El Machete Mexican Bar and Grill — Restaurant in Sevierville

Let me first start off by saying I had been too this location 5-6 times before and the service had always been amazing along with the food. However today: Tue. Jan 18, 2022, at around 5 p.m. this wouldn't be the case. At first the service was great, we were greeted at the door in a friendly manner and promptly seated. Our chips and salsa were brought out fast, they were fresh and we had planned on enjoying our meal. Our sever started off nice, we had ordered sweet teas to drink. My other half ordered just nacho, cheese and chicken and had plainly told our waitress that they were allergic to peppers. she acted like she understood that. I personally ordered the taco salad with shredded chicken and Xtra queso. So the food comes out my order ( the taco salad) was great and right. The other order that we plainly told her about the pepper situation wasn't right. My other half wanted it fixed and asked in a very polite way, our waitress on the other hand shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes and proceeded to argue with us that we were in the wrong. She took the plate and ran off to go get it fixed. Not in all my years of eating at various Mexican restraunts had I ever had a server argue with us and show the attitude that was displayed. It's unprofessional, it's unacceptable, and we had been nothing but polite and nice too her. I had even planned on tipping her half the bill. So we got up and left, I didn't pay for the meal as I hadn't even touched it. I wish I would of got her name. I will not be coming back, and you all just lost semi-...

Once was my favorite spot, came in tonight with family because they never been. Was eating chips & dip had 2 little ones with us & of course the lil one had cheese dip all over her. We grabbed one of their napkins wiped her face a few times & after folding the napkin a couple times notice there is dry blood on the napkin. Little one is not bleeding we check ourselves none of us are bleeding. I went up to the counter to speak with our server & let them know & show her the napkin. She asked me what do we want done. I said I don't know, she can ask the rest of the group. I wasn't expecting to have the bill comp or anything. She said she would talk to the manager. Long story short. We were accused of bringing a bloody napkin in & it wasn't see on camera that we wiped the lil ones face. Are you serious?!?!?! If the owner had actually watched the video, like she said they did, she would have seen not one of us removed a napkin from out of nowhere, she would have seen the confusion on our face like why is there blood on our napkin & where did it come from. We checked ourselves and the kids. I definitely won't be back, the sad things is when we do come we always have a group with us, because we have always raved about them!!! To our waitress, sorry you got the brunt of the us being upset, in reality it was your management's fault on how they handled it. I can only hope you will find a place that actually cares about their customers & doesn't accuse...

Stopped in for lunch with friends while visiting from out of town.. We just missed the lunch special time..

We were the only people in the establishment upon arrival & waited a few minutes before being seated. I only saw 2 employees the entire time we were there.

The waitress took our drink order. She brought back our drinks, 1 salsa, & 1 basket of chips for 6 people to share.. We had to ask for salsa cups, since our kids couldn't reach to dip their chips. She brought back only 2 for the children.

We placed our order & when we asked, was told no substitutions, only could remove ingredients.. Placed order & when food was brought, it was missing quite a few things.. The food was hot & edible, not very tasty in my opinion.. Our waitress seemed to have a hard time understanding English.

Finished our food & must have waited at least 20/25 minutes for the waitress to bring our bill.. There were only 2 other tables being waited on by this time.

When I reviewed my bill, I asked the waitress "If I paid cash, would the $8 service charge be removed?"  I was informed "no, that is something the restuarant has to pay".. So expect to pay city tax, sales tax, & a service charge with cash.

All in all: *Slow & inattentive employees *The food tasted just okay, & in my opinion was pricey for what you get *extra 18% service charge, even when paying bill with cash

I will not return in future visits to the Smokie Mountains & would not recommend...