceeded our expectations in every aspect. Adolfo, our server, provided exceptional service with his friendly and engaging personality. The food was undoubtedly some of the best we have ever tasted in a Mexican restaurant, showcasing a harmonious blend of flavors and culinary expertise. The atmosphere was carefully crafted to transport guests to a festive Mexican setting, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the dining experience.

Whether you're looking for a memorable date night or simply craving authentic Mexican cuisine, Papa Gallo's is an absolute must-visit. Be prepared to be impressed by the exceptional service, outstanding food, and captivating atmosphere. We are already looking forward to our next visit to savor more of their...

Review from a Lacto-Vegetarian.

Our first time here. We had not been to this establishment since our vegetarian friends had indicated that there were limited selections. Mexican food has so many options to cater to vegans and vegetarians, yet so few of the establishments make an effort.

We started off with the tortilla chips and salsas. You pay a reasonable price and get a selection of 4 salsas. We ordered, Mango Habanero (not at all spicy, meh) Salsa verde (nice) Molcajete Salsa (nice) Avocado salsa (meh)

We were looking for vegetarian friendly options and the only non-salad option that is clearly vegetarian is the quesadilla. We were tired of cheese and veggie quesadillas being the only vegetarian option, wanting something different we ordered the Ay Mama Enchilada minus the shrimp. We also ordered potato tacos in Street and Americano styles.

The tacos were nice and fresh, the Ay Mama looked great, and tasted quite good, although bland. I wish there were options to make food more spicy.

Lynchburg restaurants struggle to cater to vegans and vegetarians - Papa Gallo is no different. Menu does not clearly mark vegetarian options and when you ask for meatless options, you are still paying full price for the meat you don’t eat. Feels like a rip off because it is! Probably other vegetarians can relate to feeling stiffed from restuarants for paying full prize for things you don't eat.

Dear vegan friends, sorry to say, you might be out of luck all together, unless you want to go for salad with a salsa dressing.

Papa Gallo - you are so close to be able to offer a wide range of meatless options because of the freshness of your menu and mexican cuisine, which can be very friendly to vegans/vegetarians. Please try to be more inclusive in your offerings. At the very least please indicate clearly on your menu the following: Mark items that can be made vegan/vegetarian friendly Indicate whether you use animal fat for your tortillas Indicate whether you use animal stock/fat in your rice, sauces, salsas Indicate whether you use the same oil to fry meat and meatless options (tortillas,...