Chipotle Mexican Grill - La Quinta

You know restaurant is good, when the line is always long and the food is fresh. Nothing like Chipotle to fill the tummy when you need to get some good healthy... read more You know restaurant is good, when the line is always long and the food is fresh. Nothing like Chipotle to fill the tummy when you need to get some good healthy calories... ?

Service can be better, servers were young and rude.Rice was Crunchy all throughout about 75% Crunchy and 25% Almost done. read more Service can be better, servers were young and rude.Rice was Crunchy all throughout about 75% Crunchy and 25% Almost done.

On our most recent visit, we arrived for an early dinner, several hours before the restaurant was scheduled to close. To our dismay, many meat and side options... read more On our most recent visit, we arrived for an early dinner, several hours before the restaurant was scheduled to close. To our dismay, many meat and side options were empty. When it was time to place our order, we received surprising responses. We were told, "We are closing soon...oh, you want us to cook that for you?" It was evident that they were not actually out of those items. The staff’s behavior was disheartening. After we placed our order, we were met with eye rolls, exasperated sighs, and an overall negative attitude. One employee even said, "Ugh...you know you have to wait for it to be cooked." Again, keep in mind that this was hours before closing time. When we went to the drink station, we found the tea dispenser empty and there were no napkins available. After notifying the cashier about the empty tea containers, her response was simply, “We are closing soon.” Once more, this was before their closing time. Additionally, there was no one overseeing the cleanliness of the tables or managing the garbage. Tables were not being cleaned, and trash was overflowing. Such conditions might be understandable if there were a worker shortage, but that was evidently not the case during this visit. There were six employees behind the counter and register, two were cooking, and at least two were in the back. If the staff does not intend to have food items cooked, prepared, and the restaurant clean during operating hours, it would be better to reduce the hours of operation drastically. It feels like serving customers is a bother to the current team. This location desperately needs retraining and support from corporate. It is concerning to witness such a lack of professionalism, and frankly, this negligence could lead to health risks for customers. Chipotle as a corporation has been working hard to maintain its reputation, and unfortunately, this location is doing nothing to help it.

We used to love eating at this Chipotle location when it first opened—the food and service were excellent. But our recent visit was very disappointing. When we... read more We used to love eating at this Chipotle location when it first opened—the food and service were excellent. But our recent visit was very disappointing. When we arrived, all the tables were dirty. At the counter, the black beans, steak, and white rice containers were empty. When we asked, we were initially told they didn’t have those items, then that they would be out shortly. While waiting, we noticed the kitchen area was messy, with piles of used containers and food-covered items on the hot table. After a long wait, a fresh steak container arrived, but instead of helping us, the employee used it to prepare a huge portion—three heaping scoops—of steak for himself and then sat down to eat in the dining area, leaving the counter unattended. I had to call out for white rice and black beans. Two employees then came up, found some of the missing items in the back, and helped us place our order. When I received my bowl, the steak portion was much smaller than the employee’s earlier serving. When my husband asked for more, he was told it would cost extra. The employee claimed that staff don’t have to pay for their food but didn’t acknowledge the large portion he took for himself. Our total was $36 for the meal, including two large drinks. The drink station was filthy and nearly empty, with some drinks completely out. Before leaving, I spoke with the manager and explained everything—the poor condition of the restaurant, the employee’s behavior, and our experience. She acknowledged that staff shouldn’t serve themselves and asked if she could assist us further, but we declined. Unfortunately, we left hungry and disappointed. Our steak was mostly gristle and fat, tough and poorly cut. The black beans were hard, and the cilantro-lime rice was chewy. The only bright spots were the drinks and my guacamole. After this experience, we will never return to Chipotle.

We visited the Chipotle Mexican Grill at the La Quinta location for lunch and encountered a long line with only one server and one cashier available. Meanwhile,... read more We visited the Chipotle Mexican Grill at the La Quinta location for lunch and encountered a long line with only one server and one cashier available. Meanwhile, we saw 3-4 employees taking their break and chatting among themselves. It took over 20 minutes to reach the server, who was quite slow and had no assistance. The food was disappointing and did not match the usual quality of Chipotle’s menu. This experience gave us the impression of poor or nonexistent management. We do not plan to return to this location.