Centro Highland — Restaurant in Saint Paul

My sibling and I went to the Centro Highland today. We were greated by the host and given instructions on ordering. We sat ourselves in a booth by the window and each ordered separately on our phones. I ordered a burger and coke while my sibling ordered blue corn pancakes, side of salsa, side of guacamole and a breakfast burrito. Being vegan they made alterations to the burrito, they requested no eggs and then being there was no option to removed cheese or creme they added a comment to the special instructions stating "no dairy". My burger and coke came out first and we waited about 5 minutes before there food arrived. They cut the burrito in half to see cheese and creme. We let the server know and asked if we could have it remade. The server took the burrito and came back with a ticket from the kitchen and asked if we had requested no cheese. We explained that there was a special instructions given. She basically asked us to prove it and show her our copy of they receipt. My sibling attempted to show there copy but was unable to due to the website. The server left and came back and stated next time we should ask a different way. I asked how we should have asked and she stated to ask for "no dairy" which is what was stated on the special instructions. I showed my phone to the server with the menu ordering system on it that it stated the burrito was able to be made dairy free and that they had no option to be dairy free. The server stated that a new one was on the way out and left. A different staff member came back with there phone with the same menu page open that I had shown the pervious server. They stated that they weren't able to do dairy free on the breakfast burritos like they could on the normal ones. I reiterated that it says right at the top in quotes "containes dairy (can be removed)". The staff member apologized and stated they would let there manager know to fix it for the future. The new burrito came out very quickly and my siblings took a bite and there was still creme in the burrito. We asked the burrito to be taken off and not remade. The second staff member apologized, and a manager came over to let my sibling know that it would be refunded in 24 hours. This all being said we both work in the restaurant industry. I assume the kitchen let the server know to shift blame to the customer stating they didn't order right. Our serve definitely could have approached the situation in more of an inquiring manner vs a blaming one. We love the Centro in north east and we're hoping to love this one as well but we won't visit the saint paul...

I was very excited to try this place. During my visit I started to develop less enthusiasm. Although I do not love QR code ordering, I can tolerate it. However on this occasion, there QR feature was not working and the signs posted around the restaurant indicated that this was “due to circumstances outside of their control”. Okay, fine. Customers then had to order from the two POS systems located near the entrance that created an in convenience for staff and other patrons to maneuver. Second, there is a 10% increase added to your order to “increase staff wages”, again, restaurant industry workers pay is low- fine. After waiting in line to order (no one could come around to take orders since the QR was down?), I was told the mezcal margarita was not on happy hour and due to the system they could not change it- although the menu just says “margs $8”, plural or implying all. I guess not. Meal and drinks came, Brussels sprouts were great. A employee came by and cleared our plates and asked if we needed anything else, I asked for a box and was pointed to a table in the corner to serve myself. All but saying, if you need anything else take a hike. Since you pay when you order you are prompted to tip, naturally, yes. When I looked at my receipt, my tip was calculated based on the subtotal, 10% surcharge and tax…inappropriate to say the least.

My bottom line, food and drinks were good BUT Centro Highland does not take any responsibility for the customers experience it is up to you to waste your time in line ordering, interpret what the menu doesn’t say, get your own water and boxes, and make sure to tip on top of the added 10% and tax before hand for all the service you don’t get and have to do yourself. This place could be a walk up window if this is their business model. And the queso is garbage, is there flour in there?...

My friend and I tried the St. Paul outpost of this hip, gringo-oriented fast casual Mexican restaurant. The staff are really friendly and helpful, we just wish we’d have seen more of them. See, Centro is both cashless and a server-less, which one would hope would be reflected in the prices. You scan a QR code and order on your phone, pay a mandatory service fee to do so, and are invited to leave a tip for staff you have yet to meet. With a 20% gratuity, a platter of nachos + 2 diet cokes set us back $29, so there’s that. The nachos were…thoughtful. We both love pickled red onions, so if that’s your vibe then you’ll enjoy this dish. They came with tons of jalapeños, which is more my jam than my friends, but the cheese was, shall we say, scarce. I dunno, maybe they were going for healthy. Either way, if you like cilantro, then this dish is for you.

But we weren’t done. A chicken burrito and something called a “crunch,” which is basically a skillet-fried burrito sandwich, set us back another $32 with tip and service fee. And to be clear, the runners - not servers - who delivered our food were very nice, as was the friendly bartender who fielded my request for hot sauce with packets of Cholula, which was a first (and hopefully a last) for me.

The entrees were…fine. My fiend’s crunch was basically flavorless and my burrito was, just, yawn. You know, it was like I ordered an entree called “food” off the menu. If anyone asked me what I had for lunch today I’d respond with “food.” $61 worth.

The atmosphere is lovely, I just wish this place came with more heart. While I wouldn’t characterize the food as bad, upon leaving my friend declared that her $3 Diet Coke was the best part...