FRIDA'S COCINA & TEQUILA — Restaurant in Port Saint Lucie

We have been hearing about this place since they opened! PSL'ers were excited to welcome this New Mexican venue to Port Saint Lucie, and visitors raved. We were excited as well because I'm a Frida fan and have followed her life, art, history and more since the late 90's.

My question now that we finally got there is.... WHY all the excitement?

In a nutshell here's why they barely made a 2-stars with a Mexican food connoisseur.

Pros The ambiance is lovely The busses was nice and funny They sat us quickly in their empty restaurant

Cons

The waiter NEVER smiled, made eye contact, or displayed any type of enthusiasm to be at work let alone serve us.

The waiter was limited English so when I spoke in Spanish he refused to partake and would never look us in the face

I was pointing to the lunch menu and asking about it. I admit I'm guilty for not reading the fine print, but the waiter NEVER told us they don't serve lunch on Saturdays. He should have told us this before we ordered. We got a fat surprise when the bill arrived. The waiter also seem perplexed or upset we didn't want cocktails, it was barely 2pm!

The food came suspiciously fast! The waiter warned us the plates were hot, we were careful but oddly enough... the food was not hot and the cheese not melted!? THIS I can assure you ladies and gentlemen indicates that food came out of a freezer or refrigerator, I know this first hand as I'm a cook and caterer.

We are from California and we know Mexican food, this carne asada had the weirdest flavors a blend of artificial smoke flavoring AND of all things worchestire sauce aka Salsa Inglesa which in all honesty is the same thing. I have NEVER heard of any parts of Mexico using this ingredient, it is much more popular in Costa Rica and other Centeal American countries. Huge disappointment! Their rice, beans and even guacamole was another disappointment. Seriously who can get this so wrong? The unmelted cheese was another disappointment, processed cheese indeed!

My husbands enchiladas verdes (photos), were the worse! I should have immediately asked them to bring us more enchilada salsa verde. The tortillas were cracking that's how dry they were and the chicken inside was dry shredded chicken!??? Who's back there cooking??!!! The chicken had zero flavor and was dry too. Hubby immediately commented "yours are way better!" 100 percent!

That we paid near $8 for a agua fresca was another disappointment but we shared it so it was fine.

The ending note was we decided to decline dessert which he intentions to try the flan. Then the bill comes!!! The waiter dropped it off came back when I placed our cash there and NEVER came back to give us our change?!! Never came back to say thank you, and we waited til he reappeared so we could say bye and he decided to wave all the way from the back. I barely ate but took it home so I can try to doc it up some but that carne asada will be a task, the flavors are non or Mejico and it is a traditional plate you should not get wrong as a Mexican chef! Very sad and to say the least.... Frida would say "Vivir de recuredos es morir." We will never return.

This place is doomed they are probably going to be ok because PSL has no clue about good authentic Mexican food. Still I wish them luck but they need better staff a chef and much better waiters.

PS when hubby reheated his enchiladas hoping it would be better the cheese still DID NOT melt!!! What is...

In Florida, a business cannot require you to provide a registration card or any form of documentation for your service dog. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses are limited in what they can ask when it comes to service animals. Specifically, they are only allowed to ask two questions: Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

They cannot: • Ask about the nature of your disability. • Require documentation, such as proof of certification or registration. • Demand that the service animal demonstrate its tasks.

The ADA and Florida law both require that service animals be allowed in public areas, provided they are under control and do not pose a direct threat to health or safety.

If a restaurant violates these rules, you can report them to the U.S. Department of Justice or the Florida Commission on Human Relations.

A service dog is not required to wear any special equipment, identification, or vest under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Florida law. While some service dog owners choose to use vests, harnesses, or tags to identify their dogs, it is not legally required.

The only requirements for a service dog are: The dog must be trained to perform specific tasks related to the handler’s disability. The dog must be under control, which can mean being leashed, harnessed, or otherwise tethered unless these devices interfere with the dog’s tasks. In that case, the dog must be under control through voice commands or other means.

Businesses and public entities cannot deny access to a service dog based on the lack of identification or...

Disputing that 1 star review !!! SERVICE ANIMALS ARE WELCOMED!! Please read ….. I’ve been a regular at Frida’s for quite some time, and I can confidently say it’s one of the best Mexican restaurants around. Not just for the incredible food, but for the stellar service and atmosphere. As someone who relies on a legitimate service dog, I’ve visited dozens of times with my well-trained companion by my side, and I’ve never once encountered an issue. The staff here is attentive, kind, and clearly understands the importance of accommodating those of us with genuine service animals. My dog is always greeted with a smile, and we’re treated impeccably every time. Recently, I came across a 1-star review claiming this place doesn’t allow service animals, and I couldn’t disagree more. From what I’ve seen firsthand, the team here knows the difference between a true service animal and a pet being passed off as one. They’re smart about it, too!! On one occasion, I witnessed them politely but firmly ask a customer to leave after their dog (which was barking and lunging at others) disrupted the entire dining room. It was clear that wasn’t a trained service animal, and I applaud the staff for handling it professionally while keeping the comfort and safety of everyone in mind. That’s not discrimination; that’s common sense and good management. It’s a shame someone would leave a sour-grapes review over being called out for misrepresenting their pet. Don’t let that noise deter you. This place is a gem. The food is phenomenal margaritas are must-have. The service is top-notch, and they absolutely respect the rights of those with legitimate service animals. Five stars...