Ernesto's Mexican Food — Restaurant in Sacramento

We stopped in. The first thing we notice was hell fire heat inside the restaurant, like the AC was broken. We waited for more than five minute for someone to even ask us if we had been seated or helped. Since she was the only hostess and passed us 3 times I assumed that she wouldn't miss 4 people.

We were seated and given salsa, beans and chips. We waited another 5-7 minutes before being asked if we needed drinks. Again this restaurant was not overly busy. We ordered our sodas and food. My sister stated she wanted no ice but it was filled with ice. Okay no problem. I stated I wanted a grilled chicken quesadilla and she repeated chicken Colorado quesadillas, I politely corrected her and repeated my order. There was some issue as we couldn't find regular tacos. I attempted to order pozole, as stated in their website, but apparently its only served weekends. There was no carne asada option but everything was Colorado this or that. We got our drinks about five minutes later.

During our wait we had a nice guy bring us more chips, salsa and beans. I noticed what appeared to me a Manager mico managing seating arrangements for various parties. I also noticed a younger male sarcastically saying to the you hispanic male bussing a table, that brought us chips, "he you you're doing a great job, We appreciate it and other workers laughing. Like a hazing situation in high school. To which this kid paid no attention or mind to. We waited another 45 minutes and finally got fed up. I walked to the front with my kids and sister. We told them we'd like to pay for the drinks and leave. Almost 1 hour for food is unacceptable. The hostess seemed irritated and went to get our waitress. Out waitress cam up front and told us our food was ready. However, it was not going to happen. She stated that she needed to call her manager.

She got on a phone and called him, at the hostess desk. The manger did not speak a word to us and tried to put something into the hostess computer but she was using it so he was unable to do whatever he was doing. He and the waitress left. She came back with a receipt for the two sodas. I paid for it and age looked like she was scared and apologetic.

First of all this hostess should've greeted and recognized us when we came in and stood in front of her desk. Two, the menu should reflect authentic Mexican food. Who doesnt seve pozole and tacos regularly ? Or have Carne asada on the menu? Three, whoever's cooking this, it should not have take. More than 40 minutes to make it. Three, who berates other co-workers period? The fact that a manager did not ask any questions, apologize or do anything speaks volumes. TURN UP YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TURN...

First and last time I give money to this restaurant, literally, they kept my money while I received lies.

Their business practices are truly unprofessional and conniving. On the evening of Sunday, Dec 5th, after a long day's work, I sought to give this restaurant a chance by placing an order through their online ordering system (rather than delivery service). While keeping in mind that many businesses were changing their business hours, I noticed that their operating hours were Saturday & Sunday 1 - 10 p.m. I ordered because I would have some wiggle room to pick up my order, given that I was driving from the other side of town. I placed my order after 7:30 p.m., I arrived at 8:20 p.m. and the location was closed with all lights off and zero activity.

I called the following day and the employee stated that kitchen staff waited until 8:15 p.m. but that no one arrived. I respectfully informed the individual that their website clearly showed their hours of business from 1- 10 p.m. (and had a screenshot as proof) and needed a refund since I didn't get any food (which most businesses do). The person replied by stating she would inform the restaurant's accountant and that I would be contacted within a few days.

Today, Wednesday, Dec 9th, I received a call from the restaurant and they informed me that they would not reimburse me because I didn't pick up my food before they closed at 8 p.m. I informed the individual that their website clearly indicated "Sat&Sun business hours 1-10 p.m." She then retracted her statement and said staff waited for me until 9:30 p.m.

One thing is to say you cant reimburse me for a misunderstanding, based on your inability to update your business hours on your website (or Google), and another thing is to flat out lie that the business was open until 9:30 p.m Sunday evening. Which is completely false! Not only am I appalled by their business practices, I am struck by the direct act of deception by management. Most of us are facing economic hardship, and to keep my money without making an effort to provide relief is beyond unprofessional.

As a Latino, most, if not all, Mexican restaurants treat their customers with exceptional respect and courtesy. However, that was not the case with Ernesto's. I will always support Mexican restaurants but this one is no longer...

Ernesto's is a place I've been going to for years. Not so much anymore, as I no longer live in Sacto, but every time I'm back in town (every year or two). Unfortunately, that's probably coming to an end.

The wife and I stopped in on a busy Sunday night, which initially I was happy to see. Last time we were at Ernesto's the place was pretty dead and I was concerned it might go out of business. Once we sat down our waitress took our drink orders pretty quickly, along with an appetizer request. However, I became a bit concerned when she was unfamiliar with the tequila selection we made (the tequila selection at Ernesto's used to be pretty extensive, but that's not the case anymore). After that waits for food and drinks we're very protracted. We got the impression that our waitress was probably very new and just not very adept.

Soooo... the food here is still pretty good and the portions quite ample. We both thought the chili relenos were very good, and my wife thought her tamale was decent. I felt the same about my chicken taco. The chicken enchilada on the other hand was pretty mediocre I thought. The bean dip appetizer was excellent.

As for the margaritas... weak, underwhelming and overpriced describes them perfectly. My wife and I always get margs when we go out for Mexican food, and so a good margarita made with good tequila is important to us. Ernesto's used to have a wide, interesting selection of tequilas and made very good margaritas with their selection. Unfortunately, that's no longer the case. On a positive note, I felt completely unimpaired after my two watered down margaritas, so there were no concerns driving back to our hotel. On a not so positive note, we were charged $22/$23 a piece for our margaritas. So maybe it was a good thing after all that the margs here were so lackluster (and we weren't tempted to order any more). If we were ever to go here again, I would not order any margaritas.

Poor service, weak, over priced margaritas and not very clean bathrooms (according to my wife), with no better than fairly decent food. I'm just not sure that's something I need to go back...