09/22/09

Review your check carefully and pay with cash only!!

by shelldog

My friends and I go here from time to time and have noticed within the past 6 to 9 months that we or our companions are consistently overcharged. Most recently, upon seeing my credit card postings, I noticed I had been charged twice for the same amount for drinks I had in the bar. My friend has been overcharged before as well and has gone back in to protest but they would not make adjustments. My friend has also had this experience when having drinks with business colleagues who pay the bill for everyone without looking at it. Her colleague started noticing that he was being charged for drinks he never ordered. Another problem was that another friend was charged for premium liquor when ordering a well drink.

I will not be returning- the food and drinks are too expensive in the first place. If you do go, make sure to review your bill and pay with cash to ensure you are not charged more than once.

• Pros: Good margaritas (but expensive!!0
• Cons: Overcharge consistently, average overpriced food

08/26/09

Wait stuff are rude and aggressive, floor manager is unprofe

by Mary321

After complaining to the floor manager that the waiter was incredibly rude and was rushing us out of the restaurant while we were still waiting, 20 minutes wait, for our drinks to come and to place an order for food, the floor manager started to scream “Get out! Get out! I have been a manager for five years and I do not want you all here. Just get out, you do not have to pay for your food”. He was screaming at the top of his lungs in front of the full restaurant, walking up and down the bar area and during all that time, we were just sitting there in complete shock. We certainly did not come for free food and despite the fact that the service was horrible, I intended to pay for our food and drinks, and tip. I told the manager that all we wanted is our bill so we could pay for it and we would leave, but he kept on screaming. At that point, I was crying because I was so embarrassed, but I managed to come up to one of the waiters and gave him my credit card in order to pay for the bill. After I paid, we got up and left.

We did call the corporate office and left a message. On Monday afternoon, a lady called back and said that she would forward it to appropriate person. Three days later, a corporate manager called and he was very nonchalant about the whole incident. He said the floor manager was very stressed that night because of some internal issue with one of the employees and was having a bad day. That same corporate manager said that a waitress who worked that night told him that there were some staff problems that night and that the floor manager was upset and yet, that he did not want to lose us as clients and he hoped we would come back. There was no discussion about whether this floor manager will receive any warning, any training in customer service, no, absolutely no action taken to correct the problem. That is very disturbing to me that I have to go through such a degrading, embarrassing and traumatic experience and this floor manager will not even be reprimanded for his unprofessional behavior.

Two people in my party that evening were gay, my male coworker and his friend visiting from New York and we all thought that this is one of the reasons we were treated so rudely by all male wait staff.

The sad thing is when next day I told about my experience to my other coworker, he confirmed that his wife and him also had bad service at Escalante’s (Escalante’s Fine Tex Mex) in Highland Village. Again, this goes to show that this is not an isolated case of bad customer service, but there is something basically wrong with the service in this restaurant.

08/24/09

don't waste your time and money

by serena12

came here after enjoying the sugarland location very much. this location is NOTHING like that one. the food tastes totally different--the guac was old and tasted sour, the beans had no flavor whatsover, and the rice was pretty much the same. entrees were blah. this is the worst tex-mex i've ever had in houston. not cheap either.

06/05/09

We will not be returning

by jchatx

A few weeks ago me and my girlfriends were celebrating a bachelorette party. While we waited for our table we were having drinks at the bar. One of my gfs order shots for everyone from one of the bartenders (can't remember his name but he has green eyes)and he asked if we were trying to get wasted... of course we were, it was my friends bachelorette! he then offered something "more effective" than alcohol...we first though he was joking, but then he offered one os uf to step outside to give her some coke and that's when we knew he was serious. A few of us were so shocked we just left without even paying. How is it possible than a respectful establishment in one of the best areas of the cities gets away with such thing? I'm deeply offended and will not return.

• Pros: good atmosphere
• Cons: illegal activities

01/26/09

Not truthful.

by crb5428

1-14-2009 We were told by phone that we had a reservation for 20. When we got there we were told our table(s) were given to another party who just walked in. IE no reservation. We all stood blocking the front door for 30 minutes. Our group and our numerous friends wil not return to any Escalante.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Untruthful managers

07/19/08

Love the cheese enchiladas and queso!

by skilover

The food is really good. The cheese enchiladas are so great and the sangria is wonderful. A friend and I ate there the other day and she ordered something and when she took a bite she realized it was not what she had expected so they gladly took it back and took it off our ticket. The staff was very friendly and understanding. I would recommend this place to everyone!

• Pros: great food

04/23/08

My family likes it. More than your typical Tex Mex.

by leggychick

We thought that the staff was helpful. My drink was never below the halfway mark before someone came around to ask if I needed more. Our server was polite and attentive. The atmosphere is nice, clean, and refined for a Mexican restaurant. I like the menu because it has more than just the typical options you would find at every Mexican restaurant with interesting choices that have Mexican flavors. I would say that I would have preferred the salsa a little hotter, but I wouldn't say that it was bland. My parents specifically remarked on how they liked it. We enjoyed everything we ordered including our appetizers. When the weather is nice, the wait for the outdoor seating can get rather lengthy because it is pleasant to just eat and chat outside. Meals are inexpensive. Complimentary valet parking or self park in the lot. Good crowd.

• Pros: Complimentary valet, ambience, crowd, menu choices
• Cons: Long wait at times for limited outdoor seating

02/21/08

odd

by ca22

how is this place rated at 4 stars if 3 of the 5 people rating it had it at one? that really doesnt make sense. i have been here several times. the food is pretty good, but i have found the service to be sketchy at times. i myself have never had a problem like the one mentioned above with the older lady in the group, but i have had friends who have hd rather bad experiences with management as well. save your money and go to one of the many other mexican dining choices in town.

12/28/07

No I don't work for Escalantes

by murph23

I know everyone has great and horrid dining stories. The service may have not been top notch but the food here was excellent. If service is an issue, just eat at the bar.

11/24/07

Appalling Customer Service

by louie2002

My family and I - which consisted of 2 50+ year old adults, 1 84 year old, and 3 late 20s early 30s individuals - called in advance for a reservation at the Highland Village location during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. We were told we had one. Upon arrival, we discovered that the restaurant's policy was NOT to take reservations; rather, we were put on a list. Upon seating, we were seated near the loud kitchen where 2 of our group with hearing problems were simply unable to hear. Prior to taking our seats, we immediately requested to move to a nearby table with the same seating arrangement and after our waiter began taking care of us, the hostess informed us that our table was "reserved" and that we would have to move. Despite the tricky position of claiming no reservations, yet forcing us from a table that was "reserved," managment informed us we must leave. In fact, despite our civil questions and practical requests, managment informed us that our choices were to either leave or have the police remove us. We took incredible offense and opted to leave and refuse future business. My family never raised our voices or remotely behaved in any inappropriate manner, yet we were treated as heathens and threatend with law inforcement. To further prove the poor judgment of management, the excuse provided to us was that the tables were reserved for the owners a half hour after our seating. Would the owners of such an establishment prefer to lose business over a violation of their own no reservation policy and approve a threat of law enforcement to senior citizen and her family and risk losing future business? I would hope not. At any rate, it shows a clear lack of business judgement on the selection of managers and that manager's decision making ability. We will not return.