La Cocina — Restaurant in Mobile

Their customer service is horrible! I went there with two of my employees today for lunch and food was very good as usual. When we finished eating and our checks were brought to our table, I noticed that in the bottom of my ice water was something that was black and a little larger than a quarter. I stopped drinking and a tissue like substance that had mildew all on it floated to the top. I instantly alerted my waitress. She came over and I said "Ma'am I'm not sure what this is but I'm disgusted by what is in my water. I'm not sure what you all will do about this but I'm unsatisfied with this. May I please speak to your manager?" She replied "Aww it's ok it's just ice sir." I said "Ma'am this is not ice, it looks like tissue or some paper thing that has mildew!" She replied "Sir it's in our ice machine. Some got in my drink yesterday and I was like "Ooops" but I'm still alive sir." I said "ma'am that's you, this is nasty! May I please speak with your manager?" She said "The manager is not here." I said "Well may I please speak with your supervisor or shift leader?" She said "Ummm the owner is very busy." I said "Ma'am I need something done about this." She said "Ok sir I apologize I got you."

She then walked to the back as she finished the tickets and a male employee charged my way and stood directly over my shoulder and said "Sir, you gonna pay for this food!" I replied "Sir There was a nasty thing in my drink. I need something done about this or I refuse to pay." The guy then said to me "That has nothing to do with your food! You sat here and ate all of your food and you complaining about free water?! Your water was free and you are going to pay for this meal!!!" I began to try to talk to him but he walked off from me as I was talking calmly to him.

The waitress then returned to the table and said "Sir, I'm so sorry!" I began to tell her that I'm fine but the guys attitude was unprofessional and rude. I said "Ma'am I'm a manager of a customer service based retail store and it's just right to do right. If someone complains about something they received from my company, I'm obligated to treat that customer with respect and take care of the customer. She said "Yes sir, I'll pay for your meal at no charge to you." I said thank you ma'am.

When she went back to the register (which is a few tables over by the entrance) the male employee was standing there and saw what she was doing, he yeld across the room "Hey man, you are going to pay for this food!" I replied calmly "No sir I refuse to pay for this food because of your service and rudeness." He said well do I need to call the police then?" I replied "Sir I'll actually call them for you as I have an officer's number in my phone! Please hold that thought while I call him sir." He then walked to the back of he restaurant.

As I called the officer he directed me to call the non emergency line and report what is going on. I contacted them and a lady answered the phone. As I explained to her what was going on, she said "Oh my God! Ewwww!!! Are you serious?!" Sir I'm sending someone out right now, what's the address?" The same guy returned to our table and said "I'm one of the managers and I spoke with the owner and they said you are free to leave. You can go now!" I said "Sir I'm on the phone with the police and they want to know the address of your business as they are sending someone over immediately." He replied (word for word) "Ummm I don't know the address. I'll have to look in the menu." I told her the woman on the phone "Ma'am now he is staying to be he manager but he doesn't know the address to his job that he manages." I was then informed by the lady on the phone that I can leave that establishment and I did NOT HAVE TO PAY!

That was the worst customer service I've ever experienced! The food may be good and all but if you want to keep your customers and grow your business you need to:

1. Keep your ice machine clean and sanitized
2. Only hire staff that is respectable and that represents your business
3. Know that every...

I haven’t had La Cocina in a very long while. I don’t even remember what I had. Mexican food is not one of my favorite foods but I do like it. I know ala Cocina has a pretty good reputation. I scanned the online menu and it didn’t take me long to find the birria tacos. It came with two sides. I decided to try the charro beans and Spanish rice. The email I received said my wait would be about 20 minutes. I drove to the restaurant and waited in my car for a bit. When I walked in the restaurant there was someone attending to some tables. The was a sign to ring the bell to get some service but the waitress saw me. I told her that I had an online order and within a few minutes my food was ready. When I got home I noticed there was chips and salsa in my bag as well as the other items I ordered. I didn’t realize my meal came with chips and salsa. I guess that’s not out of the ordinary but it was a pleasant surprise. Anyway I started with the rice and then with the beans. There was nothing really special with the rice but I don’t think I’ve had charro beans. They seem to be beans with what seemed like vienna sausage. It didn’t taste bad. I really didn’t know what to expect. On the to birria tacos. The definite star of the show. Being that my food was take out there was some sogginess to the taco shell but the tacos held up pretty good. I dipped the first taco in the consommé (yes, I googled it). It was very savory and the meat was tender. I don’t eat a lot of authentic Mexican food but I know what good food tastes like. I definitely would recommend the birria tacos...

La Cocina - A Hidden Gem in Mobile

I recently had the pleasure of dining at La Cocina in Mobile, Alabama, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Starting with the beef tacos, I was initially surprised they used ground beef instead of pulled beef or chopped steak. While the ground beef was flavorful, I feel offering alternatives like pulled beef or chopped steak would elevate the dish and provide a more authentic experience.

The salsa was a delightful complement to the meal, bursting with freshness and just the right amount of kick. The ceviche was absolutely stellar—so fresh and flavorful that I can’t say enough good things about it. It truly left a lasting impression.

The chicken enchiladas, while delicious, were a bit on the dry side, likely due to the time of day I ordered them. A quick remedy with a bit of salsa, and they were back to their delightful self. The chips served were also fantastic—crisp and perfectly seasoned.

Overall, I was incredibly impressed with La Cocina, especially considering I dined there at 4 o’clock on a Monday. Coming from San Francisco, where I enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine almost daily, I can confidently say that La Cocina holds its own. If you’re in Mobile and craving Mexican food, this spot is a must-visit! A pulled beef or chopped steak option for the tacos would make it...