El Cantarito Mexican Restaurant
$ • Mexican, Vegetarian, Pet Friendly
Hours:
191 S Tulane Ave, Oak Ridge
(865) 482-0090
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I rarely bother to write reviews but in this case I felt compelled to explain why I left only a $2 tip.
I've been a waitress/server many times over the years and I understand what a grueling job it can be. I am sensitive to the struggle.
I went to eat with my son at the Oak Ridge location on his recommendation, as he had eaten there with friends once. I was looking forward to a good meal. We were both severely disappointed for multiple reasons...
The food: I'll start with the positive. The portions were very generous. The sweet tea was delicious. But, there was little flavor or spices so it was all very bland. The guacamole seemed like just smashed avocado. The refried beans were flavorless. The queso "dip" was practically milk. The chicken inside of the burrito and enchiladas were not really shredded but in very large chunks I had to cut to eat. The Sopapilla had 1/2 spoon of whipped cream, barely enough for a bite or two.
The service: He was pleasant, neat in appearance and took and delivered our order quickly. However, once he dropped the food, he disappeared for the duration of our meal. We sat with empty drink cups once our first glass was gone. It was unpleasant to eat a meal with nothing to drink. He didn't check back to see if we needed anything or if the food was ok. He didn't clear our plates, even when we ordered dessert. (Still no drink refill). We shuffled dirty plates around the table as needed. He didn't even interact when he brought the check; he just dropped it and walked away.
I'll add that the bill was reasonable for the amount of food we received, albeit bland.
I am normally an 18-20% tipper, but with the entire experience, I didn't feel it was even close to being earned. I also don't believe in "stiffing" servers bc you never know what someone is going through.
I didn't write this review to trash anyone or the business. I write it so that the issues can be addressed and hopefully prevent this from happening again because at this point, I'm not interested in returning to this restaurant. I honestly hope this helps, but I'm not optimistic considering the other negative reviews with the SAME complaints going back multiple years. The owner doesn't seem to care at all.
Ratings
Menu
Hours
| Monday | 11AM - 9:30PM |
| Tuesday | 11AM - 9:30PM |
| Wednesday | 11AM - 9:30PM |
| Thursday | 11AM - 9:30PM |
| Friday | 11AM - 10PM |
| Saturday | 11AM - 10PM |
| Sunday | 11AM - 9PM |
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El Cantarito Mexican Restaurant in Oak Ridge is known for its delicious Mexican food and excellent margaritas, making it one of the best in East Tennessee. This restaurant is recognized as an affordable and easy-going spot, ideal for families and friends after local events. It offers great service, generous portions, and reasonable prices. The staff provides excellent service, only returning to tables to offer more drinks or chips, allowing guests to enjoy their meals without interruption. While the location may be a bit small, it provides plenty of parking and boasts an excellent spot right across from the high school. Vegetarians can enjoy the vegetarian fajitas, although the vegetarian status of the refried beans is unclear. Guests highly recommend trying the Tortas, El Cants Dip, Quesadillas, and Chicken Flautas.