El Patron New Mexican Restaurant and Cantina Scottsdale — Restaurant in Scottsdale

First of all, there was an extreme staffing shortage, which likely explained the problems with food and service. How do you staff a restaurant during peak lunch hours with literally ONE waiter? There were no fewer than 10-12 tables and ONE waiter. You might as well close at this point because it’s not fair to the paying customers to experience long wait times, poor service and incorrect orders. Or maybe ask the owner/manager guy who was sitting at the bar on his laptop to do more than seating guests when he happens to occasionally look up and realize there are customers waiting to be seated at the hostess stand. He may have filled water glasses some and maybe brought some drinks. Waiter was initially prompt with starter and drink orders but then we waited too long to place main order; although, it got much busier after we sat down. Waiter did not write down orders, which may explain why our orders were wrong. When I approached waiter about incorrect orders, he seemed like he was in a hurry to do something else and didn’t want to hear what I was saying. He brought what he thought was missing, but believe it or not, that was wrong, too. They ask if you want red chili sauce or green chili sauce. I said red. My entree came with half red and half green. I did not like the green and ate mostly only the red half. I ordered beef filling for my platter, but I got chicken. Did the waiter put the order in wrong or did the kitchen mess up? Lukewarm appetizer dip. Lukewarm meal platters. “Crispy” taco had to be eaten with knife and fork because it was lying on top of the enchiladas in the red and green sauce, soaked up the sauce, became soggy, broke apart and could not be picked up. There were only like 3 little shreds of cheese. I told my friends we should ask for the check soon because it looked like there might be 6-7 tables that would be leaving around the same time. I am not kidding when I say I looked at the bill and got upset because it looked like they added an extra entree to our bill. Then I realized it wasn’t our bill at all. The ONE waiter in the restaurant of 10-12 tables had given us the check of another table. First and last time we will ever eat there. Seems like a huge wasted investment to open such a place and provide such a horrible experience. Oh, I almost left the part out about hearing what we thought were repeated gun shots, which caused unnecessary fear, anxiety and unease. Turns out they were delivering firewood to the restaurant next door and the workers were knocking stacks of firewood over causing them to slam into the bed of the truck, which sounded like gun fire. Oh, considering we pointed out that some of our orders were wrong, it would have been nice to receive some sort of service recovery in maybe a discount or removal of one of the wrong orders, but none was offered. But maybe this review will make up for it. I am not usually one to write reviews even for bad service, but this experience and lack of contrition necessitated some sort of action. Not sure if the firewood delivery happens everyday at lunch or it was just...

How can I begin my story? Honestly we found this restaurant on fox 10 morning news and we assumed this location was amazing. My girlfriend and I literally went back and forth on where to eat so she thought we were going to our usual spot which is Los Gloria's on 19th Dunlup and I decided to pick this location. We arrived to restaurant and we were seated quickly. It took our server about 10 minutes to attend to us and acknowledge our presence and pour us some waters. We told her we would like chips and guacamole for our appetizer and a cup of green chile soup And would need 5 minutes to order. It took another 10 minutes to receive our chips and guacamole minus our soup. We munched on the guacamole and salsa which was terrible it literally had no flavor and had no salt on it and the table had no salt and pepper to doctor up the expensive guacamole. Our server came over to take our order I placed the Montgomery Blvd and my girlfriend ordered the carne adovado along with coca cola. Not sure what the issue was but we didn't receive our soft drinks that we order it literally took another 15 minutes. The server walked by another table and asked for the drink menu and told her we haven't received our Coca-Cola. Finally 10 years later she brings our drinks along with the salt and pepper. This location wasn't even busy yesterday for Thursday and the service sucked. We got out our food finally minus the soup we ordered. The food was trash no seasoning and tasted blend and was slightly warm. Honestly I was disappointed in the food and the misrepresentation of Mexican food especially new mexico chilli's. The food I ordered was the Montgomery Blvd it was slapped together like I was in prison. I told our server that I wanted a beef taco instead I get chicken and I told her I wanted Christmas sauce on my chicken enchiladas and was all red and the enchilada was cheese and tamale was red as well. Sorry to say our server was incompetent and this location was dead. Both orders were cold. Don't waste your hard earned money on this place better places to eat and service. I will never go back to this place I rather go to filbertos. Honestly I shouldn't have tipped our server 20 percent this place is horrible. Only thing going for this place is the music and dumb ppl that never had real...

Food was terrible. Definitely not New Mexican food. Expect Tostitos cheese dip and flavorless salsa. Also the sopapillas were cold and doughy. Sucks that the restaurant was gorgeous but everything else was nauseating. The owner was also classless and sat at the bar wearing a tank top/observing guests but never greeting. When she found out we were unsatisfied with the meal she approached the table (we didn’t know who she was… just thought she was a random lady) and awkwardly asked if we wanted a gift card for a future visit? Ummm why would we want to come back?? Overpriced food with lower than mediocre quality. Do not recommend whatsoever.

Response to response: Thanks for getting back to me with a response. As you can tell I still didn’t know who that lady at the bar was. I guess she was a manager (according to you). Anddddd she wasn’t wearing a dress LOL. She was in a tank top and shorts that’s more accurate. Her customer service was terrible and it sounds like it’s excused/reinforced due to the response from the restaurant. My reviews are just honest. The food was not good and not authentic. Plain and simple. Was that said nicer as to not hurt your feelings? Maybe you’d rather me take this review out of the public to hide the reality of this restaurant. Anyone who enjoys great Mexican food and/or cooks it would know just how terrible it is.

NOTE TO SELF: Don’t go during lunch because the food will be unauthentic. Food is different depending on the time of day? Got it.

Oh and how is my review not accurate? I can reassure you it’s 100% accurate. Were you even there…? Thanks for further affirming just how bad it is at this place. I love being gaslit by the owners 🤧

You want real authentic New Mexican food? Go to Si Senor in Chandler, AZ....