Encanto Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Urbana

Today I am writing as a Google local guide, perhaps the most harshest review I have written in recent days. This is because Encanto Restaurant and Bar is fooling its customers in the name of serving vegetarian food. This is NOT acceptable and I would advocate for removing their license as they have been marketing in wrong umbrella.

I was recently served with food that contains ingredients containing beef and chicken byproducts under the vegetarian menu. I asked the key folks in the restaurant to discuss the ingredient list of their Rice, tacos and burrito's. They clearly stated their rice is cooked with beef and chicken broth. I even checked if they serve different rice under the vegetarian section of their menu. However, it turns out they do not. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, and if you have consumed in this restaurant, then I am sorry. You have been lied, fooled and you were forced to consume food beyond your diet and religious considerations even without your notice because of the deception the owners made.

What is surprising is that the key folks in the restaurant are fully aware of this and they are okay with it. The lesson I learned that day is - all items in their menu is not vegan or vegetarian friendly. Given this, there is no better way to advocate for removal of their license as they are openly betraying their customers on their face by STARTING a bad practice in the restaurant business.

Update: It took me several weeks to write this review as I had to be sure prior writing such a harsh review. Because of this, I must discuss how I came to the conclusions and offer suggestions.

I visited Encanto Restaurant several times on various days (spread across months and time) and spoke to several folks who were serving food asking similar set of questions on the menu. I also asked couple of my friends to do the same or join me to ensure I am not being mistaken with my ignorance. So, this review was written after consolidating information over a period of time and not based on one visit.

I have asked to see the ingredient list of the ingredients they use for cooking and specifically requested for details. So, this review was written after checking the ingredient list and details on exactly how they make. I really appreciate the employees of Encanto Restaurant as they graciously discussed the details when requested and were very knowledgeable. This is really good thing and i really admire and give credits for the employees. They are splendid and provide great customer service. They did the right thing by disclosing information to customers in-depth.

I respectfully disagree with the response from the owner as none of the staffs knew about the details they are specifying over a prolonged time. The right action here is to take this situation internally to review, rectify their mistake and apologize for their mismanagement. Because what they lost is a trust from a very large growing community and it requires to be earned by...

Unfortunately I don't recommend it!

Short review: spoiled shrimp, hair in the dessert, server forgot order, but good chips and salsa.

Long review: I read so many news about this place, so I was counting the days for it to open to try their Mexican Peruvian food. We got there and sat outside given it was a sunny Saturday afternoon. The music was a little too loud for our taste, so we changed tables. I wanted to try some of the Peruvian food, but I believe there are only 4-6 dishes on the menu, and due to some diet limitations I decided to go traditional and order Mexican. My husband got the link saltado (Peruvian dish), it was a 2 out 5 tbh. Soggy fries, the meat had a lot of fat, the rice was good. I ordered the Pollo Encanto (chicken and shrimp). Vegetables were great, chicken was good, but the shrimp was spoiled, it smelled soooo bad!!! I politely mentioned it to our server, who went inside to mention it to the cook, came back and said "you know what, you were so right, the cook smelled it and almost throw up, the shrimp was spoiled!" And offered us some dessert. (I wish I was joking, but my jaw dropped!!!) Oh I forgot to mention that our server forgot to order our drinks. My husband wanted to try the guava cheesecake. The server brings the order, but some friends showed up to eat there as well, so we were standing a little far from the table, as we sit to eat our dessert, there's hair on the plate. I asked the server for a new one. We didn't like the cheesecake. We then asked for the bill, and shockingly they charged me the spoiled shrimp plate!!! So yeah, I'm not going...

We were so excited to try this place. Peruvian food in Champaign, finally! It's a shame that it was mediocre at best. Quick disclaimer: this review is for their "Peruvian" food and not the Mexican portion of the menu.

The papa a la huancaina was watery and not at all what it should be like. Shredded lettuce?? Get some Butter Lettuce, use one of the leaves and plate it appropriately. Completely tasteless and you could not even tell if there is Peruvian yellow pepper in the dish. I could almost sense my ancestors rolling in their graves when this abomination got served to us.

The lomo saltado had decent taste, but how is any self-respecting Peruvian going to serve one of the country's most popular dishes without mixing in the potatoes to soak up all of the good sauce? The potatoes were served to the side! Take the extra minute to mix it all together, get the flavors to mix and get to know each other.

The service was good and honestly the highlight of the experience. The waiter could see our disappointment and offered to fix the app for us. When it came back exactly the same, he said that the chef was from Peru and that's how he learned to make it. I spent every summer of my childhood there and I can say for a fact that I heavily doubt that their chef can even find Peru on the map. Very disappointed that they chose to portray Peruvian cuisine in such a...