Pep's Mexican Steakhouse — Restaurant in Portland

My first visit there was quite pleasant. I am new to Portland and very gun shy...about going anywhere on my own just yet but I attended karaoke there last weekend. I have never been treated more poorly than I was by the bearded male bartender in the bar section where the karaoke is. I'm not going to bother going into why the visit was such a complete and utter disaster but for the prices they charge given the food that they actually serve...? I've seen better in about 14 US states and two other countries...that put that food+ atmosphere+quality of service (Therein lies the kicker, as it should be!) His unabashed lack of knowledge for example, of how of how a Tom Collins is made. HE instead KID you NOT lol failed to acknowledge my VERY polite, even timid suggestion about googling it.... NO, he still wondering what it was I plan to drink since that was off the menu apparently, or hadn't the grace nor common sense enough, to go look it up on his cell phone in the back...they were NOT busy, despite it being labor day wknd AND Id been told, this was only night 1 of 2 and (gasp!) even 3 live DJ run Karaoke nights conseq. Gooooo P-town, you got this! Yes, I'm a Karaoke /DJ fan. So either outsmart me, outsing me, or sue me baby, all I know is? That bearded bartender could've very nonchalantly looked up the drink HIMSELF via cell, discreetly asked his coworker - etc ANY of which would have left him looking a whole lot more personable , professional, friendly, experienced (nevermind tip-minded, gentlemanly nor sophisticated) or plain old properly trained.

I don't give hardly ANY truly scathing reviews. Especially because I'm not just a tech savvy, multi platform utilizing, now-retired, computer scientist. More relevant here if not important, also a self made, college educated (at my own expense) small- medium, multi state & city- business owner & founder. At times...moved my repair business to towns MUCH smaller & less forgiving than THIS one. (Places where word of mouth truly IS everything and ALWAYS will be) be that as it is take this as you will & may it serve YOU well, so that in the future, you & those you employ, do a much BETTER job of serving OTHERS. God bless.. and fyi!? You need to first pressure cook/slow cook or smoke) then preferably fork shred, THEN truly, lightly but importantly ! refry in light oil & proper seasoning.) The "steak" you served me with those nachos... arrived in long, greasy, too- thickly cut & over-cooked strips. That I was to what? SOMEHOW myself cut up properly (with your dull steak knives) WHILST they'd already been plopped atop where not surprisingly by this point, completely soggy, white corn tortilla chips (soggy from Queso Blanco which tasted suspiciously like good old store bought HEB brand, js) That is I guess, unless I planned to what?! slurp these large chunks of steak shaped like a thick-cut french fries?! Cute when those two dogs do so, in a much beloved kids cartoon perhaps:) only see... they were sharing a plate of (one hopes, aldente, agel hair or at LEAST well cooked lol) spaghetti! Thus steak tasted btw like liquid smoke... and a very tired chef. Either he/she does sloppy work or fails to properly oversee what leaves their kitchen. Hey though, how & what do I know, right? I admit, I did fail to complete my training under an actual, world renowned Chef in Germany. He was admittedly also almost intolerably arrogant - but then, few aren't!) No, CS instead, I just enjoy singing sometimes & like good...

So today I stopped to get my Peps on at what is probably my favorite restaurant when I’m in Corpus Christi which is two days a week. Unfortunately my experience today was not memorable, seems there were two gentlemen ahead of me with one picking up a pretty big order and the other like me just needing to place a Togo order. Both gentlemen were white, the first one was busy getting his order and the young lady took the second man’s order but failed to take or even ask me for my order or even what I needed. I waited 5 more minutes patiently to no avail, I finally asked if someone could please take my order and was told someone would be by, another 5 minutes went by nothing, finally to my surprise the young lady approached me however instead of asking what I needed she asked if I was helping the white gentleman with his to go order, imagine that here I’m waiting patiently to just place my order and she thought I was the help, well shame on her and you Peps you are better than that. I politely informed the young lady that no I’m not the helper and was waiting to place an order to go and walked out disappointed but still took the time to hold the door open for both the white gentleman and the young lady as they were still taking food out to his truck. This in no way will stop me from going and getting my Peps on in the future however cause they do have the most amazing food in Corpus Christi area including my favorite sizzling beef, chicken fajitas, shrimp and sausage plate which is to die for. I understand that we all have bad days and this was probably one of theirs. I would just hope this finds the correct person in management so that they correct this and try and prevent it from happening. No I do not think they are racist, just a slight...

I used to really like Pepitos - now not so much

I went to order the lunch menu on a Saturday however they wern't offering that same lunch price so I offered to pay the difference since it really was just the particular food items that I wanted. Now part of the lunch deal is that you get a free un-sweet tea with your order. They wanted to charge me for it even though I paid the difference in price for the special. Really upset that they were insisting on charging me the 1.99 or something when it was supposed to come with the meal.

I ordered take out for myself and a friend. I went to pick up the order and they took my card and charged it and brought out the wrong order and had already over charged my card. They had to void it out which took several days from the bank to process.

Tried to order the lunch special again today during the correct time/dates. When I got my order and asked for my tea the waitress had to go ask another lady if I was allowed to get a tea. She stated where I could hear her that she guessed thats fine, but not to give me any chips. Talk about rude, when I confronted her about it she denied it and that she had said that within hearing distance. I didn't even want chips, just the tea that is offered in the price of the lunch special.

Conclusion - If you are going to offer a tea with a lunch special don't give your customers crap about it. No one wants to be nickel and dimed. Also make sure you confirm take out orders before charging...