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| - La Hacienda Review
Last night I visited La Hacienda on Queen West. What a mistake. A friend had recommended it when we were talking about Mexican restaurants. It was late and my partner and I were hungry, we were driving by and decided to try it. I should have known when we walked in, just by looking what was being prepared in the exposed kitchen and that this wasn't going to be close to authentic Mexican food. At first glance, it just seemed like a regular diner. I wasn't expecting a great meal, but I also wasn't expecting to be annoyed when I left either.
Calling the menu lackluster is an understatement, none of the menu items sounded like there was any thought, passion or even respect for food. I ordered the Beef Burrito thinking it may be a safe choice, how can you really screw up a beef burrito, right?
What arrived was ground beef stewed in what tasted like canned pasta sauce with no seasoning, whatsoever, not even salt...with chopped iceberg lettuce STEWED into the sauce wrapped around a flour tortilla, then toasted. WHY WAS THE ICEBERG STEWED? WHY WAS THE TORTILLA TOASTED? WHERE WAS THE RICE OR THE BEANS? WHY WAS THERE NO SEASONING IN A BURRITO? I was so confused. None of it made sense. Then came the cherry on the top, a side of what looked and tasted like no name brand tortilla chips served with stewed tomatoes and onions, which they called "salsa". Again, no salt, no seasoning. I've never had to use a saltshaker this much at a restaurant.
My partner ordered their Chorizo Chili with "Cheese". Extremely bland, no seasoning, no flavour. I wonder if they even put any chili pepper in. I would bet my life savings on the fact that they probably used a no name brand cheddar cheese brick. Served with the no name chips again. How authentic.
Service was just ok, the waiter didn't have much of a presence, but it didn't bother us much. Two cooks in the kitchen, 4 couples in the restaurant having nothing but drinks, still took over 20 minutes to be served our food which was definitely pre-made and reheated.
Last time I take restaurant recommendations from that friend.
At least the Dos Equis was cold.
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