Margarita Grill — Restaurant in Pelham

Traveling through Birmingham and with the strong recommendations, we gave Margarita Grill a try.

9pm on Thursday and the place was busy, so our expectations of a good meal were elevated. Sadly, we were very disappointed.

The “kid’s pizza” was nothing short of a little tomato sauce and melted cheese on bread. (Yeah, my daughter always gets cheese quesadillas but she wasn’t in the mood… life lesson: don’t order pizza at a Mexican restaurant).

Grilled chicken nachos appetizer (to split) except 1) the chicken was obviously grilled but otherwise lacked seasoning and was in 1” chunks, 2) the toppings were segregated to different area of the chips (tomatoes on one side, the almost melted shredded cheese on another area, and sour cream in the middle) and 3) it wasn’t good.

Beef taco a la carte was very bland. The shell was crunchy and I loved the cheese but the ground beef lacked flavor and was very greasy.

Service was quick and food came out in short order, but after that, there was not much attention or service.

I had high hopes which quickly turned to dismay and disbelief. Prices were fairly expensive and didn’t deliver as hoped.

All in all, our evening meal was very disappointing. I feel very sad for others that said this was the “best Mexican food ever tasted.” Clearly, I...

This is my first time here. The food was delicious and the staff seemed to work as as a team. Multiple people asking if we were okay and if we needed anything. The only complaint I have is the main server almost seemed defensive when we asked for things. An example, one of us asked for a box several times. The last time we were asked she said she is really busy and will get us one. It was obvious to us the place was really busy and just a reminder since we waited patiently for it and she came to the table asking if we needed something again. The 2nd example was a nice lady came to drop off a basket a chips. It was loud on the patio so when I asked for a straw, I was doing hand signals for a straw and pointed at it. The server stopped me and said "she DOES NOT understand you" like I was insane for trying to ask her. How am I suppose to know if someone doesn't speak a certain language? I would have opened google translate if i'd had known. But she understood my hand signals and pointing at a straw because she went to get me one.

I truly think the food, atmosphere, supporting staff kept my review at a 5. If it didn't have those, it would have been lower due to the main server...

Margaritas Grill in Pelham, Alabama, is a very pretty place with lovely decor. However, the atmosphere was very quiet and lacked music, making it feel quite dull. The food was okay but not what I expected. Additionally, I was not satisfied with the service at all.

One particular issue was the way the server addressed us. Different cultures use "usted" for more formal and respectful interactions and "tú" for more casual conversations with people you know well. The server used "tú" with us, which felt disrespectful and inappropriate, as it showed a lack of understanding of cultural differences. "Tú" is used when you have an established familiarity with someone, and it's acceptable only if the person allows it. I felt that the server assumed a level of familiarity with us that was not appropriate, and this felt like a lack of respect.

Overall, while the restaurant has potential with its beautiful setting, the lack of ambiance and the issues with the service made the experience less enjoyable. Improvements in these areas, including better cultural awareness from the staff, could significantly enhance the overall dining experience at...