Karla M.
Yelp
Oh. Bocaditos. The TRAUMA.
I will lead by saying that this review is for an event that was planned here, not for a single meal.
We reached out to Bocaditos Bistro to plan a bridal shower due to how beautiful the space is and how excited we were about the well-reviewed food. We originally contacted Susana, who gave us the information about reserving their mezzanine space, which supposedly accommodated fifty people. She informed us that we absolutely needed fifty people to book that space. As we spoke on the phone, she rushed and added details including that there would be no cake--cutting fees, the length of our bottomless package, dates for final headcount, etc. We sent a Venmo deposit.
We waited weeks for a contract, only to hear from Susana that in the last weeks of 2022 she did not deal with contracts directly, that she had no email, and that a Venmo receipt would suffice to book a party. It was aggravating to have to explain that contracts were useful to have the details of a party down in writing - only for her to later say that we had to come into the restaurant to sign a contract in person, which would be drafted by a chef.
Cue in Chef Alexis Pimentel. Very responsive, conversations seemed a bit more grounded, less rushed, guy seemed like he knew what he was talking about because details wouldn't change mid-conversation as they would with Susana. Mind you, pricing details, packages were COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than what the lady Susana who had taken our deposit money had told us. Chef Alexis assured us that there was no need to sign a contract in person, and that he would stipulate party details in an email and send them to me. Thanks!
Three days before the event I sent the chef final headcount as we agreed. He assured me that he'd be there at our reserved mezzanine space at the start of the event to help us get started.
Day of - we arrive. NOTHING IS SET UP. Waitstaff directs us to the small space that accommodates FAR FROM FIFTY PEOPLE. NO STAFF TO BE SEEN THERE THEN. WE HAD TO SET UP THE TABLES AT THIS RESTAURANT. SEATING WAS SHORT BY OVER TEN GUESTS, which were CRAMMED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. It was a CERTIFIABLE NIGHTMARE. I called the chef for assistance and accountability, which said he was outside parking the car and would be right over. He never arrived. Hours after the party was over, he texted me saying he had been in the kitchen, and why did I leave because he had wanted to say hello. I left him on read.
I want to thank the waitstaff Bory and Alexander, who despite their bosses putting them in this HORRENDOUS situation, did the best that they could.
P.S. They didn't discount the $500 deposit off the check until I pointed it out, so take note. Clearly they're planning events off the tops of their heads.