El Norte — Restaurant in Meridian

On Sunday, my grandson and I decided to go out to eat quesadillas rather than make them at home. We usually go to San Marcos but they were closed so we stopped in at El Norte at northhills. It was around around 4pm, only two other cars out front and no other customers in the dining area. We were met at the foyer by a young man who asked “how many?” before he ushered us to a booth and walked away. The atmosphere was very nice but the broadcast music was too loud, at least where we sat. In less than a minute, a very nice waitress appeared with menus and informed us that they had no soft drinks (I couldn’t hear what she said was the reason) so all they could offer would be water or sweet tea which was fine because we aren’t big soda drinkers anyway. One minute after that, she returned with our sweet teas and took our orders…We knew we wanted quesadillas when we got there. My grandson ordered shrimp quesadillas with rice and a SIDE of Queso. I ordered chicken quesadillas with rice. Another minute later, she returned with the basket of chips and salsa. We probably had three chips each before she brought our food (maybe three minutes later) which was a little TOO fast in my opinion. My grandson’s Queso was poured onto the quesadillas and not as a side order but he didn’t complain. My “chicken” Was dry and stringy and spicy and resembled that tuna that comes in a pouch ready to eat. There was NO cheese on our food except in the very folds of the tortillas and that was too little too late! The rice was yellow and dry and tasteless. I’ve had true restaurant cooked Mexican food and I can tell you THAT wasn’t it! The only thing that they may have actually used a pan for was the tortillas to lightly brown them. The rest was packaged, precooked, probably once frozen and maybe nuked in a microwave! I didn’t say a word to complain because I didn’t want to embarrass my grandson but even he was disappointed ! We paid and left the tip for the very nice waitress and left. On the way home my grandson said, “ Maybe you should give them YOUR recipe for quesadillas.” Maybe I should I told him. Or maybe next time we will be sure to go on a day that San Marcos...

This had to be the worst experience I have ever had. It all started when we walked in the door to be seated. It was a group of 9 from church and the table we were sat at had what looked like alcohol spilled all over the floor and the chairs. We kindly asked as we were standing before we could sit down if they would please mop the floor and wipe out the chairs for us. After standing for about 15 mins and asking twice, they finally came and cleaned up the mess. Then they bought out chips and salsa which was very runny and watered down and chips were stale. We went ahead and placed our order and got our food and I ordered the quesadilla and a soft taco the was awful. The chicken in the quesadilla tasted old and tanted, and the shell was soggy and not cooked at all. The meat it the taco was not good either and the shell on it was soggy also. My friend that was there ordered no Pico de Gallo and wanted guacamole with her meal. They brought out Pico and no guacamole. She said to our waitress "I don't want to complain, but u can't eat pico would you please swap this out for guacamole." They waitress proceeded to say that it was the same thing the pico and guacamole but she would take it back if she wanted. So the waitress got her plate and took it in the kitchen and apparently just put guacamole on top of the pico. My friend said mam I can not have pico, I only want guacamole. So the waitress said I will put everything in separate containers for you . My friend says ok thank you. So she goes to the kitchen again and brings out guacamole sour cream and lettuce in separate bowls. The guacamole had apparently been scrapped off her previous plate because it had tomatoes in it. My friend also said her steak in her fajitas tasted bad as well. We asked to speak to a manager and they said that there was not one there or a owner was not there either. We paid for our meal still at full price and left. We will never return to thus establishment again. WORST SERVICE...

I wouldve given less but the establishment was clean and our first server did help us set up. I had my baby shower on the patio. He brought out 4 or 5 baskets of chips and salsa and took our drink orders. My friends tea tasted like soap and my husband's refill of tea did as well. The woman that took over after the first waiter's shift was over came out ONCE. I had to go in side to ask for a refill on my water and another guests drink as well as another guest had to ask for a refill for herself and her daughter. She brought everyone's tickets outside IN THE MIDDLE OF US OPENING GIFTS. She was just handing people tickets instead of asking who had what. They didnt tell any that if you didnt order a meal you had to pay for chips. Two of my guests ordered a drink and queso. They both had a charge for the one basket of chips being shared by the whole table as well as a charge for a refill! Mind you, they automatically brought these chips out. No one asked for them and multiple people, those getting meals and those not getting meals, sat at tables together. It was ridiculous how they charged us all. Needless to say none of the 15 people at my shower were pleased with the service or...