El Veracruz Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Pineville

Re-Edit - Over the last 4yrs I’ve dined at this mexican restaurant at least 60 times. See prior review below. I originally gave this location a 5 star review and wished I could rate the location a 10 out of 10 because I love the food and the staff, That was until my family and I recently met the senior mexican owner. This new post is a edit…

The old Mexican man made it his business to interact with our table, for the first time ever the food took forever to come out mind you the restaurant was empty and when i asked our waitress what was taking the app, food and drinks so long she expressed how sorry she was and explained the owner asked her to do something. The food arrived shockingly cold, yet this location normally sets the food at the table sizzling hot. We ordered guacamole as an appetizer, yet the guacamole arrived with our main course. For the first time in 4yrs I was forced to asked to speak to a manager. The owner arrived.

The old Mexican owner was none caring nor concerned with our love for the place and our current grievances, as I expressed how long my family and i have supported his establishment. He was short with his words, angry and miserable. His aura was horrible. I will never support this location again as I’ve urged everyone I turned on to this Mexican restaurant not to dine here.

We also had our 16mo old toddler dining with us, so i was excited to let him taste some of the food for the first time. That wasn’t possible because the rice arrived with pepper on top (the rice never arrives with pepper sprinkled on top and the guacamole arrived spicy, yet i ordered non spicy. When the owner took pride in telling me “he cooked the food” i knew this would be the last experience I had at this restaurant.

PRIOR REVIEW 👇 I was i could give this restaurant 10 stars!!!! This is the best MEXICAN (food) restaurant in the Charlotte area period! I'm originally from a larger city, a city that offers many amazing restaurants on every corner. This restaurant not only has amazing food, they have great service. El Veracruz Mexican Restaurant in Pineville definitely exceed my expectations! I went here with my wife and daughter on a Tuesday, Alex was our waiter. Don't miss out, if your reading this review head over to this location and...

From the moment we walked in at 10:03. The lady, who seems to be the owner, didn’t greet us. She looked at our son up and down and proceeded to say that minors are not allowed after 11. Mind you, it was 10:03 We sat with our party whom were waiting for us and ordered our food. When our food came, my husband and mother’s tortas were cold! They took it back and brought it with literally no meat inside. The same lady approaches our table and stated word for word, “ Did the child leave? Also did you know you can’t where hats here?” As she said that, I looked around and saw that there were 3 other men with hats on and she did not say anything to them. The service & atmosphere is horrible. If I could give this please 0 stars, I would. If the lady is the owner, please get off your high horse and treat everyone equally! The table next to us had more than 1 child at the table and nothing was being said. Horrible. Not again.

Desde el momento en que entramos a las 10:03. La señora, que parece ser la dueña, no nos saludó. Miró a nuestro hijo de arriba abajo y procedió a decir que no se permiten menores de edad después de 11. Eran las 10. Nos sentamos con nuestro grupo que nos estaba esperando y pedimos nuestra comida. Cuando llegó la comida, ¡las tortas de mi esposo y mi madre estaban frías! Se las llevaron y después las trajeron otra vez literalmente sin carne adentro. La misma señora se acerca a nuestra mesa y dice palabra por palabra: “¿Se llevaron al niño? ¿También sabías que no puedes andar con goras aquí? ". Mientras decía eso, miré a mi alrededor y vi que había otros 3 hombres con goras y ella no les dijo nada. El servicio y el ambiente es horrible. Si pudiera dar 0 estrellas, lo haría. Si la señora es la dueña, ¡que se baja del caballo y trate a todos por igual! La mesa de al lado tenía más de 1 niño en la mesa y no...

This restaurant will probably rate a fifth star on our return visit, but I just can't give them out like candy!

We moved from the Raleigh area 2 years ago, and occasionally try a new Mexican restaurant in the Fort Mill/ Pineville area. We've been mildly disappointed by most of them.

I got the big burrito (chicken) and It met my standard for what a good burrito is like. I've only had one other that good here in the Fort Mill area.

Cyndi got a burrito and enchilada combo. She usually gets chicken, this time she got beef, and said it was just average. She thinks she should try the chicken. But she gobbled it down fast enough 🙂.

Chips were okay, salsa was good, and we got queso which was just a bowl of melted cheese. Tasted okay, nothing special.

The fellow running the place was friendly, and checked on us frequently.

El Veracruz is a non-descript place (sorry) tucked away a block off of highway 51, and you won't see it from the highway. It's pretty plain inside, too. A little roadhouse, not big on atmospherics. That counts for little compared to the food.

There is a Don Pedro's about two blocks away that may catch most of the attention for a Mexican restaurant in the area. You'll have to hunt a bit for this one.

The walls are bouncy and it can get a little loud. It wasn't really busy when we got there, but a party of preteen girls and adults arrived and that raised the noise level some. Mexican music plays quietly in the background.

A cozy restaurant with great food might be a little nicer. But I'll be back to try a few other dishes. If they are as good as the burrito, then I'll plunk down that coveted fifth star and have a place to go on a...