Amy Canaday
Google
We dined at Casa Santa three weeks ago on a Friday night, 6:15. I had made a reservation in advance.
We arrived at the restaurant for our reservation time. The hostess seemed "stuck," unable to continue greeting and assisting guests until *someone else (not even herself)* had a table ready for the party ahead of me. Meanwhile, literally 5 other parties filed in behind me - not greeted, there was no - welcome to Casa Santa, how many in your party or I'll be right with you. Zero acknowledgement. It was disappointing.
Finally, we got helped by a different hostess (since the first one was seating that party ahead of me). Got greeted and seated right away.
The restaurant is truly beautiful. It provides an upscale atmosphere for the dining experience. Very elegant.
Our server took our drink order right away. The other couple we were with ordered queso to go with the chips. Drinks arrived, chips and salsa were fine. But by the time the queso arrived, we needed more chips. It was such a long wait for the refill on chips, my friend even commented - by the time we get more chips, the queso will be cold.
At first, we didn't mind so much that service was slower. We were with friends and at least enjoying the company.
We ordered dinner.
Meanwhile, I sipped my margarita. I had ordered it with salt and rocks. I guess their "signature" is to put salt on half the rim of the glass and chili pepper or something on the other half. While pretty, it's not what I was expecting. I would not enjoy that. I would have requested to NOT have that "accent" on my drink, but I did not know the drink would arrive that way. Also, it arrived with no ice. It was warm. And I was thoroughly disappointed. A warm margarita? Bummer!!!! My husband ordered the El Grueso and quite enjoyed it. Extra points that this bourbon drink arrived with the single, large ice cube.
My friend ordered the birria tacos. They looked DELICIOUS. But it was more "tacos, French dip style" and the juices were very runny. It made the dish messy and she ate only one of the three tacos. Opted NOT to take the rest home.
My dish and the other husband's dish were fine. No complaints, no extra comments.
My husband ordered HIS meal with sour cream and guacamole on the side. It did not come on the side. So, he ordered extra pico de gallo (which comes with the dish to begin with), bc the guac, sour cream, and pico were all touching. He didn't want two of those items in the first place, let alone for all three to touch. Yet, we were charged for extra pico de gallo. That just doesn't sit right with me.
Like I mentioned, this dining experience was three weeks ago, so my details are a little fuzzy. I delayed a review, hoping I could find a way to make it more positive.
It was difficult to get more chips, more salsa, more WATER. Our server hardly came to the table. Service was much slower than expected. We didn't order anything complicated. There's no reason we should not have been able to leave after an hour and fifteen minutes, maybe an hour and a half - with plenty of time to dine and enjoy time with our friends. But the visit took two hours. It didn't affect post-dinner plans, but it was definitely disappointing.
The atmosphere was the best part of the dining experience. The food was good, but nothing exciting.
The service was not great.
I imagine we'll stick with our favorite, reliableTex-Mex across the street in the future.