Taqueria Santa Cruz — Restaurant in Santa Cruz

If I could give it zero stars I would. This place has been one of my favorite for a long time. Recently they haven’t been to great. This last visit tonight will be the visit that ensured I’ll never return. I’ve ordered taco plates before and they’ve always come with 2-3 tacos, even their website says that. I ordered dinner for my family tonight. Had to repeat myself 3 times to lady on the phone. Eventually she got the order and repeated it back to me correctly. Part of that order being a taco plate with three tacos. Now considering I repeated it three times and she repeated it back correctly I didn’t think to check my order when I picked up. My fault there. Got home 20 mins away to find the taco plate has ONE taco. I call them on my way back to the store, driving 20 mins back, the chef confirmed the plate comes with 2-3 tacos based on preference and he’ll fix the mistake. On the way to the store I get a call from the restraunt. I was expecting a call back double checking the meat or the error or something. I never expected to pick up the phone and get told I’m in the wrong by a man who said “my wife said this, my wife only charged you for this, my wife took the order correctly, your wrong blah blah blah.” I don’t know if he was the owner or some big ego manager who believed his wife (who btw if u work together isn’t your wife at work she’s your coworker end of story) was right and his customer were wrong. I hung up. I got to the restraunt and paid for two more tacos even though I already paid for a three taco plate and the rest of the order. This man literally said my wife is right and your wrong and to get the rest of your order you have to pay more baisically. Spent $65 on three meals that I’ve spent $50 on in the past at the same place. When I got there the woman’s eyes got big and she recognized me, mind you I’ve been polite and kind despite being abusively called by a husband of the woman that took my order for saying she got the order wrong. Her and he husband just glared the whole time. Never been more disgusted in my entire life at restraunt service. I’m sorry your wife akaYOUR COWORKER got the order wrong after repeating it 3 times to her and her repeating it back corresctly. But to call a custome back and tell them my wife is right and your wrong, baisically that I have no right to say I didn’t get my full order. Never got an apology just got rudeness and glaring. I wasn’t even upset over the incorrect order until I was called back and treated this way. This couple that works there is reason I won’t be returning. They need to be retrained in customer service and how to take orders correctly or be let go. If their the oweners then their gonna lose buisness so fast. Even a customer while I was in there siad they used to be so busy and was asking what happened. I won’t be returning...

Lackluster service, worst vegetarian burrito I have ever had, inflated prices, gossipy environment and last time I went I found a pebble in my burrito. They replaced it but the new burrito was mostly inedible.

To be more clear, my second or third time coming to this restaurant, the woman at the cash register, who was already very unfriendly, got angry because I asked a man behind me for change so I wouldn't have to break my last twenty. He was more than happy to supply the change but she acted like I was pan handling and told me if I ever do that again she would kick me out and I would be persona non grata. I made a review highlighting her treatment of me that day, as well as previous times where her attitude was equally unkind.

I made the mistake of going in one final time after a late night work out. I ordered the tripas burrito. I tried to be friendly and ask her how she was and I honestly asked if she had seen my review. She said she had. I was feeling incredibly gracious and even apologized for posting it. She said it was fine and that people were even coming in telling her how great she was because of it. I was genuinely happy she was able to receive positively because of my review.

I left with my daughter and I' s food. I got inside my vehicle, took a bite and bit down on a huge pebble, and what appeared to be pieces of rocks. I brought back the burrito and asked her sincerely if it was retribution for the review I wrote. She said she was insulted by my inquiry. She said that it was normal for tripas burritos to have pebbles in them. She refused to refund my money and offered a replacement burrito.

Again, I made the mistake of going along instead of insisting on a refund. This time I chose a vegetarian burrito, hoping it would be pebble free. I even kept glancing at the guys making it. It was the worst burrito I had ever tasted. Maybe some folks like feta and lettuce galore in their burrito but not me! It got tossed, even though I normally don't waste food.

As an empath and single mom of three, I feel everything deeply. Kindness and lack thereof. In a way, the unkindness serves me too, because it has taught me deep, tearful gratitide for kindness and people who choose kindness. This place has taught me deep gratitude for good food (pebble free), good service, and of course, kindness. May we all choose more and more kindness, especially since we all depend on it.

I hope this helps and thank you...

Open late, great food and the cheapest I've seen around town.

Leaving my old compliment above to show I did care about this place and showed respect unlike was done to me a few weeks ago. I ordered on the phone as I usually do and the young lady confirmed my order and said my # but I didn't hear it well. When I arrived she said she didn't have my order but I thought she meant it wasn't ready so she watched my sit for 10 minutes and said nothing. When I asked again if it was ready she said she didn't have any order for me that was placed. I confronted her on whether she was the one taking orders which she confirmed but was giving me immense snide facial gestures and eventually said during the exchange "maybe I was too busy" when asked why she confirmed my order but didn't send it to the kitchen. A gentlemen came from the back who I tried to talk to about her and he repeatedly said "no englas" to me even though I know he understood. Another reputable employee who is female and serves there daily was feeling bad for my treatment I could tell but didn't want to speak up about her behavior. In short no one helped or cared that she behaved that way, I have no idea if she was having a bad day but she absolutely didn't care to have my order ready. I have since not gone back which I was initially sad about but taqueria Vallarta treats me with kindness and decency so I have my carnitas regular burrito elsewhere. Shame on the owners for allowing her to treat a very loyal customer that way and not having a supervisor on duty who could handle it professionally and at least say sorry and we'll talk to...