El Tapatio - Gainesville

I'm quite puzzled by all the positive reviews for El Tapatio. I stopped by for the first time yesterday while passing through, and the restaurant is in poor con... read more I'm quite puzzled by all the positive reviews for El Tapatio. I stopped by for the first time yesterday while passing through, and the restaurant is in poor condition. The staff was friendly and the service was good, but the cleanliness was seriously lacking. The bathroom was absolutely filthy—was that plywood under the sink faucet? Really? If this is how they maintain the front of the restaurant, I can only imagine the state of the kitchen and food prep areas. Just thinking about the kitchen staff touching that door handle after using the restroom and then handling the food on the menu is unsettling.

What an amazing experience. The food was excellent, and the staff were fantastic. Service was quick and friendly. The menu offers a wide variety of authentic Me... read more What an amazing experience. The food was excellent, and the staff were fantastic. Service was quick and friendly. The menu offers a wide variety of authentic Mexican dishes. The guacamole was delicious, and my flan was wonderful. The chips were warm, and the salsa tasted fresh. I even received corn tortillas with my fajitas. Thanks for a wonderful meal. Alfonso was an outstanding server.

I had a great experience at this restaurant. The service was excellent, and the atmosphere was pleasant. My food was delivered in under 10 minutes, and everythi... read more I had a great experience at this restaurant. The service was excellent, and the atmosphere was pleasant. My food was delivered in under 10 minutes, and everything was cooked perfectly—I have no complaints. Our waiter, Juan, was very nice, and his attentive and kind demeanor made our visit even better. The restrooms were clean as well.

At first, we had our doubts about the restaurant's quality due to its exterior, but we were delightfully surprised upon entering! The decor was lovely, the staf... read more At first, we had our doubts about the restaurant's quality due to its exterior, but we were delightfully surprised upon entering! The decor was lovely, the staff was attentive, and the food was fantastic! The regular portion of the queso dip was more than enough for us. I chose a side of green tomatillo sauce instead of salsa since I’m avoiding tomatoes right now. It had a wonderful kick and was simply delicious! I wish I could discover their secret because my attempts at making it at home never come out quite as good! I couldn't have asked for more!

I had a disappointing experience at this restaurant due to poor communication and service. They did not accurately take my order, and when they brought me the w... read more I had a disappointing experience at this restaurant due to poor communication and service. They did not accurately take my order, and when they brought me the wrong dish, I was overcharged. I won’t be returning, especially since I ended up paying much more without getting what I actually wanted. I simply ordered a three-cheese enchilada plate with rice and beans, but instead received three enchiladas on a plate and was charged for a full meal, plus an extra fee for the rice and beans. The customer service was the worst I’ve ever encountered! I strongly discourage anyone from dining here when there are plenty of other places that get your order right and treat you with respect.