El Barco Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Prairie Township

The worst dining experience from a service stand point I've ever had.

Highlights:

No silverware No napkins No menu Ignored Very non-inclusive/unwelcoming atmosphere.

I almost walked out 3 times. I arrived at 12:50, I let a family of 7 in ahead of me because I was only 1. After they were seated I stood at the counter, while the hostess and waitstaff were going back and forth not one person spoke to me, 2 parties came in after me and both were addressed and seated before me, this was when I first contemplated leaving. But eventually someone did ask, "how many." I told them 1 and they wanted me to sit at the bar, which isn't what I wanted but seeing as they were busy I didn't press the issue but she told me to wait, so I did. Another group came in and were seated before me. Once I was seated at the bar it was over 12 minutes before I was asked if I wanted anything to drink, I only know it was at least 12 minutes because after sitting there for a while unattended I started to count and it was during this time I was again pondering just walking out. I was brought my drink and drink only, no napkins, no chips, nothing and not a word was spoken, no menu offered, no attempt to take my order. Some time went by before I again started counting and was again considering leaving, but having already received a drink I felt obligated to stay at this point. After 15 minutes of sitting there staring at the bottles behind the bar and pretending I didn't understand the conversations of the other patrons at the bar and seated around me finally I was asked if I needed this card with a q code to see the menu, which I didn't need because I knew what I wanted before I got there. While ordering I had to ask for chips and salsa even though everyone around me had been brought these things immediately and I order the choriqueso to go with the chips and Chile Verde as my meal. It took a few minutes to get the chips and salsa, but no choriqueso. After a time the choriqueso and chili verde came out at the same time, so kind of pointless. Still no napkins and was never given any silverware, I used the chips to break up the pork and to spoon the ingredients onto my tortillas. Was never checked on again. All the while all the waitstaff, including my waiter were continually asking everyone around me, "¿esta bien?" "¿esta bien?" "¿esta bien?" Yes, they're fine, may I get a box and the check please? I waited a while with mostly empty plates pushed away from me waiting for the check but finally had to stop the guy and ask for a box and the check. I'll also note that this waiter never once looked me while addressing me. Gave me a box and the check and then went back to ignoring me even though I already had my card out and in hand when he gave me the check. Again several minutes went by after I had boxed up my food and I got tired of waiting thinking maybe you just pay upfront, only to be called back cause he needed to ring me out at the bar register.

I've never eaten in a more uncomfortable environment, again the other patrons no knowing I could understand them, though the head nods and finger pointing were not very subtle.

The food was good though, I'm just not sure I'd care to endure the...

8/23/25 Today my husband, daughter and me wanted to go eat somewhere we decided to go to el barco ! Is the second time after 3 years that we went there and it was the worse decision, first we got to the table we were waiting for the waiter (Dayana) she came up to the table talking in her cellphone in front of us , she finished talking and look at us and doesn’t even say hi or I’m sorry or something and I’m like OK! She asked us what we want to drink my husband got a Michelada $(9.99) very expensive and it was hot , and didn’t taste good either, my daughter a limonade $5 ok so we are thinking she is bringing us chips and salsa and no never brought them I asked her after a looong wait for chips and salsa and she says they are cold that’s why she didn’t bring them otherwise she would have brought them so we are expecting them still , other people comes in and they bring them chips and salsa so I asked other server for chips and salsa and they are cold !! So we also ordered fajitas and molcajete and tacos the worst food I ever had in a Mexican restaurant and the worst service too the meat was very hard to bite my husband was like eating a plastic or something my food came out wrong and all the food was unsalted or seasoned it tasted horrible my daughter didn’t like her tacos same no taste! Our waiter didn’t come back at all ! So I didn’t eat my food I decided to take it home and try to put some seasoning and salt at least because we spent almost a $100 to throw it away ! So I asked other lady for boxes she is starting to take the plates with some of the food I was going to pack 😡 !! Oh also our waiter is talking again in front of us with other server when we were ordering our food so there we are waiting until she is done talking! Wow !!!! We are so disappointed and mad about EVERYTHING!!!! The worst experience we will never go back !!!!!! Also the music is waaaayyy too loud we had to scream when we were talking!!!! Oh and then she brings my husband other michelada when he didn’t even ordered!!!!😡🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ so we didn’t leave a tip !! I was a waitress for 7years I know perfectly how to treat a customer I know how is like working in a...

O...M...G!!! EL BARCO IS PHENOMENAL!!! Their Margaritas are to DIE for!! The food - OUTSTANDING and the service!? I've NEVER in my 60 years, had better service!!! The young lady who was our waitress listened intently as my husband explained his medically required food restrictions. When asked for her recommendation for a dish that would fall within those restrictions she immediately suggested the Pollo Loco. As my husband examined that dish, he asked if it could be made without the onions and she assured him that it could. We'd also requested whether their Spanish rice contained corn; which she indicated it didn't. These folks went ABOVE AND BEYOND to accommodate hubby's needs!!! They even sent out a side of "plain" rice, JUST IN CASE the Spanish rice held something he couldn't eat!!!! We've had MANY experiences attempting to dine out with his restrictions and I can assure you that NEVER have our requests been more thoroughly accepted AND accommodated!!! I'm always diligent to let the establishment know these are not allergies, but are just as potentially deadly, to impress just how vital it is that any dish hubby orders is SAFE for him to eat. I understand that "special requests" are extremely difficult for kitchens to accommodate and we, as the consumer, do our darnedest to choose dishes that are as close to "acceptable" without special handling, but when your restrictions include no onions, seeds, anything with a husk or hull and no skins, it is EXTREMELY difficult. Therefore it makes the EXTRA SPECIAL care that the folks at El Barco took to ensure the safety of my husband's dish THAT MUCH MORE SPECIAL &...