Pink Tequila — Restaurant in North Port

After hearing rave reviews of Pink Tequila Mexican restaurant on Toledo Blade in North Port, we decided to try it on for size ourselves yesterday.

From the moment we walked through the door, we were impressed and enchanted; the decor is Fantastico!

Our server, Aaron, provided exemplary service, with a flair for recognizing that, as first-timers, we needed ample time to peruse the bounty of selections offered, so he left us to our studies with our beverages, warm, fresh tortilla chips, and just-right salsa, brilliantly served in a small carafe for the inevitable second round.

In order to really get an idea of how their food tasted, we decided to splurge and try the Parillada Pink Tequila for two, a combination of rib eye steak, shrimp, grilled chicken, chorizo, and carnitas meats, garnished with grilled whole baby onions, queso fresco, avocado, lettuce, tomato, beans, rice, and ample tortillas.

Oh. My. Goodness! What a feast! And what flavors!! So often with Mexican restaurants, it seems everything tastes the same--just ensconced differently. Certainly not the case here: each protein was uniquely delicious and oh SO tender. Seriously, we were blinking, shaking our heads, and dropping our jaws in between bites, amazed to near disbelief at the quality, quantity, and flavors set before us. We felt giddy, everything was so over-the-top delicious. It was so tasty, I had to eat each item all on its own, separate from any accompaniment, so I could appreciate each individual flavor. Normally a hot sauce aficionado, I didn't touch any of it, the flavors were so incredible. Sadly, it didn't take long before we were full, and though we ate plentiful (this being our only meal of our busy day, at 3PM), it looked like we had hardly touched our food.

Two large carryout containers later (with cups for the salsa), we were begrudgingly on our way, out of our Mexican "Brigadoon", and back in the real world; but as sometimes with fantastical moments such as this, the proof of our magical experience was in the heavy bag of goodies we were bringing home for at least two more meals each.

I happily left a 40% well-deserved tip, and really wanted to step into the kitchen to praise the preparers of our feast, but instead asked Aaron to let them know how incredible it all tasted.

This past year or so, I often awaken from sleep with a sense of initial dread, with all the unsettling challenges of these times; this morning, as I opened my eyes in preparation for a new day, I felt like a child on Christmas morning, knowing what goodies we have awaiting us to be enjoyed for the next day or two. 🤩

Our dining experience, and especially the food, was the best I can remember in YEARS, and we are so excited and grateful to join the throngs of loyal fans of the Pink Tequila. We are believers. Thanks to the owner, management, and staff, for going above and beyond with such quality. There's hope yet.

Muchas gracias por una...

EDIT 01/12/20: Back for first time since review although at the Lime Tequila. GREAT JOB to the owner for following thru. Thank you. Absolutely perfect and more so, safe. 👍

PREVIOUS REVIEW:

NOTE: Please see my past reviews. I don't usually ever give a bad review and this review is not on their food to be fair. I was, until last night a regular customer.

I am doing this review as a warning to anyone who wants to go to this restaurant and feel safe from COVID 19. DON’T! I’m not a mask nut, but do try and be considerate when I go out and only go to places where I feel safe as my wife and I are both 70. When restaurants opened up for inside business we went to find places to eat that were keeping social distancing and the employees were wearing masks. We were so happy that the Pink Tequila had masks and had plastic put between the booths. We actually went there quite often since then but hadn’t been there since the state opened back up completely. Fortunately most all restaurants we’ve been to since then are still keeping table distances and the employees are still wearing masks and keeping the place sanitized and at least to the eye, safe. Remember, 80% of COVID cases can be traced to restaurants, bars and churches.

Well, last night we went there to have dinner. The manager was standing behind the register with no mask on but the hostess was wearing one and she sat us. The person came by with the chips and salsa and he had no mask on. I laid my phone and umbrella (dry) on the table next to me. The waitress came up and she too had no mask on. I asked if she could put on a mask and she said that she had one in back and then continued to ask for our order. I ask if she’d get her mask, she got mad and turned around and asked another server with a mask to take care of us. She took our drink order. As I reached for the salt (everything is now back on the table without having to ask for them as before) I noticed the table still had food all over it from the previous guests and my phone and umbrella were in it.

We went to change tables at our server’s request (she was very nice). I asked her to send the manager over as I just wanted to ask him why they let down their guard so much. He came by, still without a mask and leaned into within 3 feet of my face, which thankfully we still had our masks on. I asked him if he’d put on a mask and he said, and I quote, “I’M NOT YOUR SERVER.” With that my wife and I got up and walked out. I started to ask why they changed their safety and he angrily told me “you should stay home and...

I have came here a total of 3 times. Each time I kept telling myself the customer service would be better and for 3 times they failed each time being worse. I highly enjoyed the chips and salsa and food was ok, but unfortunately I rate this place 1 because of the young high school kids not being professional/considerate at ALL. Management should really be on top of those kids, but guess that has not happen. The last time I went to pink tequila I had brought my mother since she wanted to eat there i cringed, but mentioned my previous experience with my fiance was absolutely terrible, but to see a smile on my mom's face I took her. We went during downtime where there were not many people in the restaurant and waited to be seated until someone realized we were even there. Everything after that went downhill wish I could remember the waiter name young Hispanic kid oh but wait he did not even say his name. We waited several minutes for him to get our drinks ok no worries at all. He dropped them off and never heard from him again. My mother and i waited 17 minutes until he even came back to our table, mind you there are not many people in the restaurant. What really bothered me is the fact this guy kept flirting with another girl in the kitchen and talking and talking right next to the register. Are you serious....he never returned to our table so I took my mom and left the restaurant in anger. I will not return to this place and have told my family and friends to stay away. Waiting for about an hour just to get 2 drinks when there are not many people in the restaurant is RIDICULOUS. Customer service should be a key factor to enjoying a restaurant but for 3 time a in a row I shall I not return...