Madroño Restaurant — Restaurant in Sweetwater

On August 29, 2025, my wife and I visited Madroño’s for what we thought would be a nice dining experience. During our dinner, I heard the party behind us questioning some additional charges on their bill, which I thought was what establishments are doing today, passing the credit card fees charged by the banks to their dining customers. Their argument went on for a while, the manager was at their table explaining the charges, but they left not happy at all. When I got my bill, I quickly understood the reason for their argument. The bill was very confusing, with an additional charge that I figured was for the credit card fee, and once I looked it over, they were also charging the county tax (8% because of the alcohol license) to the meal, credit card fee and the imposed 20% tip. I spoke to the gentlemen serving us, I told him that I was ok with the tip amount since he did a wonderful job, but I was not going to pay taxes on it and the credit card fee. He went to speak with the manager who did not have the decency to come to our table, instead sent him back with a copy of the “IRS News Release on Tips Versus Service Charges” and a copy of the “Florida Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax on Restaurants and Catering”.

The manager highlighted certain sections of the forms, that clearly showed that Gratuities (Tips) are not subject to tax, contradicting himself, and it also showed what constitutes a service charge subject to taxes, and as you can see in the pictures attached, the credit card fee is a “Transaction Processing Fee”, not a restaurant service charge.

Also, in the IRS Newsletter, it clearly states that “Tips are discretionary (optional or extra) payments determined by the customer that employees receive from customers.” As you can see on my bill, that was not discretionary or optional, it was imposed on me by the restaurant even though we were a party of 2.

Additionally, the credit card transaction fee was 4% which is average everywhere doing this, but when given the option to pay cash, the restaurant returns only 3%, pocketing the additional 1% on top of the 8% they already charged on the tip. When the manager finally took the time to come to our table, he was very dismissive. When I showed him the discrepancies and contradictions on his part, he tried to tell me that the credit card fee was 3% and the additional 1% was for the waiter assistance, and the taxes on the tip were as per IRS paper. his attitude basically went from trying to explain the additional charges, to this is it, period.

This is a very dishonest and illegal practice, and they know it very well. In all my previous visits to this establishment this was not the practice. Think about this, that additional monies they are charging their unsuspecting customers, multiplied by the days they are open per year, could easily be an additional $15,000.00, if not more. Everyone, be aware, check your bills carefully, maybe they will go back to good business practice and not rip off their customers. Until then, I shall look for other alternatives for dinning on...

I have been to El Madroño more than 15 times and yesterday was the worst experience I have had there. We had the most passive aggressive waiter that came to ask our order as soon as we sat down. We obviously had not had enough time to look at out menus. I asked him to give us some time and he didn't come back to our table for 30 minutes, it's a small restaurant, it just seems unlikely that he was that busy that we could have 3 bowls of bread before he came to take our order. We came for my mom's birthday and honestly I'm not sure why I even left a tip. He was a huge jerk- his name is Diego. I think that because the service we experienced stops me from wanting to go back there ever again. If you go- this guy has black hair and wears it in a ponytail and also has really dark eyebrows. Another thing he brought the desert for my mom w other a candle and just said happy birthday and told us to sing. I know some restaurants have a policy for not singing but just 30 minutes before a waiter brought a desert to other patrons while singing. He also walked away while my boyfriend and I sang my mom Happy Birthday. My mom asked for napkins twice and he didnt bring them. He just didnt like our party i guess. It was a very weird experience. The food was good, but if the customer service is allowed to be this bad-why would I not just to go to a Fritanga where there won't be a passive agressive waiter...

I'm glad I found this place, as I don't like eating at fritangas and this restaurant has the dishes I seek in a nice restaurant setting. the prices are also okay, as they don't seem to be a rip-off for what they provide. Nicaraguan dishes range from simple to complicated and aside from the price of some of the ingredients, it is not expensive. this place remembers that and keeps it affordable and good. better than the run-down trashy and overpriced fritangas. I was happy to see a classy Nicaraguan restaurant that represents us well.

the only negative observation I had was that the Indio Viejo was terrible, they added achiote and it tasted a tad bitter/odd not like when you put the sour orange it usually requires. the waitress explained to me that it's made in the style from a different region in nicaragua but never in my lifetime of eating Indio Viejo had I seen it. it was not soup at all! if you google the dish you will see what I mean. this version was more like cuban ropa vieja and the portion was tiny in a small bowl, like...ropa Vieja... Indio Viejo is supposed to be a soup, the star of the show. also, I decided to take the Indio Viejo home instead of trying to eat it at the restaurant and the next day it was rancid.

so, just stay away from the Indio Viejo and enjoy the other stuff, the vigoron/flautas/Lomo de cerdo/ quinto polo...