Chiquito

I keep wanting to give this restaurant just one more chance, but sadly it’s the same every single time.
Food is ok, it’s a great looking place inside, the serving staff are all very friendly but the actual service is dire. Whether the place is packed or empty expect at least an hours wait, often it will be more! Such a shame as it could be great.

I would like to write a review about the food but I can’t. The service was so slow we left after waiting ages before anyone bothered approaching us to take us to a seat. The place wasn’t that busy at the time — there were plenty of empty tables. I could only see two waiters and they spent all the time we were waiting talking to two tables. In the end we went to a restaurant next door and was seated immediately.

No no no… that is all I kept telling myself all through the evening I was at Chiquitos. I went with my girlfriend for a meal for her brother‘s birthday. One word: Terrible… actually I‘m not a one word type of guy though so brace yourselves. If I could give this zero stars I would. Firstly, the service was so slow it was painful. We were a party of 10, however, we were told by the northern sweetheart (or not) that we should hurry up and order as a party of 22 were coming in! That was the first clue that indicated this would not go well. After ordering it took 45 minutes for the starters to arrive which is appalling no matter how many people you have in your party. They cannot even argue that it is because there was a lot to prepare as not everyone ate and the starters were, as predicted (based on my last visit to this hell hole) tiny. £5 for potato skins and there was only two! at Frankie and Bennys you get four larger ones for less than £5. Brace yourselves further, as we sat there for five minutes waiting for cutlery! was I expected to eat with my hands like a feral animal? it would seem so. Furthermore it was almost an hour until the main courses appeared and when they did… oh dear. Now, mostly people don‘t complain as they don‘t have high standards perhaps, or maybe they don‘t want the hassle and I must admit actually I considered shutting up and just eating it as it had took so long I thought my mouth had been sown shut. However, I did send mine back as my burger was warm, not hot. There is no excuse for it not to be hot, except of course unless it was all sat out the back for ten minutes whilst who I can only assume were the staff (it was hard to tell as they stood round with another party watching them hit the plastic donkey) dried cutlery out on the floor. Were they even washed is what I would be asking? does a waiter (loose term) licking the fork and drying it with his tea towel constitute as washing up? I digress though, as my burger was returned to the kitchen and I was told it would be removed from the bill. It came back 10 minutes later after I chased the waitress down and threatened to walk into the kitchen to get my food as it was taking so long. It finally arrived and was fairly tasty but it‘s a shame they couldnt get it right the first time round. Did I want dessert? yes I did however, I had to be in bed soon as it was a «school night» and I knew if I ordered something I would be having it for breakfast. So most of us held off having a dessert and also, the birthday boy‘s cake was coming. Once it arrived they supplied him with tequila, of course with it being a Mexican and we sat looking at the delicious cake. And we sat, and we sat… with no plates, no napkins, no knife! but alas «El Salvador» the clever waiter with all the moves for the half drunk ladies came with a knife. Oh, a butter knife! or what appeared to be a butter knife it was so blunt. They couldn‘t even supply a decent sharp knife? When we requested the bill they had conveniently dropped my burger back on claiming «they had forgot»…yes of course they did. They removed it with a revised bill but had the cheek to ask for a common place service charge of £15! Nothing was beyond them it seemed and so we did not pay the optional service charge and was on our way. Overall a very pleasant evening… from the car park to the front door. After we went in it all went downhill and I strongly recommend avoiding at all costs. Even if you are hungry, tired and alone I would rather you feed from a burger van than this shambles of an establishment. How they have managed to stay in business this long beggars belief but I will not be returning… oh no not on your Burrito! I am still waiting for my glass of water I asked for half an hour before leaving…

Is it Mexican? Is it Spanish? What is it??? It’s tasty, that’s what it is! Great menu for a meal before the movies, or a work night out. Plenty of free parking within the leisure park, so if you don’t feel like busy city dining you’ll be well looked after here. My last visit I noticed some of the waiting staff had changed, for the better. Bouncy, helpful, friendly, quick and sharp. Even getting the bill didn’t take too long if you’re confident! If you are up against the clock then be prepared to miss the trailers before your movie, but it’ll be worth it.