Cantina Gueros N Peoria — Restaurant in Peoria

I recently have the pleasure of visiting family in Surprise, Arizona and today I enjoyed a lovely shopping experience with my bonus daughter, reminiscent of traditional mother-daughter outings.

Afterwards, we decided to dine at Cantina Gueros, a Mexican restaurant she had been eager to try. 🧐 Looking up the English translation after our visit I discovered The Spanish word "Güeros" translates to fair hair and skin, which raises questions about the inclusivity of this establishment.

Upon entering, we were immediately struck by the vibrant Mexican Day of the Dead artwork adorning the entrance. Our waitress greeted us promptly, allowing us sufficient time to review the menu before placing our orders.

My daughter opted for two tacos accompanied by rice and beans, which appeared to be a suitable portion size for a child's meal. I, on the other hand, ordered the giant Taquitos, which unfortunately did not live up to their giant in size claim, and the smothered cornbread.

I paired my meal with a street-style beer, Dos Equis, featuring a tangy rim coated with Chamoy Mexican Candy.

Did Cantina Gueros manage to surprise us with a delicious meal experience? Unfortunately, no. The food was mediocre at best. The Taquitos, although nicely plated, were dry and disappointing, with a leathery texture. I managed to finish only one of them. The smothered cornbread was overwhelmingly salty, rendering it inedible after the first bite.

However, the drink was a highlight of our dining experience, with the sweet, tangy rim elevating the beer to a new level of flavor.

When our waitress inquired about our meal, we shared our disappointment with the smothered cornbread, and she kindly removed it from our bill. Upon noticing my unfinished meal, she offered to pack it to go, which I declined, leaving the dry meal behind as feedback for the chef.

To the kitchen staff, I would suggest implementing more frequent taste tests to ensure that dishes are not over-seasoned, as was the case with the smothered cornbread.

Additionally, it's essential to check the pre-cooked prepared proteins for overcooking, which can result in a leathery texture. Chicken breast should always be cooked from raw to ensure a moist and flavorful taco experience.

While the service and ambiance were satisfactory, the emphasis on Day of the Dead artwork may have been too pronounced for a dining experience. Ultimately, the food was disappointing, falling short of our expectations.

Do I recommend this establishment? The translated name warrants caution and the mediocre culinary experience suggests not I, but someone else may find...

Because some restaurants still have staffing issues, I am a little more patient in some areas of service. My friend and I entered Cantina Gueros at 25315 N. Lake Pleasant Parkway in Peoria on a weekday afternoon and the place was moderately busy with at least one large party and several parties of four. It took approximately eight to ten minutes before a member of the restaurant staff came to the front to greet us and seat us. I have had longer waits for a table but this is the longest I’ve ever had where no one was manning the front entry. Now they say that good things come to those who wait so patience can pay off. We were finally seated and I’d like to note the interior is pleasant and I really liked the mural near the table where we sat. A server came by our table almost immediately and I was appreciative for her promptness and friendliness. I ordered a Watermelon Fresca. The refreshing drink was a good choice. Some other drinks also looked interesting such as Mexican coke and Jarrito’s Mexican soda. The menu is creative and colorful and despite so much on the menu, it’s easy to read. The server brought over chips and salsa. I’ve had salsa in so many restaurants but this is the darkest looking salsa ever. Would it be the hottest? I don’t want hot salsa. Mild is in my comfort zone and this was mild. I liked the salsa so much, I paid $8.00 to bring home salsa from Cantina Gueros. My wife would be happy. I asked the server about the salsa and she said that this is charred salsa which gives it a darkened appearance. I absolutely was sure I’d just ate the best salsa ever. For the meal, I ordered chicken enchiladas and my friend had cheese enchiladas. The meals came with rice, and other sides typical for a plate with enchiladas. Everything was great including the service. Cantina Gueros was excellent overall despite the problem at the beginning of the visit. Just a few minutes ago, my wife opened our refrigerator and reminded me that we bought chips at the store so let’s eat the chips with Cantina Gueros. She sure got...

Third time here and it was a charm. After our last visit my wife and I decided to give Cantina Gueros a third try and we are so happy we did. We wanted to sit at the bar top as our last experience was not good; so we waited about 5 minutes for two spots to open up. Within 30 seconds one of the bartenders was over to greet us and ask us if we would like something to drink? We asked her for her recommendation and she said either the Guero Margarita or the Prickly Pear Margarita; we ended up having both and they were delicious. The Tocino Guac was spectacular as an appetizer and the surf and turf fajitas hit the spot. The two young ladies behind the bar, Kristin and Chase I believe, were spot on; they were friendly and engaging with everyone and their teamwork was terrific. One last note I appreciate the response from the ownership team, especially Jenna, as they were quick to respond to our comments last time and her follow through was a major reason we came back again. Big shout out to all. Thank you for an enjoyable evening. Five stars

Second time here; first time sat on the patio and had amazing service and great food. Unfortunately our visit this time was no where near as good. We sat at the bar top and the service was atrocious and negligent. We sat at the bar and waited 5-7 minutes before being greeted. Our drinks arrived and then so did our friends; they then waited another 6-8 minutes until they were acknowledged. We then waited approximately another 20 minutes to order food. During this entire time there was almost no engagement with anyone sitting at the bar. My pablona pepper with barbacoa was excellent as was my wife’s street taco. We asked the barback for multiple items some he was able to help us with others he passed to the bartenders which than took way to long to get. Our friends mentioned something to one of the managers who responded by saying this wasn’t the first time he heard this tonight. The restaurant had plenty of staff but seemed to lack direction. My hope is for a better...