Café Olé Restaurant & Cantina - Meridian — Restaurant in Meridian

May 17th we went in for my husbands birthday dinner about 730-8 pm. We had 4 adults 3 kids and an infant. We sat looking at the menu and couldn’t find a kids menu. I went up to the host to ask for one. She said she had to go print some?! With asking for that, I asked if they do anything for birthdays. She replied yes we can sing and a fried ice cream. Ok great! Waiting for the kids menu took between 10 & 15 mins. Meanwhile we were asked if we were ready to order. Finally ready to order but when it got to my sisters turn she was asking a few questions and the waiter was rushing her like ok so you want that one after he answered, she felt very rushed! I don’t want to forget to mention the free chips, beans and salsa had been gone pretty much since we sat down as 7 of us were eating this. For the entrees, My brother in law and I got the same dishes. Now the enchilada aztecas comes with rice and beans, as most Mexican dishes do! but who knew that the beans would be full on, whole pinto beans?! Not the beans everyone wants… but whatever we just ate it. Not just the beans but everyone’s food was just blah. Nothing really great or fresh about it. Here’s the kicker…..Remember how I asked the host for a birthday surprise? Well my niece and brother in law get up and go to the bathroom. The waiter comes up and says… so who’s birthday is it? I point to my husband and he walks away. Yes we’re like WTF? Why did he just come ask this and ruin the surprise. Next thing you know the waiter, host and busser are walking up with the sombrero singing with fried ice cream…. AND MY NEICE AND BROTHER IN LAW ARE IN THE BATHROOM. Needless to say, they missed the entire thing!! The waiter then says “and the dessert is on the house” ok cool. We start eating it and those corn flakes are older and more stale than anything I’ve ever tasted! Hahaha I’m laughing while saying this because it’s ridiculous but we get the receipt and they charged us $1.50 for the fried ice cream? What? Why say it’s on the house? And the host should have said we can do ice cream for $1.50, if you want. Now I know it’s just a couple bucks but that’s not the point. Then…. We’re leaving 30 mins before their closing time, the place is cleared out (now I know why) and they’re sweeping to close up, not just sweeping but sweeping right in our walking bath out of the restaurant. Don’t waste your money or time here.we were beyond disappointed and will clearly never return. Get it together guys. You close at 9 or 930 stop rushing people out...

Well what can I say, I have lived in the area for only two months and was super excited to go here. My family and I are pretty good at making out minds up about what we want, but we didn't know what we were in for here. We sat got our drinks, waited about 10-15 mins for the waiter to come back and take our orders. He does and then the wait begins, I start to get a little upset then I notice people who have been seated AFTER us have gotten their food and we had not.....but we keep waiting....finally someone checks on us and asks is everything okay, I said no because those same people who were sat after us have now paid their check and are leaving I see 5-6 groups who were seated AFTER us come and go before they even bring my 4 year old his burger (10 mins after another server said they would get it about an hour+ after we originally orderes) Everyone keeps saying to us some cook walked out and they would give us free dessert and discount the check. FINALLY the food comes out, I ordered pollo de fuego comes on a skillet.....I make a wrap take a bite....cold. I take the protective cover off the skillet and pick it up cold...HOW LONG WAS MY MEAL SITTING THERE WAITING?! I know I was waiting WELL over an hour. The entire meal was comped and the excuse was one of the cooks walked out and they were short handed. How did 5-6 other groups get their food before me and my family?! How come after waiting over an hour my food came out cold? How exactly is it that ONE cook walks out on New Years Eve and the other two cannot handle the workload? Did this entire food establishment rely solely on this one cook?

Worst part, I was really looking forward to eating here because I spent 6 years working the kitchen at a similar restaurant in Virginia. However, after this terrible experience I will NEVER go in this place again and I will tell everyone I meet that asks where to go eat in Meridian, I will tell then where not to go and that...

We visited this restaurant on Friday. Wow... never been so head rolled in my life. Traffic was bad when my husband picked me up from work so we decided to stop to eat due to road closures. We were seated in a lonely booth that was by itself next to the kitchen. Ok, that I can live with. Then the chips and salsa came. What salsa? There was no substance to it. It should of had onion, tomato, jalapeno and cilantro in it. Nope - it was a watery mess. I even checked the self serve salsa bar for something that would STAY on the chips. Our server was in his own little world. Then it came time to order. My husband ordered and I quote, "I will have the fajitas... carnitas."

So he ordered... Steak, Chicken, Carnitas, or Shrimp Fajitas Your choice of delicious marinated chicken, carnitas, or steak fajitas grilled with onions, peppers, mushrooms, and our special spices. Served with warm tortillas, refried beans, rice, chipotle BBQ sauce, and pico de gallo. + Fajitas for one $14.99

He got... Carne Asada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14.99 A flavorful, Mexican- style charbroiled steak marinated in a mouth-watering blend of spices. Topped with caramelized onions, and a deep fried jalapeno. Served with rice, charro beans, and a cheese enchilada.

What the waiter put on our bill.... Carnitas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12.99 A Mexican classic! Slow oven-roasted and grilled pork, served in the traditional style with warm tortillas, black beans and a tangy tomatillo salsa. Accompanied by lettuce, tomatoes and fresh lime.

We did not complain because by god, it took long enough to get the wrong order - oh, and the waiter charged us two bucks less than he should of. But the Carne Asada was as tough as could be. So even if he had ordered this - would of...