Madre! Oaxacan Restaurant and Mezcaleria — Restaurant in Torrance

Me and a companion got onto their wait-list using Yelp but the host could not find our check-in when we arrived so they put us in the back of the waiting list. We were quoted 20 minutes wait. The actual wait was 1.5 hours. There was no accommodation for waiting customers other than offering full priced drinks. We sat on a planter and drooled at others eating what looks and smells like delicious food.

Yelp shows your progress in the wait list. While in 3rd for 30 minutes, there were 4 tables available that seat 2. When I asked the host why they don't prefer to seat their guests, they offered reservations and a backed up kitchen as excuses. Given the length of time these tables remained vacant, the kitchen being behind and the excessive waits as experienced in the rumblings of other waiting patrons - I'd say this place wasn't being managed effectively!

The food seriously looked and smelled delicious so we persisted to wait. When we were finally seated, I already knew what I wanted to order from studying the menu. available on their website. Our server informed us that they were serving a limited menu when I tried to order. Upon examining the limited menu, I realized they broke most of the dinner plates into tapas, small a la carte appetizer portions. They declined to offer us the plates advertised on their current website dinner menu. We decided to leave given the numerous irritants. I know I was hungry and now cranky at this point but still level headed enough to know I didn't want to approve of this lousy management and service by spending my money here.

My companion and I felt that we got ripped off for nearly 2 hours of our life for a place that deserves high expectations. They not only failed to meet my expectations, but failed to meet basic and reasonable expectations for service and accommodation. This place as of October 2020 is mismanaged - I would not wait for service here again and I would not count on any of their online advertisements to be current nor accurate.

I would give them one star, but I know that their food is delicious, you can see the delight in the faces of their patrons (who were probably also famished by the time they...

My wife had been here before and loved it, specifically the mole. She was raving about it for a week. We came in and the first thing I heard was the mariachi band in the main dining room. To each their own and if you like mariachi, you'll love this feature, but I can't stand mariachis at dinner. I want to talk and enjoy my meal, but I can barely hear my own thoughts, let alone the person less than two feet away from me. Luckily, there is a section on the patio and the mariachi was almost completely unheard.

When we sat down, we ordered a big dish that had three of the moles with chicken and a side of tortillas. The waitress said it was perfect to share for two people. We also ordered two drinks; mine was a margarita with mezcal instead of tequila, a suggestion made by our waitress as this place is well known for its wide selection of mezcal. What the waitress had failed to mention when we ordered was choosing flour tortillas instead of corn was extra charge, and that the plate only came with three. Again, for a meal that's "perfect to share" between two people. As well, there was an upcharge for the change in liquor. Not disclosed.

As for the meal itself, my wife said it wasn't as good as it was the first time she had eaten here. Even her favorite mole was lacking in something. That being said, I enjoyed the meal as a whole, but it was not mind blowing. Just good. We did have to order an extra side of tortillas. Later I found out that the extra side came with only three and cost $4. When we asked the manager about it, he said they had to charge that much extra because of tariffs and the owner prides himself on getting the highest quality Flour tortillas. Respectfully, nonsense. Those tortillas were not worth $1.33 a piece.

Overall, it was a disappointment for us both. She was hoping the second visit would give her a new regular spot to come to and I wanted a good meal that was worth the price. Needless to say, the lack of transparency about price increases and the drop in quality of the food leads me to most likely not come back. Hopefully if you come around here, the issues I mentioned will have been addressed and there will be more...

So, Friday night, my wife and I decide to hit up Madre. Supposedly, this place is the spot for authentic Oaxacan cuisine. We’re hyped. We even made reservations, but we’re those overachievers who show up early and think, “Hey, let’s grab a drink at the bar.” Drinks? Solid. Atmosphere? Great. I’m thinking, “Alright, Madre, let’s see what you got!”

Then we order the guacamole. You know, the dish everyone on the planet loves because it’s impossible to screw up? Well, guess what? They found a way. This wasn’t guacamole—it was onion apocalypse! Raw onions everywhere. It’s like the avocado was just an afterthought, sitting in the corner going, “What am I even doing here?” I felt like I was chewing on a raw garden. My breath still smells like an onion patch.

But here’s where it gets worse. We ordered a molcajete to share. Now, I’ve never had one here before, but I know what it’s supposed to be. I’m expecting this bubbling, sizzling masterpiece served in a volcanic stone bowl that says, “Hey, I’m authentic, respect me!” What do we get? A cast iron skillet. A cast iron skillet! I’ve seen more authentic vibes at a Chili’s. The food was fine—nothing to write home about—but the presentation? It felt like a half-hearted Pinterest recipe.

And now, the grand finale: the tortillas. Oh man, these tortillas. I’m thinking, “Finally, a redemption moment. They’re gonna bring out fresh, handmade, beautiful tortillas that make me cry tears of masa joy.” Nope. They roll out store-bought tortillas that I swear came straight off the shelf at Ralphs. Barely warm. Sad. Flimsy. The kind of tortillas you use when you’re too broke to care. At this point, I’m just staring at my wife like, “Is this real life? Did we just pay restaurant prices for Taco Tuesday at home?”

Look, Madre, you had one job. One. I came here for authenticity, for a little Oaxacan magic. What I got was a lukewarm skillet of mediocrity and tortillas that should be ashamed of themselves.

Final thought: The drinks are good, the vibe is great, but the food? Madre, you’re killing me. If this is what you’re calling authentic, I’m buying a plane ticket to Oaxaca because clearly, I’ve...