6/10/2007

Review Mariachi Mexican Restaurant - Canton Michigan

*Sigh* A little background. As a small business owner I realize that a lot of work goes into any new business venture. I have also worked in the restaurant industry, so I also know a little more of what it takes. So I feel bad when someone tries so hard yet fails so bad.

Mariachi Mexican Restaurant has been open a couple weeks now. They are not off to a good start. I heard of it through the magic of newspaper coupons. Buy one dinner get one free. Whee! It even said live Mariachi band from like 5pm to 8:30pm. It also said 100 different types of tequila. Not that I drink much, but I thought it was interesting. I look at my watch it is 6:00pm and we can be ready and there by 7pm. So we'll be sure to catch some music and have a dinner that I hope will be semi good. So we get dressed and go out. We get there and the first thing I see in the window is a sign saying they are having issues getting a liquor licensee and no booze is available. Not that I care, but I did think it was funny since they advertised it in their ad. Then I see the smaller hand written sign on the front door, "no mariachi band". W-T-F! Well, whatever I think. We're here, maybe the food will be good. The place is pretty full.

We go in, give our name and non-smoking preferences and have to wait a few minutes. The first thing I notice is the water fall wall behind the register. Slightly mesmerizing, but kind of white trashy at the same time. So after maybe five minutes they call us and we are seated near the front window. They give us menu's and we start looking them over. The best thing about the table was it was near the door so you could watch everyones reactions as they walk up and read the signs that say there is no booze and the band aint playing. Pretty much everyone got the WTF look on their face. Some left. I wish we had the foresight to leave. But noooo... So we wait for the waiter, and he comes up tosses some chips in a bowl on the table and leaves quickly. Doesn't even ask if we want drinks or says hi. In the chip bowl are three lidded containers and a gravy boat of fresh salsa. Not sure what is in the containers. Two are green and one is red. After another 10 mins pass he comes back and asks what we want to drink we tell him we are ready to order. We order mixed meat fajitas and chicken enchiladas. A note of the fajitas: Chicken was $8 something, Steak was 9 something and shrimp was 11 something. Mixed was almost $13. So I figure mixed has to be all 3 meats and more of 'em. (Ya know, since it doesn't say on the menu, like duh!) I asked the waiter and he said yes, that's what it was. What we got was some steak and chicken. And it didn't come on the sizzle plate. No shrimp, not a lot of meat. Enough for maybe 4 shells if you skimped on the meat. Blah. The chicken enchiladas were worse. It tasted like the red pepper sauce was the same tomato sauce they use on Chef Boyardee. It was pretty nasty. Oh, and did I mention it was cold. The fajitas were warm, but the enchiladas were cold. Slightly warm on top but inside was cold. The paltry amount of cheese they put on top was barely melted. (I really need to start taking pictures of the food.) We eat the fajitas and the enchiladas just sit on the table between us with only 2 bites taken. So we are done with this place. Let us the fuck out. We have been waiting a while for the waiter to show up with the bill, or a gun so we can shoot ourselves. So I have the coupon and credit card out waiting so he doesn't have to make two trips once he decides to show up. Well apparently this just confused the fuck out of him, he finally showed up and he was like hold on let me get the bill. Ok, go get the bill I think, how long can that take... And I am not making this up, 25 minutes later he comes back and says "Is there anything else you need?" Yeah fucktard, the BILL! We tell him we have been waiting well over half an hour to get the bill and we already had asked for it once. He whines "we'll I have all these other tables" as he spreads his arms out to encompass half the restaurant. And this is my problem? He gets the bill and brings the credit card slip. We get the hell out .

So to sum it all up...yada yada yada everything sucked. Service sucked, food sucked, I am guessing if the band was there it would of sucked too.

If you go (you are stupid) but here is the address
1759 N. Canton Center Rd.
Canton, MI 48187
* In Centre Village shopping center
Phone: 734-259-0053

My suggestion is to skip this hole and go to Mexican Fiesta II just a couple blocks away. See the full review here.