Machete Cocina Mexicana — Restaurant in Woodbury

Update (5/6/2025): Unauthorized tip added. After our poor experience, I chose not to leave a tip. Before we left the restaurant, I had a feeling that I should take a picture of both receipts. I’m glad I did, because I just reviewed my debit card transactions and saw that my card was charged $7 extra. I’m so disappointed but sadly not surprised, as some folks think tips are required no matter how they treat you.

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Original Review (5/3/2025): Yesterday was our 4th and likely last visit. We started coming to Machete one year ago, after finding out that they have Modelo Negra on tap AND it's served in a frosty mug, which my husband loves. We love the location, the food is decent, and the restaurant has a nice vibe. Our biggest complaint is the TERRIBLE SERVICE.

Each time we visit, the attitude from the staff seems to be, "nope, not my job." I've worked in a restaurant before, so I understand that servers are assigned sections, to ensure equal division of tables. But this is no excuse for staff who are on the floor and not actively working with someone to ignore guests. At the very least, someone should say, "hello, welcome, or someone will be right with you," as soon as guests enter.

Yesterday, we stood at the check-in area for several minutes before someone eventually came up and said, "we're just cleaning off a table for you." Before this, we watched staff walk around, talk to each other, and someone even came up to the check in desk and said nothing to us. This is unacceptable and doesn't make guests feel welcome. The ONLY REASON we didn't walk out is because my husband really wanted that beer in a frosty mug. Mind you, the restaurant wasn't very busy, compared to our previous visits.

After being seated, it got worse. I'm not sure if our server was new, but he seemed very distracted. We ordered the beer and a margarita (both full price at $11 and $12 - no specials). After a few minutes, the beer was delivered, but no margarita. I'm not sure where our server went, but when he finally came back (about 5 minutes later), my husband asked about the margarita and the server seemed to have forgotten to put in the order. I told him not to worry about it, because at that point, I was fed up and didn't want to spend any more money for lackluster service.

Then, our server disappeared AGAIN, for what seemed like 10+ minutes. It seemed like he was the only server missing for extended periods of time, as I saw the others regularly checking on their tables. When he eventually returned, he finally took our dinner order. We ordered one item to share, so we could pay and get out of there.

The dish came out, and we asked the young man (who was not our server) for some silverware. He came back with silverware and made a snarky comment that it would be easier to use the knife that came with the dish. The comment was unnecessary, as we simply wanted a fork and napkin (which we hadn't been given), and figured we could get both with a set of silverware, since our server kept disappearing. Our server finally returned and we asked for a few more napkins, which he kindly brought over. Overall, his attitude was pleasant, he just wasn't very attentive.

Before yesterday, we'd assumed that we were getting such bad service because we are black. However, yesterday, as we prepared to leave, we saw a group of white customers come in, and they were also left waiting at the check in area without being greeted. Not surprisingly, we've always observed that Latino customers receive more attentive service. Although this is isn't right, as a black person who grew up in the South, I kind of understand. But, I would rather be turned away at the door than be given...

A Dull Machete

Typically, a machete is a sharp, broad knife that can be used to cut trees and plants, the type of tool that could be used to chop away at agave plants and making some delicious tequila. Or, it could be a dull object that isn't really worth using at all. And, like that dull object, this next place should have "sharpened" up on their food preparation before opening.

That dull place we're talking about is Machete Cucina Mexicana locate din Woodbury and taking over the space that was once home to one of my favorite places for tacos, Cien Taco. Why they closed, I'm not so sure, but I kind of feel like residents of Woodbury don't appreciate Mexican Food???? Anyways, let's fill you in on our thoughts on the latest addition to Woodbury and why it's not really a keep for us.

I've heard both good and bad things about this place and when a friend of mine asked for my recommendation, it was time to pay this place a visit and see for ourselves. After being seated, and, like most Mexican restaurants, chips and salsa was arriving to our table shortly after being seated. Chips were tasty and the salsa was different. Not bad, but different for sure. We grabbed a margarita and cerveza's as our server explained that Machete is providing authentic Mexican food with a modern twist. Not sure what that meant, but I saw "American style tacos" and laughed out loud.

We went ahead and ordered a Carnitas Burrito, a variety of street tacos so we could try several protein options and queso dip. The queso arrived first and was your typical queso, certainly not something you'll crave and demand more immediately. As for our other food, that's where things really went south.

The burrito, a combination of your choice of meat or veggie, rice, beans, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, guac and pico. It came out looking like something I could have made at home and after biting into it, I told my wife, "I'd take a Chipotle burrito over that one!" It certainly wasn't gross or inedible by all means, but really boring.

For our taco meats, I went with carnitas, tinga, barbacoa and cochinita pibil (pork shoulder marinated in a sauce that is close to a mole sauce). Like the burrito, the carnitas was super boring, the tinga was just a step above that, the cochinita wasn't too exciting either and the barbacoa had the most flavor, but pretty typical in comparison to other Mexican restaurants. Head on over to our Twin Cities Best Tacos list to see how this place did against the competition.

You know what, I almost forgot my little guys quesadilla... Well, ok, maybe I didn't forget it, I just wasn't going to share it. I make better quesadillas at home! All in all, the food isn't terrible, maybe worth a try for someone that is more into the blandness of foods. Let's face it, Mexican food can at times, be spicy and not everyone is a fan of spice. But, you still have to have flavor! I have other places I would recommend, but you're more than welcome to check this place out for...

The atmosphere here is fantastic but sadly from there it just goes downhill fast. Server had little to no personality and wasn’t very attentive (water was out for a good 10 to 15 min). Mild salsa they brought had zero texture or taste. Doesn’t need to be thick / chunky to be good but this is basically tomato soup, super runny. They do have a mild, medium and hot so we asked for the medium, it was better, tasted a little like buffalo sauce but still no texture at all. On a positive the chips are good. Steak fajitas were ok. The ground steak isn’t my preference, would rather have sliced steak but the taste is good. Tortillas were solid, plate setup with sides was great but needs more pico, sour cream and guacamole for 5 tortillas. The main thing that brings 3 stars is the peppers and onions were almost raw. I don’t want crunchy fajita veggies and I don’t think most people do. 3rd photo is today at home when I cooked the veggies back up so they were where they should be in the restaurant, made for 4 more tasty tacos for brunch.

Would love to see this place swap out their salsa for a better recipe, work on the service a bit and yeah cook the veggies more.

Again love the concept and look of this place but service has always been just ok and the food has never been better than ok. For reference we’ve been 3 to 4 times since they opened. If they improved the items above we’d likely be in there at least once a month.

Other unfortunate item was we asked for no lettuce on my son’s carnitas taco platter and they came with lettuce. Figured it was miscommunication but when I got the bill it says no lettuce...