Palenque kitchen by Mezcal — Restaurant in Riverside

Disappointing Brunch Experience

I visited Palenque for brunch on Sunday and unfortunately, it was quite disappointing. The food was mediocre at best. The bread from my mollete tasted like old oil and I really paid $18 for pan con frijoles and queso 😵‍💫. Most of the food arrived at room temperature rather than hot. The portions were on the smaller side. The brunch menu is extremely limited, though they do offer a wide range of alcoholic beverages.

The service was just okay; we had to sit with dirty plates for a while before they were cleared. There's a waiting area by the bathroom…since there's only one bathroom available.

My agua de limón tasted like they squeezed an entire yellow lemon, including the peel, and added just a few drops of water. On a positive note, my table was ready on time and the hostess was very nice.

The chips, salsa, and guacamole were decent. But my husband, who usually has a stomach of steel, ended up with a stomach ache and had to run to the bathroom because of the enchiladas.

The main reason I chose this place to celebrate my birthday was for the blueberry lemon tres leches, but it was such a letdown. I should have just bought a tres leches cake from the grocery store.

To top it off, I was told I needed to purchase an additional dessert in order for them to sing happy birthday to me since I didn’t tell them when I initially ordered the first 2 desserts. This policy is ridiculous.

The only thing I genuinely enjoyed was the music playing, which had a great millennial clubbing vibe.

Overall, this place is overpriced and the food quality is not worth it. I wouldn't recommend it for a special occasion or even a...

Loud and obnoxious.

Service? Amazing. Food? Decent Cleanliness. Good.

Let's get into it!

Upon walking home we were greeted immediately. Took about 10mins for them to clear a table for brunch on a Sunday. I realize it was quite busy at this time. However make your new customers know what's going on. Instead of just having us stand in the front looking like idiots. Have more communication.

Finally we were brought to our table. Asked to change tables as the first option was crowded all around and oddly placed. They acknowledged us to another table all good.

Moving onto the ordering and food. Our waitress was very attentive and cool. She really did make us feel special and made it a personal and great experience.

Huevos rancheros. Verde sauce was very mild. Eggs cooked perfectly. All ingredients fresh. Tortillas were tasty. I'd definitely order this again.

Chilaquiles Red was spicy and a very large plate. Green was far more mild and a much smaller plate. Not sure how the consistency is with portions. But seems a little off here.

Now let's get to the music. So loud I couldn't even hear myself think. And this is during brunch like god damn. Turn it down maybe just by 1 so people can talk? That'd be ideal.

So overall. Will I return? Sure and hopefully dinner is a new experience. With a better review and better food and less music.

Bathrooms were clean. Tables were kinda clean? Things definitely need more attention with the closing crew for...

The worst service I've ever had. Fast food service is even better than this place.

Went with my girlfriend on Valentine's day. Had a reservation for seven o'clock. Didn't get seated for twenty minutes. No biggie whatever. The hostess was rude and didn't greet us and just pointed us to the table without saying anything. We then waited another half hour without being acknowledged until I got up and grabbed a server to come take our order. Another twenty minutes. One of our two appetizers arrive. I had to get up and grab a server to bring us our other appetizer. Another 40 minutes pass before our food arrives. The food was good but we had to get up and grab another server to even get us utensils to eat it with. After we ate we waited another 30 minutes until I got up and grabbed a waiter to give me the check. We paid and left.

Seriously? I'd expect that service from a dive bar but we paid $100+ for our meal and got such terrible service. The food was decent but my girlfriend was STARVING by the time it ever got to us. I'm fine with long waits but nobody even bothered to acknowledge us until I forced them to. I won't be returning and I will never...