A Toda Madre Mexican Kitchen — Restaurant in Raleigh

I found this spot on tik tok and the food looked amazing! I decided to come here for my 40th birthday so I called to make a reservation for 15 at 8 , away from the live band that they have on Saturdays. The lady took my name number and said we can def put you in the back away from the band and we can’t wait to see you on your birthday. I get there at 807 because parking was impossible. I go in and say hi I have a reservation under Jennifer for 8 o’clock. The girls looks confused because I’m not on any of their post-it. Then she starts shaking her head saying who did you speak to? I said I didn’t get her name but I called yesterday and made it. She starts shaking her head as if I’m lying. I’m Not sure why anybody would just show up on their 40th with 15 ppl and not call for a reservation. I continue to show her the call in my phone and she continues to say we don’t take reservation after Wednesday. I said well maybe you need to tell your whole staff that since one of them took reservations on a Friday. I’m extremely pissed at this point. She offered to bump us to the top of the list but there would be a wait. I wanted to leave but nobody else’s nearby could not accommodate my party. So we decided to wait. After about an hour they say we’re ready and seats us at a table for 12 when there’s 15 here. 3 ppl are standing at this point. They wanted to wait unit the table next to us moved so they could add chairs. They didn’t move and those 3 ppl had to sit somewhere else. The waitress comes over and starts taking drinks. I order a drink and a water. When my water got there I stuck my straw in and drink some. After a few sips, I noticed lipstick on the other side. I was not wearing lipstick nor do I just drink out of a restaurant cup without a straw! I showed the waitress and she quickly took it away. And brought me another one. After ordering our food.. the live band comes in and it sounded like I was in the middle of a parade! The sound was louder than any clubs I’ve been in. My head is actually still pounding. Also, they didn’t acknowledge national margarita day which is one of the reasons I chose Mexican cuisine on my bday. My husband found a large table in the back so we moved before our food came out. The food was underwhelming and not worth the wait. One of the waitresses came over waving boxes in the air and my husband hadn’t even got his plate yet when most ppl were done eating. We spoke to the manager Josh and although he said he would make things right… he did not, I am so disappointed in the whole night and feel you all ruined my birthday dinner. I will probably never return to this establishment. Horrible customer service and extremely understaffed for the amount of ppl...

The food was absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere was great! The restaurant was beautifully decorated, creating a lively and authentic experience. There was even a live mariachi band, which added to the ambiance but did make it a bit loud—something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a quieter dining experience.

Unfortunately, the service was disappointing. Our server, Mireidys R., was inattentive and rushed. She would stop by briefly but leave so quickly that we couldn’t ask for everything we needed. We had to request refills and it took her ages to come back.

The biggest issue, though, was at the end of the meal. One tab was paid in cash—$20 for a $16 and change total—and when she returned with change, she only gave back $2, saying, “I don’t have the rest, is that okay?” At first, we thought it was just the coins missing, but she completely kept the $1.72 without even attempting to break the bill. As former servers, we found this unacceptable—she could have easily gone to the bar or used other cash to make proper change.

When we asked for the missing money, she made it seem like we were being unreasonable. What’s even crazier is that the restaurant automatically applies an 18% gratuity. We usually tip 20%, so she would have actually made more, but after that experience, she only got what she forced out of us—the missing $0.72.

Overall, the food was incredible, but the service needs serious improvement. Hopefully, management provides better training because this was completely...

I had an outstanding dining experience at this Mexican restaurant! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was inviting and vibrant, creating the perfect setting for a great meal. The music selection was fantastic, enhancing the overall ambiance and making the experience even more enjoyable.

The food was absolutely delicious—every dish was full of rich, authentic flavors and expertly prepared. You can truly taste the quality and effort put into each plate. Everything we ordered exceeded our expectations, leaving us more than satisfied.

A special mention to Bayron, our server, who provided exceptional service throughout our visit. He was attentive, friendly, and constantly checked in to ensure we had everything we needed. His professionalism and hospitality made our visit even more enjoyable.

Overall, this restaurant delivers on all fronts—delicious food, a fantastic atmosphere, and top-tier service. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic and enjoyable dining experience. Without a doubt, we’ll be...