Maizal Mexican Kitchen and Mezcaleria — Restaurant in Town of Amherst

We have been one other time and I really didnt need to go back but when another restaurant was closed we figured we may as well give it another try. Afterall every time we go by they are pretty busy so why not... Well, I know why I will not be going back again...

First off, what restaurant in their right mind has a menu solely online with out guest wifi.....Maizal. I realize a good majority of people nowadays have smartphones but, let's be honest, not everyone does and...even Verizon struggles with signal in the area at times.

We started with the obligatory chips and salsa. The chips had zero salt and the salsa....well....I guess they tried. We ordered queso which was okay but I certainly am not going to be craving it at any point in time.

I got a mojito (kudos to the bartender) and the Birria Queso-tacos as that is what was recommended as their ground been tacos. Not only did the flavor leave something to be desired but the meat itself was dried out, knock against the table crunchy complete with burnt flavor, i know, some peoplewould fight for burnt ends, I will sadly never understand that one. The rice was flavorless and the refried beans had a very unpleasant 'tinny' taste.

My husband got a rum on the rocks and the El Tropico (chicken, shrimp, pineapple and sautéed onions). I asked how it was and he indicated that he has had the sane dush around the corner (literally) and it was wat better. When he tried the rice and beans his thought were similar.

The young woman who had delivered our plates came back shortly after thinking she had mixed up my order but when she asked me if I had the right dish I told her I thought so. By this time our server was at the table I pulled out a piece of the meat and she confirmed it was their ground beef. I told her at that point that the beef was dry and she didn't really acknowledge what I said.

My phone was working well so we paid for the bill. As we got up to leave she popped back over and asked if I wanted a box for the 2 & 1/3 of three tacos. I told her no thank you and again told her it was so fry it was literally tap on the table crisp and she said 'Oh'. Yes, it is possible that she didn't hear me the first time but...I am pretty sure that wasn't the case.

I am sure there are a lot of people that will disagree with my review on this one and, well, that is okay. My honest opinion.... there are two other Mexican restaurants in less than 5 miles (3 if you include Taco Bell) that you are more...

Where to start? The food and seasoning here is fantastic but there are some things to note. We started out ordering a side of cheese dip for the chips. It was very good. The salsa dip is drastically different than most other Mexican restaurants we’ve dined at. It’s good, differentiation is important but I found that I didn’t enjoy it as much as other places. My company felt the same. We basically went to town on the cheese dip.

I ordered the chimichangas, one beef and one chicken. My plate was very large and full, well worth the $20 price tag. First thing I noticed (and to be honest, was disappointed in) was halved cherry tomatoes and instead of a dollop of sour cream, it was drizzled across the lettuce. That annoyed me incredibly, as I like to spread sc across the top of my chimichangas. One thing I appreciated (but know that I’m usually alone in this preference) is how well blended down the beans were. I loved that. The guac was more of a dollop but it was a bit chunky and was also kind of navigated in the lettuce, versus neatly aside. The rice was stellar, my favorite anyway, as was the beans I mentioned earlier. I REALLY enjoyed the beef and its seasoning, also more than any other Mexican restaurants we’ve dined at, HOWEVER, it was overcooked and much of it inside was flat out black-burnt. Chimichangas are deep fried, so that can happen but this was the most extreme overcooking of the inside that I’ve found. Next time I will try a dish other than chimis. The shredded chicken chimi was not that good. My wife offered to let me try some of her fajita chicken and it was stellar. I had major envy.

Speaking of my wife’s food, she ordered the fajitas as she always does. My wife’s sizzling fajitas looked delicious, however the 3 shells provided were considerably smaller than most other experiences. Also cherry tomatoes…and the chicken slices were quite large, leading to awkward and clumsy fajita making. But again, delicious.

Lastly, the temperature was comfortable, the ambiance was nice, but the music was a bit loud.

So ultimately, we love the food here but question the consistency and the different prep methods/approach. I look forward to trying it again soon. I’ll ask for the sour cream on the side, and I’ll try a dish other than the chimichangas…and we’ll...

Disappointing Experience Despite High Expectations

We arrived at the restaurant around 6:00 PM and were seated promptly on the patio. At first, this seemed like a great start, but unfortunately, things quickly went downhill. After being told multiple times that our server would be “right with us,” it took a full 20 minutes before we were even asked for our drink order. In the meantime, different staff members brought water and chips and salsa — each repeating the same promise that our server would be with us shortly. Drinks finally arrived around 6:30, and our queso shortly after — which tasted like it may have come from a jar (though I can't say for sure). Our entrees arrived ten minutes later, but were dropped off without any follow-up. We needed napkins and hot sauce, but our server had disappeared again. After waiting and seeing no staff in sight, I eventually went inside and asked the hostess, who was kind enough to help us. By then, my food had gone lukewarm. I had a few bites but decided to take the rest home. When the server returned, I let her know I had already gone inside to get the items we needed. She apologized and mentioned they were busy — although from our view of the entrance, it didn’t seem like a rush ever came in. To her credit, she offered a $10 gift card after I shared our concerns, but I declined it. A few minutes later, the manager came over to apologize and removed my entree from the check. While I appreciated the gesture, I reiterated that the service was too slow and inattentive throughout the entire evening. It’s a real letdown because we had heard great things about this place and even went out of our way to try it. Unfortunately, based on this experience and location, it’s unlikely...