Palacio Restaurant — Restaurant in Santa Fe

We will NEVER be back, and I suggest everyone AVOID this place at ALL costs as well.

Upon arrival shortly after 5pm, the door to this establishment was locked. Their hours of operation clearly stated they were supposed to be open. After a few moments, an employee that didn't speak English, finally opened the door for my fiancee and I. Carefully treading along a soaking wet floor that had no sign, we eventually and thankfully made it to the main dining area. It was completely dead. There were no customers or employees alike. We stood there, confused and feeling awkward for several minutes, when there was some comotion from the kitchen area. After we made an obvious attempt to be known, we were finally greeted. All the tables we were invited to be seated at were filthy, despite no customers being present. We were sat at the least dirty table, and had to wait several more minutes to have it cleaned. Once it was cleaned, it was left soaking wet, and the seemingly only server begrudgingly asked if "we" required the table to be dried. The answer was obvious. It took them so long to get a dry towel, that the table had dried on its own. So far, this experience left a lot to be desired. Little did we know this was just the beginning.

We came here under the assumption that the information provided on Yelp was correct: That they served breakfast all day. After a whopping 20 minutes of having entered this establishemnt's doors, we were finally given dinner menu's. We did express interest in breakfast, and the server asked what we wanted to order, as if we knew what they served. We were given breakfast men's and left for another 10 minutes. After that time passed, we ordered, and the server disappeared for another 10 minutes to ask if that would be possible to the cook(s) in the back. W were very grateful when the answer was "yes". We could indeed order breakfast burritos. The pictures of them looked as is they were large in size and smothered unapologetically in chile. For the price tag (over $15), we didn't question it. We ordered, and the waiting game continued. It didn't take long for the food to be made, but it took double that time to get it to the table. It was clear that the service was and would continue to be just awful. I heard the bell of the cooks in the back ring. The bell that means "order up", yet nothing was done. There was a girl at the register that materialized, but was completely unbothered with helping the server. She was finally asked to deliver the food and copped a huge attitude about it, even asking "where do I even take it?!" we were the only table there, and they were identical orders. This wasn't rocket science. After we waited patiently for about 15-20 additional minutes, the dried out food was clearly microwaved before reaching our table, but not even that was the worst part. The size of our burritos were pathetic. They were less than half the size of the burritos in the yelp photos, and had 1/3rd as much chile. The lackluster server could see our obvious disappointment, and offered excuses, blaming "tired cooks". We do not want to hear excuses, we want what we said we could have: Breakfast! We would not have ordered them at all if we knew we were going to get such puny burritos. My fiancee is much more patient and willing to deal with things, but after over 20 years in the food industry spent as a fine dining server, and some spend at as a cook, I just couldn't get everything we had endured up to this point go. The hashbrowns were dried out do the point that they were unedible, it didn't seem like there was much egg in there, and the bacon was also old. The chile was delicious, but there was maybe a tablespoon of each (we got xmas) over the whole thing. That was it! I tried to let it go and make the best of it, but I just couldn't justify paying this much money for 5 bites of food. I had much less than half my burrito, before I told the server that I wanted it to be taken off my bill. They refused to take it off the bill, threatened us to call the cops when we objected, and...

The important part: After a culmination of horrible service and disappointingly bad food, I refused to pay. With the support of who I assume was the owner, the server actually threatened to call police if I didn’t! Then she had the gall to refuse to give me my card back after I did! Also, their breakfast burritos are the size of soda cans, and are NOT worth the price tag.

The long version: Worst service I’ve EVER received and very lackluster food. I’m not sure how this place has any positive reviews. This “restaurant” is extremely unprofessional as well as threatening! It must be avoided at ALL costs. Post Covid, good service is hard to come by, but what I experienced here was absolutely ridiculous! The door was locked when I got to the entrance. I nearly slipped on a soaking wet floor. Being that we were the only ones there, it didn’t make sense that all tables (inside and outside) were filthy. I waited over 20 minutes to finally order. About 10 minutes later, I heard the bell ring in the kitchen that means “order up”, and since we were the only table in the place, I knew it was our meal. No one did anything, despite the entire place being dead. The food sat under heat lamps for 25 additional minutes and was clearly microwaved before being delivered. The laughable amount of chile had a crust on it, so you know it sat for a long time. The amount of food was just as ridiculous as the entire experience so far. The burrito was the size of a can of soda. Although the chile was delicious, there was maybe a tablespoon of each (Xmas) on the entire meal. If that wasn’t enough, the hashbrowns were extremely over cooked (there’s a difference between crispy and burnt), the bacon was obviously old, and the fact our meals sat under a heat lamp for 25 minutes was enough for me. Since the entire experience was just awful, I refused to pay. My server actually threatened to call the cops if I didn’t, and refused to give me back my card after I did! So I ended up paying $35 for two of the SMALLEST breakfast burritos I’ve ever seen in New Mexico, and they didn’t even let me take the leftovers...

I first waited from grub hub to deliver but 40 minutes later they called and said the cafes grub app was not working so I walked over.ordered as I always do No Onions Guacamole is really just onions with alittle avocado mixed in. Then I asked if they offered the enchiladas with meat - as described in the on line menu for delivery and she said no but they do hamburger in a flour tortilla with green chili so I ordered it. Then I waited over 15 minutes for the guacamole and chips. Huh? The entre came 10 minutes later . It was not ground beef like a taco but a hamburger .. loaded with raw onions. After picking them all out I told the waitress. No apology from her just do you want us to take out the onions no I already took them out…the head waiter who may or may not have authority asked if I said no onions. You get the picture. Then they spoke Spanish to each other in front of me like I’m an idiot. Secrets? Well the burger was not good.. though the beans were excellent. But..no offer to refund anything or ask about the guacamole or … I was very disappointed in how they handled it. And since I had to work I did not get another chance to eat or enjoy my one afternoon in Santa Fe. I am posting so they might consider just …being generous next time. How hard is it to say Let me take that off your check or First I ordered thru grub hub who then called 49 minutes later to say the restaurants app was not working. So I walked over. Sat down after they cleaned a table. I think if they had more options for tamales (only pork) this would have been a great lunch I’ll bet. The green chili sauce was very good.

It’s pleasant enough inside nice stuff...