Hacienda Calavera Schaumburg — Restaurant in Schaumburg Township

Went with a friend. We love Mexican and we had yet to try this place. The place is tastefully decorated and comfortable although the house music is a bit loud for my taste. It's Sunday night, turn the music down a bit. Friday & Saturday turn it up. It's an easy concept to grasp. This seems to be the norm these days though. To start we had the guacamole. At $15.99 it was expensive and tasteless. Right up there with some of the worst we've had. Adding salt did not help. The main dishes were Steak Fajitas for me, Cocktail de Camaron with a side of rice and beans for her. The Fajitas were ok. The steak was hard and chewy though. Maybe it was overcooked. I had to pile on the salt and hot sauce for it to taste good. The portion was correct. The Cocktail de Camaron my friend said was OK. After eating the 4 shrimp that came with it she left the clamato (Is that the base?) in the glass. She did have a really good strawberry margarita though! When the bill came they first charged us $12 for the side of rice and beans when the menu said $4. When I told them about the mistake they said they would take care of it and came back charging me $8 when again the menu said $4. I then called the manager over and she said she would take care of it. No apologies, just that she would take care of it. They left us waiting for a bit then so much that my friend asked jokingly if we were being punished for complaining. When the bill finally came it was correct on the third try. I spent a few years working in restaurants in New York City. When you overcharge a guest twice for the same item you kinda lose the right to charge them for the item and you take it off the bill and apologize, if you want that guest to come back. Especially if you opened just 4 months prior. Would I go back to this place? No. Not because of the mistake but because the food was not memorable in any way. Also not cheap, $56 per person and I had water. When your food is not memorable you better make sure that when you make mistakes like overcharging a guest, you...

Dinner at Calavera – A Mixed Experience with Some High Points

We recently dined at Calavera Restaurant and found the experience to be a mix of highlights and areas for improvement.

Décor & Staff The décor is beautiful—modern, vibrant, and full of character. It’s clear that a lot of thought went into creating a visually engaging atmosphere. The staff were very welcoming and attentive throughout our visit. A special mention to Ana, our server, who was professional and kind.

Ambience While the setting is visually appealing, the music indoors was quite loud, making it difficult to have a comfortable conversation. The temperature inside also felt colder than expected. We asked to be seated outside, where the volume was more manageable and the environment more pleasant. It also seems to be a popular spot for birthday celebrations, which brings a lively energy but can add to the noise level, especially during peak hours.

Food The presentation of the food was excellent—each dish was plated beautifully. My husband ordered the NY strip steak, medium rare, with no tomatoes. Unfortunately, he received a medium-well T-bone steak topped with cherry tomatoes. Ana sincerely apologized and acknowledged the mistake, which we appreciated. However, the dish was not corrected, and no alternative was offered, which was a bit disappointing. I had the chicken mole with rice, beans, and tortillas. The flavor was good, but everything was served barely warm, which took away from the enjoyment of the meal.

Drinks The drinks at Calavera are presented in a very creative and exotic way, which adds to the fun and festive vibe. My mojito was tasty and refreshing, though it was served in a short rocks glass with a bit too much mint, making it slightly awkward to drink. A taller glass might elevate both presentation and practicality.

Overall, Calavera has great potential. The ambiance, décor, and creativity in presentation are definite strengths. With a few adjustments to consistency and comfort, it could become a top spot for a more enjoyable and complete...

Was eager to try this place after Lalos closed. I was underwhelmed after eating here. Family and I used to frequent Lalos for special occasions and had good memories there. Was hoping this new restaurant would be one we would come for more of the same. Went on a Sunday around 6 pm. Place was pretty empty. We were told to wait at the bar after host entered my info in the system for a reservation. Wait wasn't long, about 10 minutes but not really necessary as the place was literally dead. Fitting as this place is named Calavera, skull, skeleton, death. Not a happy place. The place was pretty austere, cold and minimal. No warmth. Place was trying to look elegant, modern and high end I guess. Decor was like your neighborhood Chipotle , bland and non-denominational. Music was too loud. Felt like I was in a club not a restaurant. One of my pet peeves is when restaurants don't know that the music is for ambiance and not the main attraction when dining. Menu is small and offering very basic food. Don't even know if this a mexican restaurant or what as they didn't even have basic enchiladas. I ordered a shrimp cocktail and my companion ordered the chicken mole served with handmade blue tortillas. My shrimp cocktail was flavorless, barely any cilantro which is a staple in Mexican dishes and zero spice. Only redeeming value is it had a good amount of shrimp. My friends chicken mole was a non-descript dish. Pretty basic served with tiny potions of rice and beans. Nothing remarkable about both of our meals and no presentation flourish. Also make a note, no draft beer only bottled. I prefer draft beer as its tastes better and more crisp than your average bottled beer. Another note. No chips and salsa offered here and tiny glasess of water. All in all this place wasn't to my liking. I won't be back. Food was basic and mediocre and not a good value for what is being charged. Service was good, it's not servers fault that food and ambiance was boring. If a place like Lalos couldn't survive, Calavera just might become a self...