Penca — Restaurant in Tucson

We just got engaged the night before, so we decided to eat at Penca because we wanted something romantic with really good food to celebrate. We were in a mood to eat well and order cocktails and some fancy desserts, too. The host sat us right as we arrived with a smile, even though we missed our reservation by a few minutes due to having to park way down the street. The place is very nice on the inside -- modern industrial decor, romantic lighting, cozy atmosphere. The menu includes many unique and upscale options for dinner and cocktails.

No one came to greet us for 15 minutes, which we were okay with at first. When someone did, it was with waters and the assurance that our server would be right with us (therefore, they were not our server). We waited another ten minutes and the same not-our-server came by with chips and salsa and the question, 'You still haven't seen your server?' At this point, we were hoping the not-our-server would take our order -- and he did take our drinks order, so that was quite nice of him. Just as were discussing how far the nearest Jimmy John's would be to walk to, the server waiting on the table next to us (standing with her back to us in the tiny space between the two booth tables, like she had done several times in the past thirty minutes) turned around suddenly (I think she overheard us planning our escape) and introduced herself as our server. From then on, our server was very personable and even recommended some places to check out for after-dinner drinks when she brought us the check. We just really, really wished that she had said hello to us at least once in the thirty minutes we waited for her instead of waiting until the last second to show us her good side. We felt very unwelcome in our time of celebration, and this put a sour taste on the whole evening. We super appreciated the not-our-server checking in on us and wished that our tip could go to him instead of our actual server. We ended up leaving as soon as we could after we got our entrees, because it just all felt so wrong. We saw someone who we assumed was the manager also waiting on tables, but a manager never came by our table to check on us. In a situation like that, the server should make sure the manager checks in - she knew how long we'd been waiting.

I've worked as a host, so I am understanding of the all-too-often circumstances of a server being oversat. It overworks the server, slows down service time, and makes the host nervous because that server might blame them. After waiting about 10 minutes after seating without anyone greeting us at the table, I looked around and noticed that our end of the restaurant was full of loud, large parties and the other end of the restaurant was quiet and empty since several two-tops left the restaurant shortly after we arrived. As a host, it's hard to tell if you should go ahead and overseat the server with an empty table or wait for a party to leave in the server's section you haven't sat in a while -- you never know how long the wait will be. We were within eyesight of the host, and she looked at us several times with a confused face. If even the host had come and checked on us, it would have been more comforting.

I am not upset about the thirty minute wait. That happens, and at least we were sitting at a table instead of waiting at a bar or outside on a patio during the time that we waited. It seems as though the host/server/manager team that was around that night was inexperienced -- everyone who should've checked in with us during our wait ignored us completely and the one person who did check in on us had other things to worry about. We could tell that the not-our-server was quite concerned with our situation but also concerned that he was busy with his tables. We didn't speak much to anyone, including the not-our-server, but at least he made eye...

I really wanted to love this restaurant. We'd eaten here a year ago and it was pretty good. I wasn't thrilled with the stuffed poblano I'd chosen that visit, but that was probably more about my own tastes rather than a problem with the dish, and over all the experience had been good. We started with drinks. Mine was watery and one dimensional. It mainly tasted of Tajin, which I like, but there just wasn't anything else about it to like. We both ordered a cup of the turkey posole. Though it was well seasoned and a very generous portion, and was served with nice garnishes and really good tortillas, was just lukewarm. Because our server didn't bring it to us, and no one checked on us after it was delivered, I couldn't ask to have it warmer, so I just ate it. Unfortunately, I also found several peices of hard bits of the turkey leg in it, which really took away from the fact that the soup had good flavor. We were eating rather late, about 9 pm on a Saturday night, and the restaurant was slowing down. We'd ordered carnitas tacos and turkey tacos. When our dinner eventually arrived it was delivered by another person. He told us what was in the tacos, and it wasn't what we'd ordered. He looked confused and took the plates and left. A while later another person brought 2 more plates. Again the wrong tacos. She took them back, then came back and offered to let us have them (they were partially correct) and also bring us the ones we were missing. We agreed, and she did return promptly with the remaining tacos. Although the tacos were hot and fresh, they were all rather bland, even with a generous squeeze of fresh lime. We had ended up with cod tacos in addition to what we had originally ordered. After tasting the rice and beans (which were served in huge, unappealing lumps that filled over two thirds of the plate and overflowed into the tacos, we realized that everything on the plate desperately needed salt. (I'm not one who usually adds salt at the table). Unfortunately no one came to check on us after we got our food, and salt and pepper are not on the tables here, so we couldn't fix the problem ourselves. We could see our server talking with the bartender, and he made eye contact a couple of times, but still didn't come by. We sat for at least 10 minutes until my husband finally got up asked for salt at the bar. Our server did quickly come over after that, and explained that he was sorry about how our order was "messed up", but that he'd "been out on his first break of the night". Although we felt for him, having worked in food service ourselves for years we know it's never a good thing to share those sorts of details with your guests. Just apologize and ask what you can do to make it right, and try to improve things going forward so you won't lose a customer. The icing on the cake was when someone, obviously kitchen staff, pushed a large wheeled trash can that was so full he had to throw his arms and torso over the top of it to keep the overstuffed trash bags piled upon it from falling off right through the entire dining area and out the front door. Ugh. In the end they did take all of the tacos off the bill, and I suspect they would have taken the cocktail and the soup off as well if I had complained about them. I believe they really were embarrassed about the confusion. While we were there we took a look at their lunch and brunch menu online, and thought brunch looked fantastic, but after this experience I really don't think we'll chance it. Good luck to you if you give this...

We went to Penca’s website before our show at the Fox to see that every reservation time slot was open so we headed straight there to eat. When we arrived they asked if we had a reservation which we did not. We were told that they were completely booked and we could not be served. The hostess was going to let us walk out the door. Instead I asked if we could sit at the bar. She said yes that was open seating. While we sat at the bar we went back on their website, clicked make a reservation and every time slot was still available. So we made a reservation for 15 mins later. We went up and showed the hostess who said she didn’t understand because they are booked full and then said the system we booked thru isn’t even a platform they use. We let her know the system we used was the one directly on their website for booking reservations. We were fine with sitting at the bar but with all the empty seats and challenges with their reservations it was a bit disappointing. We saw several other couples come in after us experience the same issue and be sat a table. Side from the obvious lack of problem solving we had a very attentive bartender who provided great service and had a window seat to watch the kitchen team who were doing a fantastic job.

We ordered the ceviche as an appetizer, three tacos (pescado, Rajas y papas, and cabeza) and the steak salad. The tacos were good as was the steak salad. The steak was a little stringy and tough to chew and with the char at times it overpowered the flavor of the salad.

Overall it was decent place to eat before the show. We would definitely call ahead to make a reservation if we ate there again. It was annoying that when we left there were still 3 empty tables that sat empty the entire time...