Barrio Queen — Restaurant in Surprise

We usually have had great service at the the bar at Barrio Queen, but tonight 4/13/2023 the service at the main bar was poor. I understand it is Saturday at 5pm,and having been a server for years understand busy. But to ignore people and not even say I'll be with you shortly is not good customer service. The servers at the bar finally served us and we're ok friendly but annoyed because they were busy right then and there.. Still, it's your job and expected to be busy , except the guy we flagged down, when we got his attention he was very nice and appolgized for being ignored (he was making drinks for the dining room at the end of the bar) . The kicker was to get another drink we had to waive them down, and by this time the bar was clearly not busy at all and there were 3 of them, lots of empty seats at the bar and a couple waiting to be served also. They (2girls) walked past our empty glasses at least a dozen times and never offered until we waived and ask for a drink from the guy. We are all very polite, always please and thank you and aware of how busy it was or wasn't, it wasn't super busy and many open bar seats. we are always polite because you never know what another is going through.. .. And because we all know how it is to be a bartender/server. Every time we had to ask for a drink (total of 2 each different times as we drank at different paces but not one after another to annoy them)" and they never once offered another drink (no we hadn't been drinking prior) we always had to ask after sitting there trying to make eye contact and looking around to see if they were busy, which never happened, we asked every time. Finally we would waive down for a drink as we watched them walk back and forth and ignored us and others waiting (not just us) . We finally asked to order food and we're very friendly when ordering but then the food was served luke warm, not even hot. we ate it because we just wanted a relaxed evening as we were hungry and we also aren't intrested in causing a issue, so stayed silent. Again, were not demanding, asked for nothing special, polite, please and thank you and they were nice to us when we got their attention but oblivious to anyone with a empty glass or ready to order. Have no idea why the food was cold as it's served by someone totally different. Just really disappointing. Will go back I'm sure because this is one bad experience and one of the few places in Surprise and it's just too bad that it had to be a struggle when it wasn't busy or full enough for having to ask them instead of them asking us if we wanted anything, and we were very nice and still tipped well, as I say we have all been servers and get it but there was no excuse for walking past us back and forth chatting and with our glass pushed to the bar empty and ignoring us after...

Venturing into Barrio Queen in Surprise, Arizona, I was immediately taken by the expansive and lively ambiance the restaurant offered. The vibrant decor and paintings adorning the walls, coupled with a layout that boasts openness, set a promising stage for the evening. A standout feature at the entrance is the striking Barrio Queen sculpture, setting a unique tone from the get-go.

The architectural design incorporating large glass garage-style doors that open up to the patio merges indoor and outdoor dining seamlessly, creating an inviting and dynamic space. The wrap-around bar with high-top seating further enhances the venue's social vibe.

Despite visiting on a Monday night, the restaurant buzzed with energy, a testament to its popularity. This bustling atmosphere, however, hinted at the need for reservations, a tip I'd eagerly pass on to potential visitors.

However, not everything lived up to the initial impression. The seating arrangement, with a scarcity of booths and a predilection for closely packed two-top tables (so small there is barely enough room for plates as shown in one of the photos), felt cramped and less than ideal for those seeking a bit more privacy or space.

The culinary experience and service somewhat mirrored this sentiment of slight disappointment. Having savored the offerings at Barrio Queen's original Phoenix location, the expectation bar was set high, perhaps unfairly so. The dishes, including the Black Mole Enchiladas and the side offerings like chips and salsa, while presented with care, lacked the robust flavors and finesse I fondly remembered. The decision not to offer smaller, side portions of items like guacamole felt like a missed opportunity for both guest satisfaction and incremental revenue. While the chips were warm and fresh, they were quite greasy.

The beverage experience, specifically the margaritas, felt underwhelming both in size and presentation, being heavy on ice and light on the distinctive flavors one might expect from a premium cocktail.

Service, too, was a mixed bag. The initial promptness with beverages gave way to delays in ordering and an extended wait for the bill, contributing to a feeling of disconnect between guest and server.

In reflection, while Barrio Queen in Surprise shines as a venue with its vibrant atmosphere and appealing decor, it falls into a middle ground where the dining experience doesn't quite match up. The prices, while reasonable, don't fully compensate for the culinary and service shortcomings experienced during my visit. This leaves me rating Barrio Queen a 3.5, with hopes that feedback can inspire improvements that align the dining experience more closely with the high standards set by its aesthetic...

I've been wanting to go to Barrio Queen since they opened in Surprise. Super excited to try it out! My husband made reservations for us at 5, to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. Looked thru their reviews, and I love previewing a resturants menu and food pics. Reviews for their food were positive and not so much for the staff. Again, very excited, so we were counting down the hours! Get there, not a whole lot of cars in the parking lot, probably because everyone is out of town for Memorial Day. I figured this was great! Head inside, gave our name, and the hostess asked if we wanted to sit outside...we said no, our reservation was for inside, and I asked for a booth. She seemed offended and said she would have to see. The place was less than 1/2 full. She then asked if we wanted a 1/2 table at the bar. Again, we said no. She walked us to our table, thru the menus down and said in a super snotty tone "Anyways", and walked off. Still not sure what that was all about. Waitress was very nice, so we blew off the whole hostess thing. We ordered our drinks and food. The drinks came, and my margarita was served in a short highball glass with tons of ice. 3 sips and the drink was gone smh. Our food came out, and it looked pretty good! Ready to dig in when I saw something moving on the avacado. Looked closer, and it was a tiny frickin tick!!!! That was it we had had it! The waitress informed the manager, and he just slowly meandered over to the table, I was ready to run out the door, wondering if there were ticks out in the resturant. That's the last thing anyone needs is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or Lyme disease! I tried showing him the tick and he wasn't the slightest bit interested! He simply said, "Let me see what I can do about the bill". We didn't care about the bill. It was still crawling around on the avocado and all the manager could do was look at me disapprovingly!!!! Like I did something wrong!!!! He finally glanced at the tick, saw it crawling around. And he still did not react!!! I'm thinking to myself, how many times has this happened to him, that this manager can't even seem the slightest bit remorseful! We had been patient and had waited long enough we stood up, we wanted out of there! We will NOT be back! They need to do a HUGE DEEP CLEAN on this place. So disappointed, as they haven't even been open that long! Smh. We spent our money elsewhere. If it wasn't for the manager acting the way he did, I would not have written this. That guy needs a heart and to...