Vallarta Restaurant
| Address: | 716 W Lumsden Rd, Brandon, FL 33511, USA |
| Phone: | +1 813-684-4700 |
| Rating: | 3.3 |
| Working: | 11AM–9:30PM 11AM–9:30PM 11AM–9:30PM 11AM–9:30PM 11AM–9:30PM 11AM–9:30PM 11AM–9PM |
Location
Photos 24
Reviews 6
JE
jeffreysabres94
my boyfriend and i had heard about a mexican place fairly close and cheap so we decided to try Vallartas for our date night. we walked in and no one was around.. we stood awkwardly wondering if we should sit or wait for someone to sit us. finally after a good 5 minutes someone came and sat us.. didnt say anything to us just pointed at a booth and sat menus down. she took our orders for drinks, i orderd a lemonade because i saw it was one of the options on the menu.. she looked at me like i was crazy and said no we dont have lemonade so i said okay then how about a sweet tea. much later she came with our drinks. She gave my boyfriend and i both water. very nicley my boyfriend explained to her it was water and we both had asked for sweet tea. she took the cups and come back over a few minutes later and said they didnt have tea. finally i just got a soda. we orderd the $1 tacos and chips after eating all the chips and her still not coming to check on us we asked another server is we could add some queso and more chips. i keep seeing employees come from the kitchen directly infront of me and stare and then go back in the kicthen.. feeling very umcomfortable i ask my boyfriend if they were looking at me or if i was just crazy. at this point two employees are at the bar whispering. one points directly at me as im staring at her and the other then looks and gives me a dirty look.. i just keep staring so maybe they would realize im aware they are talking about me.. they dont care they keep talking. feeling more umcomfortable then ever i ask for the check the server was so rude about it and asked where we got the queso.... well maybe if she had checked on us more then once she would have known where we got it. to say the least it was horrible and uncomfortable. i will say the tacos were good but not worth what we went through. i am a very understanding person and dont get mad easily but i stromed out that door so angry that i got treated like that after doing nothing wrong.
BI
Bianca Kendall
We were so excited to have a Vallartas open up in Brandon. Our family has been going to the Wesley Chapel location for a long time. After several visits, we will not be back. The servers (one in particular) are rude and largely ignore their customers even when the restaurant is empty. The last few vistis (we go monthly) there has been a gross dirty mop water smell all the time. Last week they served my daughter completely RAW chicken tenders -- then I had to argue with them to get them to take it off the menu since they brought her a (one, uno) soft taco in place of those. After that we decided to continue to drive to Wesley Chapel when we want Vallartas -- but then this cam out which is the straw that broke the camels back: Health Inspection Vallarta Restaurante Mexicano, 716 W. Lumsden Road •Initial inspection date – May 23 •High priority violations – 9 •Intermediate violations – 8 •Basic violations – 21 Dirty conditions, improper food storage temperatures and a mold-like substance in the ice machine all raised red flags with the inspector, the state’s report noted. Live, flying insects in the service station and the discovery of live roaches also rang alarm bells. The inspector noted finding 10 live roaches on a door inside the kitchen, eight on a shelf bracket above “exposed tacos and exposed shells,” two in a rice bin without rice in it and more in other locations. The eatery was allowed to reopen after a May 24 follow-up inspection, but the state noted a need for another visit. I will be calling the state and letting them know about the raw chicken which took place after the inspection.
TA
Tami Cooper
Very sad to say that this was the worst experience at this restaurant Ive ever had. My mom and I went there yesterday (Sunday Jan. 22,2017) and arrived about 1:15. We were seated immediately. I went to wash my hands and when I returned, the chips and salsa were at the table. NO DRINKS. We waited, and waited and WAITED. I finally flagged down the young man who brought the chips and salsa and asked for some water. After a several minutes we finally got something to drink......after almost an entire basket of chips and salsa. We continued to sit there..........completely ignored. After THIRTY MINUTES of waiting to be waited on (remember now, we didnt even have our drink order taken...........no one came to the table. My mom, 88 and uses a scooter and I got up and left. I really even doubt we were even missed since we were never acknowledged in the first place, and it takes her a while to move and we STILL werent noticed. The service has never been anything worth talking about but the food is pretty good. But after the complete lack of service we had yesterday, itll be a really long time before I go back.
KE
Kevin DiOssi
I used to frequent Estellas Mexican Restaurant with coworkers literally 52+ times a year...we went each week and sometimes more than once a week. It comes down to authentic food quality and the dish preparation - not so much the service. Understandably, in order to achieve real quality Mexican food, you will have to encounter a language barrier at times. I fail to see how so many people expect to dine at an authentic Mexican restaurant and not be prepared for the occasional language problems that may come along with it. That said, Ive personally had excellent experiences here at the Brandon Vallaras. The staff members Ive dealt with have been polite, nice, and checked on us often. Have there been language issues? Sure...but come on...you have to expect this!!! Do you go to eat authentic Chinese food and not deal with the same thing? Would you prefer your authentic Mexican food from a teenager that looks like you? But with all that aside to address the snooty reviews Ive read from others, the food is delicious. The food is excellent and brings you back. The food will bring me back.
JE
Jenny Johnson
Ive had great food & service at the Vallartas in Wesley Chapel so I thought I would enjoy a meal at this location. Middle of december 2016 my mother cheerfully complained about this place the whole drive to the restaurant, but I decided to believe she was being "snooty". She was right about the white cheese, it IS awful. To otherwise illustrate: I asked for a chimichanga with less meat than beans, gestured "less" meat "more" bean as I spoke, which was acknowledged & confirmed. I got a chimichanga with nothing but meat, which of course, comes across as the petty rebuke of a sadist in back, for the audacity of requesting a simple alteration to a menu item. Disappointing textures & flavors on every plate. Attentive service by an elder gentleman was great! But the food ... I dont complain about restaurant management to the waiters. I tip them to show I appreciate their work, even when the food is better flushed (ahem) than thrown away, and then I share my opinion with potential customers here.
AM
Amanda R
Worst service imaginable. This restaurant happens to be in a convenient location, walking distance for me during dinner hours nearly 5 days a week. After countless incorrect pick up orders and more than 4 poor dining experiences with terrible service from a staff that has a nearly empty dining area, I refuse to visit this Vallarta location ever again. My boyfriend and I waited more than 15 minutes while a bartender and server walked past us, back and forth, with no acknowledgement and we were the ONLY customers sitting in the MIDDLE of the bar. I would rather pay twice as much for a quality experience at the sushi joint down the plaza. There is no hope for this place under its current management.
