Sandoval's Cafe & Cantina — Restaurant in Oregon

Hispanic food is my first choice of any cuisine, i judge restaurants harshly on their food alone. I have commonly gone back to restaurants with poor service because the quality of their food. Went to lunch here for the first time after years of driving by while out of my local area. Not only was I surprised by the owner greeting me at the door and having a long conversation with me but I also noticed the place was full of Hispanic patrons which is normally a great sign for me. The food was more than I typically spend but after seeing how many people from all incomes were there I knew it was worth a try. If you can get the same bland food from two locations, you go to the cheaper one. Here I saw people willing to pay extra for food which has to have an explanation. I ordered street tacos, $14 for two, I typically pay around 8. Typically they come with nothing! I was served two large tacos/rice/killer black beans/sour cream/ guacamole & salsa which in all is about as much food as a plata which runs you more than $14 at the average restaurant! Hands down the best quality and tasting food I’ve had in my life. Not even exaggerating. Not to mention the friendly staff and the owner herself coming and having genuine conversations with me twice while just there for lunch. If you want the cheapest thing possible then good luck, if you’re willing to pay for quality food that you actually remember, look no further....

This is the third new Mexican restaurant that we have tried in the last month, and the one to which we are least likely to return.

We ate on a Friday afternoon, in the semi-enclosed patio area, which, while quite pleasantly finished, the owners had chosen to situate far closer to the procession of loud diesel pickups, imports with aftermarket exhausts and Fred Meyer trucks than was comfortable.

Food was a bit pricier than most Cantinas, not way out of line, but certainly on the higher side for what it was - about $24.00 for a burrito. Food was a little slow in coming - not that busy when we were seated - not slow enough to say anything, but noticeable. Said burrito was not particularly good - shredded beef, some rice and beans wrapped in a tortilla - no sauce at all, no "Normal" rice and beans on the side. My wife's food was similarly bland - and both of us are around 70, and really no longer go for spicy food. Looking for something to add flavor, we realized that the again "normal" chips and salsa had not been served - found out that these were an optional extra, and had to be ordered ( and paid for) specifically.

Ate, paid, tipped and left - but frankly, for both of us, we could get at least as good as, if not better, food at Taco Bell.

Some places leave good memories, be it the location, atmosphere, servers, food - this one will probably pass into obscurity.

Oh, and the beer was not...

I stop and play video poker occasionally and typically the customer service is really good. I don’t recall the particular bar tender tonight I usually go earlier in the day but he was an old Caucasian male with a haunch back. He completely ignored me the entire time as I tried to cash my ticket. I respectfully waited for him and when he decided to help me with my cash slip I proceeded to ask for change so I can give him a tip and wanted to order a drink he waved his hands at me telling me no as he walked away from me out the bar. So I went back to the machine and waited for him to return patiently. And when he returned he just ignored me again. So I turned my video on with my flash so I can record the service I was getting. That’s when he came and grabbed my ticket cashed it in and walked away again. At that point I just decided to leave and go somewhere else to get a drink because he did not want to serve me. I watched him treat the other customers with great customer service when I first came in but it was pretty hurtful seeing how...