Guads Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Portsmouth

A couple of my friends and I decided to grab dinner and drinks together after work, googled "Mexican Food," and chose Guads based on stars for reviews. Quick review: Disappointed. We were able to easily find street parking nearby (mid-week, about 7pm). The ambiance was more for a bar than a restaurant, but it appeared clean. They have outside tables, but it was too cold to comfortably eat outside. In fact, the restaurant was a bit chilly indoors as well, though we were sitting by the front windows. The service was just OK. The server seemed rushed and annoyed, though they weren't particularly busy. We ordered chips with queso and salsa, between 3 hungry ladies we couldn't/ wouldn't finish the queso because it had texture and flavor issues. We did go through 2 baskets of chips with the salsa, though. I had a traditional mojito, and it was bland and seemed watered down, though it did have real mint. My friend noted that her margarita was also "not great." I ordered a shrimp dish (I forget the name), but shrimp with garlic and a guacamole salad. When the waiter set the plate down, my nose was instantly offended; the shrimp smelled "off." There was a comical amount of that pre-minced refrigerator garlic that the shrimp were swimming in, which made the dish even less appealing. I ate one shrimp and decided that I was not willing to have another. When the waiter stopped back by the table, I let him know that I had found the dish distasteful, and he offered to get me something else. I ordered the enchiladas supremas (my typical go-to, no beef, two cheese because they do not offer mushroom). The enchiladas were just OK; the cheese was rubbery, the chicken was bland, and the beans were decent. Of the 3 of us, 2 of us did not finish our meals, nor did we take the leftovers home (one friend ordered chile rellanos, the other ordered a beef dish). Both of my friends are Hispanic, and neither would be willing to recommend this place either. Overall, we were not just unimpressed but...

I recently visited your establishment based on a recommendation from a colleague who spoke highly of the food. While the food was decent, the customer service left a lot to be desired.

I called ahead to place an order and had a question about the nachos—specifically, whether they were truly "loaded" with meat or if I would need to order extra. Unfortunately, the gentleman on the phone seemed irritated and frustrated, cutting me off before I could finish my question. Despite this, I decided to take my chances and place the order.

Upon arriving, the atmosphere was pleasant, but my experience with the server, Rodrigo (who I believe was the same person I spoke with on the phone), was very disappointing. There was no greeting, no thank you, and the overall energy was smug and unwelcoming. As a paying customer, I expected basic courtesy, and I certainly didn’t receive it.

This experience was frustrating, and I won’t be returning. I’ll also be sharing my experience on social media. As the saying goes, "You never know who will walk into your establishment, so treat everyone as you would want to...

Guads is a really nice place to dine. There is plenty of indoor seating, as well as outdoor seating. There is also a bar. Our server was very attentive. He took our drink order promply, had chips on the table, and gave us space to review the menu. There was a great selection of items. For once, the menu had several dessert options. I selected the pork carnitas. The pork was fork tender and delicious. My companion ordered the beef chimichangas. These were uniquely presented as the pic will show. We enjoyed our entrees so much that we decided to order from the dessert menu. I ordered the cinnimon chimichurris and my companion had a fried ice cream. Both of these were absolutely delish! As the sun set, i noticed how cozy the outside seating was. There were ample tables, wrought iron and lights. The guest lingered and seemed to enjoy there experience. We stayed for a very long time to socialize with our friends. Our server continued to check on us and keep our drink glass filled. Our experience was lovely. We...