El Charro Café Downtown — Restaurant in Tucson

Do not book El Charro for large groups or special occasions. I had my wedding rehearsal dinner at the downtown location last week and I had a terrible experience.

I made my reservation well in advance, about six months before my wedding. But when I got there, the restaurant was totally clueless about it. I was told that our tables were not ready and that we had to wait. By the time we ended up getting seated, a whole hour had passed. Elderly grandparents and children, who I told to show up at a specific time, were forced to wait out in the street. I was told that I didn't pay a private event fee and so I had to wait for other guests to finish, but the managers of the restaurant who I had been in communication with to book this reservation never told me anything about that. It was my understanding that I had reserved the patio space for my large group, but this was not the case. When we were finally allowed to be seated, there were not enough tables or chairs. My group of about 30 was pushed into the corner, practically sitting on top of each other.

Two weeks before my reservation, I confirmed with the restaurant managers my final headcount and dietary restrictions. But there were not enough chairs for my guests, no kids menus, and no options for my guests with dietary restrictions. When I brought this up to the floor manager working that evening, he was completely rude to me and told me I needed to calm down.

The dinner service was exceedingly slow because only one server was working my table of about 30 guests. The server was extremely professional and hardworking, but one person can only do so much. The food was decent, but by that point I was barely even hungry because I felt so bad for what I unknowingly put my guests through.

Following dinner, I reached out to the managers who I had been in constant contact with in making the reservation. They have completely ghosted me, ignoring my request to explain what happened to my reservation. Overall, this strikes me as a complete failure in the upper management running this restaurant. The server was nice, food was okay, but it felt like no one knew what we were even doing there in the restaurant that night. The managers clearly have no idea how to run a restaurant and communicate with their staff.

Please do not use this restaurant, or any of their other locations, for large groups or special occasions. They clearly do not have a handle on how to run these reservations correctly. I was not expecting a perfect service or experience, but I wanted the bare minimum at least.

I'm sure there are plenty of other restaurants in Tucson that know how to handle special occasions with large groups, and I wish that I had more foresight to choose anywhere other than this place, because my special occasion was absolutely ruined by this restaurant and...

Title: A Mixed Experience at The Original El Carro Cafe in Tucson

Nestled in the heart of Tucson, Arizona, The Original El Carro Cafe offers a unique blend of rustic charm and traditional Mexican cuisine. The setting, a quaint old home transformed into a vibrant eatery, exudes an inviting, timeworn ambiance that captivates diners even before they take a seat. Decorated to embody the spirit of an old Mexican restaurant, the warmth and authenticity of the space promise a dining experience rich in culture and flavor.

Upon visiting this location, the culinary craft delivers. Each dish radiates with the bold and fresh flavors that are synonymous with quality Mexican cooking. For those curious about what to order, it's safe to say that any item on the menu will be a delight to the senses. The food is outstanding with each bite reflecting the homage paid to traditional recipes.

However, the service experienced at this establishment presents a significant contrast to the culinary excellence. Upon arrival, an unexpected wait of almost ten minutes ensued before being greeted by the hostess. Her curt manner set a somewhat chilly tone - "How many?" and "Follow me" comprised the extent of the interaction. Once seated, another prolonged wait began before a server appeared, bringing only glasses of water with minimal interaction, much less the anticipation to take a drink order.

As the evening progressed, the detached demeanor of the staff became a recurring theme. An unspoken handoff occurred when a lady brought chips and salsa to the table, again without a word. Eventually, the original server returned to take our order, maintaining a businesslike and distant approach. The anticipation and excitement of a memorable dining experience began to wane as the lack of warmth from the staff coated the meal with a hint of disappointment.

Despite the extraordinary food emerging from the kitchen, the café struggled to deliver on the hospitality that transforms a good meal into a great experience. With limited interaction until the time for the check, the atmosphere cultivated by the staff was void of engagement or the simple gesture of a smile, leaving a bittersweet taste as we exited the establishment.

It's noteworthy that the Oro Valley location contrasts starkly with the downtown branch. Guests there encounter a friendlier and more welcoming ambiance, implying that service norms vary significantly between locations.

The Original El Carro Cafe in Tucson offers a mixed experience – unparalleled cuisine in a charming setting, overshadowed by a service culture that might benefit from infusing some of the same warmth and authenticity found in its decor and dishes. A visit is still recommended for the food and setting, with the hope that future visits see a more vibrant and welcoming...

Out of towner here. We (my husband, sister and her husband) originally picked this place out at random, and also because of their gluten free options, which is important for my sister. We first dined here last night and, since we came in the middle of the dinner rush, we had to wait for a bit, so we had drinks at the bar, where I enjoyed a delicious jalapeño martini. After being seated in the room nearest to the bar, we enjoyed the colorful and interesting art and decor while we ate some of the mini chimichangas, the table-side guacamole and the appetizer nacho, which were delicious. For the main course, my sister had the street taco platter, her husband had the tamale platter, my husband had the chicken molé and a tamale a la carte, and I had a chicken chimichanga, which had been baked instead of fried. I've never had a baked chimichanga before and it was quite interesting (good interesting). Our server, Omar, was very lively and friendly, as well as knowledgeable about the menu and our options, which was especially beneficial for my sister. We concluded the meal with creme bruleé, which was also delicious! Tonight, my husband and I decided to come back, since we have to go home soon, and also because we were interested in the fried ice cream! There was a bit of a wait again, but it was just as worth it tonight, as it was last night! This time, we were seated in the basement, which was comfortable, and the rock walls were reminiscent of some wonderful places we've happened upon in our rockhounding excursions. My husband liked his tamalé so much that he went for the tamalé platter and I had a prickly pear-rita, which was indescribably delicious, and the taco street platter, which was a lovely selection of flavors! The in-house queso they serve with the tacos is a nice touch, in my opinion. I had a taste of one of his tamales, and I was quite impressed with that, as well! It's normally not my thing, but I can understand why he went for the platter. Coincidentally, our server was Omar again, and he really does have a pleasant energy, both as a person and as a server. I also appreciate his attentiveness to us as guests. It was quite busy again tonight (I get the feeling that it's normal for this place), so I appreciate him acknowledging that our order was taking a bit, but I don't think he had to apologize about it. My husband and I both have worked in food service, so we fully understand how rushes work. He kept our waters full, which was perfect for us. When we come back to Tucson, we plan to dine here again, and if he is still working here, I will request to be seated in Omar's section. Thanks for the delicious food and...