Rubio's Coastal Grill — Restaurant in Tempe

First time trying this place yesterday. I tried their apparently new Pina Colada Churro and was a massive mistake. Coming here was a massive mistake actually. I dined in. I asked about both items I ordered, to the woman at the front. For reference to the manager, she was overweight with glasses. Gave me the worst explanation possible for 2 questions about a salad and those Churros. She said "it has coconut and pineapple". So I go, "okay so that white stuff if frosting?". She said yeah. I ordered it.

I waited almost an hour for a salad and a Churro. I was brought a churro wrapped in paper with a size cup sitting on my salad that I almost poured onto it, not knowing it was for the churro. I inspected the bubbly liquid and realized there was a tiny bit of coconut in it so I stopped in my tracks right before pouring. I was confused but I dipped the churro in the white bubbly liquid. It was a cup of spoiled milk. I tried it again and again to make sure I was really consuming what I was. Sharp to the tongue and rotten as could be.

I then waited for the ogre-like woman to find the time to find the time to address me at the counter as there were a few people in line. I waited for five minutes and finally waved her down and said "hey, just so you know, this is just a cup of spoiled milk". She said "spoiled milk?" I said "yeah, its just bubbly rotten liquid and I just wanted to make sure to let you know." She said "throw it away" and walked off. Never mentioned it to the cooks. Never checked on it. Never apologized. Nothing. I always tip too. This is why I shouldn't at counter ordering places like this.

Salad was okay. Hard to trust and eat it after that but I didn't want to toss my money in the trash and the woman clearly wasn't going to help. I woke up today with quite the stomach ache. I will never be back. If you are reading...

I've been eating at rubios since the early to mid 1980s or so. I highly recommend most locations. Not haute cuisine but great comfort food. I also love how they support the communites they are in and support the earth especially oceans for obvious reasons. The owner was a surger like i was back in the day and their dishes feature fish or seafood so they honor what makes them great. Their neighbors and the ingredients for the water the founder loves.

HOWEVER, This location did not live up to my expectations. The burito was good, but youll see a pic of my chips. If they were running low they could have dropped more in the fryer. They had abot fifteen more customers after me even when i was there, much less after i left.

Or if they were tight on their product they could have offered a side of rice or beans or greens in substitution. Instead i got crumbs. There was not one single chip the was even two thirds of an inch on any given edge.

VERY...

Rubio's have lost their identity, sadly. The menu is not the same, the salsa is not the same, the music is different...doesn't feel like Rubio's anymore.

Owner's or management have reached out to apologize, but really they have nothing to be sorry for. Obviously the changes seen at Ruibio's are the result of corporate decisions. The local staff as well as the facilities themselves have all been satisfactory, not dirty or anything like that. It is clear this is corporate Rubio's that is trying to grow up, from a beach-side taco stand, into a contemporary dining restaurant. However! Rubio has forgotten what brought in the crowds! Yes, it was tasty fish tacos, but for those of us living away from the coast, it was also the sweet reggae music that consistently played at Rubio's, or the vibe of just walking into a taco shop in Encinitas or Rosarito...Rubio's lost it and I fear they will never...