El Fenix — Restaurant in Mesquite

Bad Service/ Food Handling : 210% Keep Driving don’t read further unless you want details on my opinion

Entry - acknowledged after 15 minutes in Lobby- they weren’t busy they were chatting with each other and on phones.

Hostess Seated acknowledgment,- 6 minutes just to put menus on table that was already cleaned.

Assigned Waiter: ( White Older Male Black Mask) ignored us chasing tips on table attending another’s empty tables or vacating customers to rush to pick up tips

Then after asked what our drinks would be took a while to receive our drinks

Served us wrong drinks when he returned

Waited a long time to ask us what we wanted to order , then after ordering it took a long time to receive our food.

Mind you my food was cold. When I received it.

Then after my family and I was served the food but no Utensils to eat with we had to ask for it.

I held my anger I let my family eat there food who was also disappointed I asked for a container to reheat me food at home.

The waiter apologized multiple times and offered to make me another plate. I declined then he tried to give us sopaillas for comfort as an apology.

I also, declined his offer old white male wearing a black mask.

I didn’t come for a discount nor free food all I wanted was a hot plate of food I didn’t have cook my self. - I Just wanted to relax and enjoy family time

I still tipped the waiter clean the mirror my son placed his hand on.

His manager a Hispanic male acknowledged my anger because of the disappointment on my face.

His manager still trying to give us sopapillas which that was a slap in the face instead of apologizing in person and acknowledging the issue.

You knew he knew because they just don’t offer free food just because.

Back to the waiter:

Since the waiter was worried about money more than customer service I left him a big tip.

I didn’t complain to the manager I swallowed my anger and left with my family while they were preparing free sopapillas.

Not everyone wants free food or a discount I just wanted to be served with comfort and enjoyment with family, I paid in full and tipped when they didn’t deserve it.

Now eating a cold meal and messy after I dropped it being angry. By accident

El Fenix Staff in all needs to be fired and rehire someone who really wants to work.

From the Young male and female hostess to the waiters

Completely Unhappy Customer this location puts El Fenix to SHAME.

Reporting to BBB and to the city health department after reading other reviews that has gone through what i went through they need to be shut down.

Because of service and of improper Food handling I should reach out to others in review El Fenix making it a habit not an accident just pure laziness that can lead to food poisoning.

Other customers who had this issue we need to get together to sue El Fenix in mesquite Texas 3904 Towne Crossing Blvd #10,...

Want to try the oldest Mexican Food Restaurant in the U.S.? Well maybe I should say the oldest Tex Mex - anyway it’s El Fenix! Not that the menu has stayed the same all these years, of course it’s been modified and updated … but my point is you can’t go wrong with El Fenix, if you wanna try Tex Mex as close to original 19th Century food recipes you need to come here. It’s interesting to note that the El Fenix reputation, famously brought 20th Century celebrities to Dallas to sample these then rare plates.

Always crowded on a Sunday, The El Fenix restaurants cater to family dining and the church crowd. The setting is comfortable with only a touch of the facade. Most meals will be familiar to you - the complimentary chips and salsa, cheese enchiladas, a burrito for the kids - very familiar dishes, no big surprises like menudo soup…I don’t think.

So many of my reviews shy away from the food itself which may seem counter intuitive to most readers, but I find that I usually focus on and recall - the dining experience.

For example, todays lunch was with kin folk and Ill always look back on this lunch as “family time”, that’s what I’ll remember, not the fajitas. It’s who you spend time with. And in a restaurant, any restaurant you inherently want the host to “double click” that memory.

El Fenix really is a part of culinary history and a history exclusive to Texas, you should try it. But I bet years from now when you reflect on your time here, it won’t be the enchiladas that spark your memory…it will be the important people that you spent time with that you’ll be...

El Fenix would get 3 stars for overall service and food, but it's the tortilla chips and salsa that bring it up to 3.5 stars.

We arrived as a group of 15 for lunch without reservations and they got everything together in five minutes. We had one server and she was friendly and had all of our orders correct. I asked for water without ice, and that's what I received, but I was never offered a refill like everyone else. She was very proactive about bringing a new coke for someone who was almost done with their first and refilling ice waters at half way.

While waiting for our food we devoured the chips and salsa. The chips are airy and wonderfully crispy. The salsa has a nice consistency and some spice. Our waiter brought refills on salsa and extra chip bowls. I ate a lot of chips and it caused me to get pretty full. All of our food somehow arrived at once and hot (remember 15 people). I ordered the chicken tortilla soup bowl for $7.99. They poured the broth into the bowl with the rice, chicken, and avocado. It was a satisfying soup, but I think the broth could use a little more flavor. The chicken was well seasoned, so that helped. Because I ate so many chips, I couldn't finish the bowl. Next time I'll order a cup.

Some other details: clean bathroom, background music wasn't too loud, an older crowd.

Take your receipt to the front counter to pay and buy their chips for $3.79 or other goodies.

I would come back for just the chips, salsa,...