La Fountain Mexican Restaurant on 56th West — Restaurant in West Valley City

If you love Mexican food, please avoid this restaurant. I'm not one to speak in hyperbole, but this is THE worst Mexican restaurant I have ever visited. I am not from Utah, but I really hope this is not the best Tooele has to offer. I have spent time in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and the southeast. I have been to the Red Iguana in SLC, and I did enjoy it. (Carne Asada tacos were fantastic.) I won't write a novel, but do take the time to read this review.

I walked in around 6:30 PM on a weekday and was seated promptly. The waiter came by with a small bowl of cold tortilla chips and asked for my drink order order after a few minutes. I started into the chips and realized that I was missing salsa. After trying to hail my waiter for a minute, I gave up and grabbed a bottle off of an unbussed table. (No customer should ever have to do this.) I have never had salsa from a squeezable condiment bottle before, but I was not expecting the best. Even so, I was extremely disappointed by the contents.

La Frontera Salsa Recipe: 1 4 oz. can Tomato Paste 4 oz cold water 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper 1 dash dried cilantro 1 dash garlic powder

There was no texture and less flavor to be found in this sad excuse for pizza sauce. Oh wait, that was supposed to be salsa. Pathetic. If you work at La Frontera and know the salsa recipe, I dare you to tell me I'm wrong about this.

After sitting for 15 minutes in front of inedible salsa and cold tortillas, the waiter came back around. I really wish he hadn't because I was about to get up and leave. That would have been the best outcome.

I placed an order for their small combination platter. Another ten minutes passed, and the entrée was delivered. It included a cheese enchilada, a beef tostada, a taco, and a burrito.

I started with the tostada and thought, "Hmmm. This is supposed to be a beef tostada. All I have found under this iceberg is extremely salty refried beans. I'll move on." Next, the enchilada. Half melted cheddar cheese covered in canned enchilada sauce. Nice. Move on. Burrito: filled with some kind of meat. It was not ground beef. Beyond that, I couldn't tell if the extremely dense and dry tidbits inside were pork, chicken, or beef. It was horrible. Move on. Finally the taco. I was in for a surprise. The salty refried bean smear in the tostada was actually La Frontera's take on ground beef. SAD.

I reluctantly ate what little I could stomach and left the rest for the trash. I stacked my plates and threw in my napkin. Ten minutes later, my waiter appeared and asked if I would like my check. I told him that I would, and he took my plates. Another ten minutes passed an I flagged down a waitress who was taking to go orders. She brought me my check. I paid and left. I would have spoken to a manager, but it would have served no purpose. Instead, I am here recounting my visit.

In total, spent close to 45 minutes in waiting and 10 minutes eating "food." I was extremely disappointed in the lack of service and quality. I will not return to this establishment and I ask that you consider this warning before you stop by. This is the worst "Mexican" restaurant I have...

Arrived into town and visited the West Valley chain store. Ordered their Green Chile Verde smothered burrito. Took the take out to the hotel, opened it, and knew immediately they had made a mistake. What I had was a soupy red substance with a few chunks of pork with a sopping wet tortilla submerged in the sauce. I called and spoke to manager America and explained my discontent. She defended the situation by telling me what I had was, in fact, their Green Chile Verde. I corrected her several times by telling her "this is not green, it is red". I asked her if she had ever eaten at La Puente restaurant before in hopes of her understanding what true "Chile VERDE" really was. She replied by telling me their chain had bought out La Puente, and the very recipe they were using was that of the original restaurant. I was absolutely grief stricken! Growing up in SLC and eating at La Puente for decades and what?! They had sold out?! Totally bummed out folks! Anyway, after letting manager lady America know I did not want to argue and simply wanted a refund she finally obliged my request. A bit of advise to you America ...

A. Never argue with a customer. Simply apologize and offer a refund. B. Never lie about purchasing the best Mexican food restaurant in the state of Utah, and tell the customer you're using their recipe. You haven't a clue what authentic CHILE VERDE is! C. Never and I repeat, NEVER use Sysco beans out of a can! Who are you trying to fool? YUCK! D. Never put your "restaurant chain" above that of a small mom & pop restaurant that's been proven for decades, It simply doesn't fly!

Trust me folks, don't make the mistake. Go to 3450 S. State Street if you want to experience the real thing. I was partially raised in San Antonio and I know authentic Mexican food. I travel back home often and submerge my taste buds in the real thing. This offensive place called La Fountain is great if your looking for a fountain of watered down so called Mexican grub....

I love good Mexican food, even when it's Tex-Mex. My spouse can usually find something she likes at a Mexican place, but she isn't a huge fan of Mexican. I had heard I would love this place, so we gave it a try. I generally like to give a place a second try, but we probably won't be going back here.

The tortilla chips that come out with the meal were seasoned. I enjoyed them, but my spouse couldn't handle them because of the spice. My spouse ordered chicken strips and fries. They came out tasting of burned oil. The fries were soggy. It was obvious the oil was old and should have been changed at least one day prior. They were not well prepared.

I ordered the daily special on a Saturday, a chili verde burrito, smothered in chili verde, with beans and rice. I ate half of the burrito. I felt like something was off about it, but the flavor was good. I thought maybe I was just concerned about her order. I brought the food home and ate it for lunch the next day.

My picture, from when I finished it, shows the problem. This burrito had little or no meat in it. I felt like it was 90% tortilla and a little bit of pork. Maybe it was the special, maybe that's just how they serve food. Regardless of why, they're just wasn't much meat in the burrito. All in all it just wasn't a fantastic dining experience.

There are plenty of people that love to eat here so don't ignore them based on my review. Give them a try and see if...