El Rancho Restaurante Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Swatara Township

Be aware, hidden charges, food take for ever, and is not good!!!! Firstable we were 4 and a baby, and got there before a group of people of like 8-10 people that got there after us being waiting there for a long time, all the sudden the waitress came over and said that our food was taking longer than normal because my order was behind the group of people I mentioned before, because they were more, and they were making their food first, can you believe it?

Food is not great, some tasted ok, some didn't. The waitress tried to be nice but she missed informed us on a couple of things. We ordered a Molcajete I can't eat shrimp, so I asked her to eliminate it, she offered to substitute it with fish, I asked her if I could do that, she said yes, I asked her if there was additional charges she said no. They charged me the $21 for the Molcajete plus $14 for the fish, that supposedly by the waitress, there was no additional cost. Who does that? Inform the customer about additional charges, plus if your taking out the shrimp, that it was part of the plate, and you dont want to substitut it without charging, charge at list have of the fish price, or simply inform the customers. What if the customer don't have enough? Also my son ordered a sprite and he asked her to exchange for a tamarindo juice, they charged me for the juice and the sprite, she also asked, can we start you with nachos and salsa or guacamole? The way she asked I thought that it was complementary nachos and salsa, like every other mexican restaurant, and they were not they charged $7 for it, and never explained it to us, they were just not complementary. Very unprofessional! They just need to say the truth about their hidden charges!!! I will NEVER go back to...

El Rancho: A Love Story with a Tragic Ending Walking into El Rancho, I was immediately hit with the kind of warm, inviting atmosphere that makes you think, Yeah, this is gonna be good. And it was. The food? Incredible. The Yuca & Chicharrón? Crispy perfection. The tacos? Flawless. The service? Luis, our waiter, deserves a raise and possibly a statue in his honor.

I was all in. You know that moment when you find "your spot"—the place where you’ll bring clients, coworkers, and friends for years to come? That was what this felt like. And then... the bill arrived.

$64.00 for a small pitcher of passion fruit mojitos.

Now, let’s break this down: The national average for a premium mojito pitcher (even in cities like NYC, LA, or Miami) hovers around $35–$45. You could argue $50 if you’re using top-shelf rum and gold-plated sugarcane. But $64?! Did the passion fruit come from a tree watered by the tears of angels? Was each mint leaf hand-plucked by monks in the Andes?

This wasn't just sticker shock—it was an ambush. And it wasn’t just about the money. See, I’m new to the area, working for a company that will require me to entertain frequently. A team of 100+ people. I was ready to make El Rancho my go-to spot. But that short-sighted decision to overcharge me on one item—one insultingly overpriced item—ruined the entire experience.

You got me once, El Rancho. But instead of having me as a loyal, long-term customer, you settled for a one-time highway robbery. Hope that $64 was worth it.

Final Verdict: Amazing food, great service, fantastic atmosphere—completely overshadowed by a greed-fueled price tag on a pitcher of mojitos. 2 stars. Would’ve been 5 if I didn’t feel like I needed a small loan to...

Smoke, and mirrors.

Our family tried this restaurant for the first time today (6/11/2023). We arrived right as they opened.

Expectations were very high as the exterior of the building was colorful, and the landscaping was kept up nicely. As we entered, the vibrant colors continued, and we were greeted by friendly staff who set us down quickly. The service throughout the meal was fantastic.

Our only problem with the experience, without a doubt, was the meal itself.

The food looked very appetizing, but unfortunately was flavorless. It might pass in central PA , but to consider it authentic is more than a stretch. There are a handful of legitimate authentic restaurants within a 30 min drive that run circles around the food that was surprisingly allowed to leave the kitchen here.

One bad, or iffy dish may be a fluke, but out of the 4 entrees we individually ordered all of them were a bust.

My dish alone, the taco salad, was a miserable heap of soggy romaine lettuce covered in grilled onions. It had so little ground beef that I questioned if I had received a vegetarian dish. My Texan wife was positive her enchiladas had been microwaved, and her rice was ice cold when she tried it immediately upon receipt from the waitress.

Again, beautiful atmosphere (for a re-purposed failed Bob Evans), and a friendly staff, but there’s nothing authentic about the food, especially with so many other options around.

A real disappointing...