El Centenario — Restaurant in Wolfeboro

The restaurant was cute but small (there's no issue with it being small. It comfortablly sits maybe 25-30 including the bar). Wheelchair access could be tight, if needed. I was looking to have a drink and thought the food looked good from the pictures other people had posted. It seemed like the restaurant also got really good reviews so I was excited to try everything. I was really disappointed. I'm not going to go back. I personally dislike when places get amazing reviews that I listen to and then there are major concerns or issues. I wish people would leave more honest reviews so others don't have to go through the same experience they experienced. I feel like people just don't say anything because it is the polite thing to do. I'm sorry if constructive criticism is considered rude. I am concerned because of potential health risks. Will I be calling the board of health? No. I sat at the bar and have to mention that had I not sat at the bar, I probably wouldn't have known of the cleaniness issues I witnessed. I literally had a front row seat, though. The bartender who greeted me took my drink order and then it seemed like the other bartender took over for her but the first one hadn't left the restaurant so it was slightly odd to me. I clearly ordered my drink with the first bartender and requested a sugar rim. This was wrong when the other bartender made my drink. I politely stated that it was supposed to be sugar and they redid the glass/transferred the drink. The bartender who made my drink had a bandaid on which had stringy pieces of the bandage hanging off. I wasn't sure if the string pieces got into my drink or not. I didn't say anything. I was at Trader Joe's today and tried to get a sample of a wine. They carded me. The restaurant did not card me. The rest of the time I was there, I watched as that same bartender made drinks for the entire restaurant. Her string pieces from the bandage did in fact not only touch the wedges of fruit that went in the rim of the glasses but it went into the drinks she was pouring including some of the pitchers. Her fingernails and fingers looked dirty and she touched all of the fruit with those hands. Both bartenders were running around. At one point, the one with the bandage ate at the bar. I understand she was hungry. There was food on her face and she wiped it away quick and then back to work. No hand washing was done in between. She also was sniffing the glasses as well as shakers. For the life of me, I couldn't figure that out. It wasn't until later that I realized what she might've been doing. I heard her say this one is coconut to the other bartender. They didn't rinse or get new shakers in between. Be careful if people have allergies in your party. A couple came in after me who were definitely regulars. They ordered fajitas and another entree but no drinks. They got their food before I did. I ordered an appetizer/quesadilla with shrimp. After the other couple got their food, I asked if my order had been placed to the original woman who greeted me. I'm not sure if I seemed upset but the other woman came over and said the kitchen went somewhere to get fresh shrimp. It came out after that within 5 minutes or so. It was hot. It wasn't anything special. It was a quesadilla with a whole shrimp in each piece that had been cut. No one checked on me. After waiting a while, I asked for the check. My plate had been pushed in front of me and I hadn't touched the two pieces I had left over after eating the shrimp. The drink was okay. Not very strong but made me feel okay. No buzz. The shrimp was good. The quesadilla had lots of oily cheese. The woman next to me had the mango chicken and said it should be on the menu. The fajitas also looked okay. Perhaps I just missed the mark with what I ordered. I wasn't extremely hungry. I hope this helps someone. The bill with 20% included came to $47. I didn't think it was worth that at all. The shrimp was an add on and I was told the queso fundito wasn't really a dip which is why I opted for my order. I had asked for a side of it...

We Visited El Centenario at 5:15 on Saturday Evening. We walked in and were told by a young man that we would not be served. It’s too crowded and the kitchen is overwhelmed.

We look and see two vacant 4 top tables. We the ask, “Can we sit down at one of these empty tables and have a drink and wait?” The young man replies No.

We spot a waitress and ask the same question. She said the owner does not want anyone to be seated because the kitchen is overwhelmed and we don’t want to disappoint anyone.

I ask can we speak to the owner? The Waitress replies “ No He’s in the back and busy.

We look over at the bar. There are 3 empty seats there. We ask a third employee, the bartender, can we sit down and have a drink? We don’t have to eat we’ll just have a beer and a margarita. The bartender’s answer is “No”. No I say, so you won’t serve me a drink ? The bartender further states the owner does not want anymore people in the restaurant. It’s too busy. I ask to speak with the owner. The bartender says, “He’s not on the premises”.

So one of the employees is lying. I feel, I’m in an episode for the Twilight Zone. There’s empty tables and empty spots at the bar but we don’t want your business. We won’t return.

Last time we were at El Centenario, there were Mexican employees. None of the 3 we interacted with were Mexican. Perhaps it is under new ownership. It won’t be open long with...

I had to give serious thought before I rated this place. We ate there at the end of the summer season and I think the staff was just tired of torusts. We were told the wait would be an hour but we actually waited over an hour and a half. We were excited to try the place as it has great reviews. First there was no drink menu. Two of us ordered margaritas with a grand marnier floater, what we got was a premix margarita that tasted like a fake box drink. I ordered shrimp fajitas, it arrived with NO seasoning at all. Just shrimp and sauteed vegetables. Two other people at the table ordered chicken fajitas and it had seasoning on it and smelled amazing. My husband ordered cochinita pibil which is a pulled pork dish. It was extremely dry with little flavor. My group of friends that we done with are super chill, laid back, and great tippers. The waitress we had was definitely overworked and cranky. It did not look like she brushed her hair, her mask was more a chin guard than a mask and she did not crack a smile once. Also check out the menu prices before you go. I don't mind paying those prices for a good meal but I definitely did not get one this time around. Maybe I will check it out again when the staff isn't...