Si Senor - Chandler (PHX)
Having grown up in Chandler– you would think I would know all the options for Mexican food in town:
Elmer’s Taco Shop (Az Ave just north of Chandler Blvd) – no self respecting Chandler High graduate can say that they don’t know about Elmer’s. And no, they’re not Nachos – they’re Strips (yep the tortillas used to be cut in strips hence the name) – and the cheese shouldn’t be melted, trust me.
Guedo’s (original location) – (Chandler Blvd, just east of Az Ave) – long before Baja Fresh and Rubio’s ever came to town this oh so fresh Mexican Grill was serving up the best taco’s, torta’s and burros around. I remember the days of asking if they would even accept a phone order or if you just had to come and wait in line with everyone else. And, oh yeah! Cash only. Oh and that old fashioned beer cooler that all but froze the beer bottles, mmm.
Ortega’s – long gone but used to be tucked behind the town square in the area south of what is now the Rocky Mountain bank building. This is where I learned real taco’s were served with Shredded Beef – not ground.
Serrano’s (original location) – (Az Ave between Frye and Chandler Blvd) before some quack food critic had to review the place and bust their chops for the old booths with questionable springs in the seat and complain that their salsa had no substance (that’s because they didn’t serve salsa back then - it was hot sauce) I considered this the best green enchilada sauce in town. Ma and Pa Serrano were normally in residence on busy weekend nights tucked at a table for two at the back of the restaurant and Ma Serrano kept her eyes constantly moving around the dining room making sure things were flowing the way they should. This was when the same servers worked the place for more than 10 years – as opposed to 10 days. Good, fresh, food – and oh yeah, least we forget free bean dip.
Espo’s - (Chandler Blvd. just east of McClintock) so these days if I tell someone to go to High Town they probably wouldn’t have a clue – but us ol’schoolers know. Enough said.
And while my memory lane review of Mexican restaurants in Chandler has been personally enjoyable it does bring me to the point of this post and that is a “new” place at Alma School and Galveston called Si Senor. Admittedly – this new place has probably been here about 5 years but as I moved from the old hood about 10 years ago I just hadn’t kept up on the new eats available. But as my life has recently placed me back in my old stomping grounds I couldn’t help but notice on a few recent drive by’s that this place seems to draw a steady crowd. Would be interested to know if anyone has been and their thoughts. And I suppose while I am at it how about Armenta’s (??) Tortilla Factory in what was the original McDonalds in town and the Dos Ranchitos RESTAURANT that has opened adjacent to the Food City at Ray and Az Ave - any reviews for these two spots?
Thanks,
BZ
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Had enjoyed several good meals at Si Senors and then became turned off by service issues on consecutive visits.
On the last trip, I took my son, who ordered off the kids menu. I suspect the server punched in the wrong order because the wrong entree showed up. No problem, really, we just politely sent the plate back. ... Some 5 to 10 minutes later, I predicted that the corrected entree would return to the table with the same fries, by now, cold and wilted. Indeed, that was the case. Unfortunately we couldn't get our server's attention to correct the plate (again). ... In too big of a hurry to address the issue, we blew it off. ...
Then the cashier asked, "How was everything?" When I told her the problems she just shrugged and said, "Sorry." And then said "$27.49," or whatever the price was. Why do they ask about the experience if they don't train staff to notify a manager or find a way to keep from losing a customer?
The next day I made contact with Si Senor via their web site with details of the experience and frustration and they never replied. I inferred a lack of customer service culture from all of the above and have not been back since.
