Pappasito's Cantina — Restaurant in San Antonio

Is it against the rules to review a place that you have eaten at recently as someone’s guest? I recently went out for a birthday celebration, (not mine, one of my favorite Taurus’s though.) I don’t really know the proper rules or etiquette for rating as I’m not a professional critic, although I think 🤔 I’d be a damn epic one, most definitely a G.O.A.T. - don’t you agree? Anyway, back to the review of Pappasito’s. I hate to say it, because this place has so many people entranced with its cuisine, but not so much me. We arrived with no reservation, but they were able to seat our party of 5 with in 10 minute window as promised. There were quite a few empty tables, so I have no idea why there was a wait at all, but I’m not one of those people that sweat things of that nature. However, the person who had invited us out for the celebration is not a big fan of eating at a table that’s close to the restroom facilities. So she politely asked if we could sit at another empty table that was the same amount of seats as we needed. The hostess, replied that she would have to summon management as that would require their approval, since that table was in another server’s jurisdiction of tables. She declined, since she didn’t want ti bother the manager over something that didn’t seem like a big deal, since it was empty, clean, and not downwind from the latrines. Also the hostess didn’t seem too pleased about the request, like it was somehow placing her under some type of duress. No one in my dining party would want any person who must deal with the public for the duration of their work day to be put out or feel some kind of way during to our preferences, as at least half of the party had worked in similar conditions at least once in our working careers. So we are always very careful about asking anything that would not be considered anything acceptable, nor would anyone present this particular evening would be comfortable knowing that this hostess had to do something that was not in her job description for us. Perhaps that request was out of line? I don’t know, I’ve never hostessed just bartended and served when I was in the hospitality sector, so I may be wrong but I didn’t think it was a unusual request or something that would have to be escalated up the ladder to management! But what do I know they might take there seating arrangements very seriously there or maybe it was a “Karen” request. 😳😬just my opinion ! We all have opinions, just like our booties , some people have a stinky one, some a beautiful one, and others somewhere in the middle. And just like fingerprints no two are alike!)*Our busser comes to the table announces that she is not the server but he will be right along in a minute. Than she swiftly retrieved some chips/ salsa, and took our drink order. The birthday boy wanted a “Flamingo Mango tango” or some curry name of a concoction that I thought wasn’t my best choice of drinks. I had gotten one also, just one because it wasn’t anything like I hoped it to be. Mango’s are sweet and refreshing, and pretty cheap so I wouldn’t think they would have to use a syrup or done other artificial sweetener in this drink, nor did I watch them open a can, but what ever they used to mix the vodka was way to sweet, and I do LOVE ❤️ me a sweet drink, but refreshingly delicious sweet, not reminiscent of simple syrup sitting in a the drink well with fruit flies buzzing around mixed with some artificial generic mango flavored watered down liquid with like 2% juice and 95% high fructose corn syrup and 3%chemicals and colors, and ingredients I can’t pronounce to “flavor” it instead of just using the actual fruits. Also it was supposed to have “ginger beer” mixed in and mine had zero flavor of ginger. I like when they use a quality ginger beer, or none. it was horrific, but I’m not one to abuse alcohol. So down it went. I ordered the seafood enchiladas since there are nearly zero vegetarian choices available. It was decent, nothing special. Our waiter Jorge was very attentive, professional, &was the best asset this...

Let me start by saying Papasitos used to be my favorite restaurant. That being said the service in this place has gone down soooooo bad. A few months ago I reserved a table for 6 no big deal right? Well when I get there they canceled my table for another party and put me on a waiting list, we got seated 30 min later so I brushed it off because I really wanted the fajita 😆. Well fast forward to Dec. 14th, I attempted to reserve a table for 13 being that it was my father's 76th birthday dinner on the 16th. Because they now have a party room I was told nothing over 10 can be reserved but I could call the day of to be put on a list for that day. I said oh no big deal all perfect. It's now the 16th, I call at 3pm to get put on the list since we will arrive at 630pm. I get told I have to call 20 to 30 min in advance basically on my drive out there since I live 45 min away. I say ok no problem will do. I call at 6pm and I'm told they cannot put me on a waiting list because they are full for the evening. I say what do you mean, you can't seat us? Lady over the phone says no because they are full and they don't list parties over 10 if we have a party over 10 we have to book the party room. I said no the past 3 people I have spoken to have all told me the same process pretty much other than the 30 min before changing. She tells me sorry that's policy you have to be here if you want a spot. I explained to her I was a little less than 30 min out with my family of 13 if once we got there what would the wait look like, she said she didn't know maybe 2 hours. I was thinking well I can show up check us in and my family and I could hang outside and I'm sure we can stop and get a snack to hold some over or maybe get drinks at the bar, I don't know something. The girl then tells me, ma'am we won't be able to seat you because we are full. In my head I'm thinking wow in 6 hours you can't seat us..... she then tells me sorry that's policy. I told her nevermind and it's shifty how everyone else said one thing but she says another and now it just seems like she is doing it because she doesn't want to seat us. I hung up and called my brother to tell him I ruined dad's dinner. My brother then said don't stress papasitos was what you picked but we can always go to Mamasitas.... I had never even heard of them so I was ifish but I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. We jumped over to Mamasitas where they were packed beyond packed but the hostess said if you give me 45 min I can make something happen, maybe an hour. We of course agreed and thank the lord I did. Mamasitas was the best 👌 amazing service, food was excellent and they had something for everyone that even the kids loved the menu options and we have picky eaters. 😋 We racked up a little over $400 bill and left our amazing waitress a 40% tip. We don't split checks here and because our family rule is the one who invites pays, the others provide the additional tip. I guess the review is to let others know papasitos may not care about your bigger family dinners but Mamasitas does. And the food, OMG THE FOOD at Mamasitas is better. Never thought I would ever say that but I'm never looking back. Papasitos you lost my business but thanks because had you not done me dirty like that, I would've never found this gem Mamasitas off...

Sunday afternoon, I have to admit, was supposed to be Greek day for me and my partner. But as it turned out, the place we usually go was closed. Pappasitos was on my want to go list, so off we went. Very convenient to our home I might add.

By the time we arrived, we were hungry as lumberjacks and ready to go. A nice warm bowl of chips and two temperatures of salsa arrived quickly to save our day. Nice thin, crispy chips and delicious salsa.

We quickly placed our cocktail order (2 watermelon margs on the rocks) and our entrees. Tacos al Carbon Pollo for me and Beef/Chicken Fajitas for my girl. We both thought the margs were way too sweet with a poor pour (lol-sorry) of tequila.

Entrees arrived and I discovered I had flour tortillas the size of burrito wraps. Unfortunately, the filling was made for taco sized tortillas, so I had two empty ends on each taco.

On first taste, my chicken was tough and had chars that were mostly salt. I added some guac and pico and after trimming down the empty ends of the tortilla, I tried again and was met with delicious, juicy chicken. So a fluke in one of the chicken pieces. Same deal with taco number 2.

My date reported the beef portion of her fajitas were delicious, but the chicken seemed a little undercooked.

Sides for both of us were charro beans and Spanish rice. My beans needed a little salsa to cheer them up and my date reported her beans were too salty. Both of us disliked the gummy, chewy rice. Obviously left in a warmer too long.

Despite our complaints, our server was amazing and attentive.

All in all, we really wanted to love Pappasitos and put them in the running with our 3 other fave Tex-Mex joints, but we couldn't do it. In the future, we'd suggest a little training for the bartender, forget wrapping the tacos al carbon and just bring tortillas in a server like fajitas, and lastly, pay some attention to how long rice sits...