A recent restaurant experience has brought to the mind the story of a restaurant I choose to never visit again, after only the one visit, Los Cabos.

Back when the first location opened, at 71st and Garnett, four of us went to try it. We ordered four different combination plates to try everything out. We were huge fans of Atomic Burrito, run by the same people in the same location only months before. The owner of the restaurant and a few other suits were there, possibly investors. Everyone paying close attention to every detail.

When our food came out, only one of the four orders was correct. The other three were not minor issues, they were nothing close to what we ordered, so three plates went back. On attempt #2, two of the three were correct. One plate, that didn’t seem to match anything on the menu. After that, our waiter never returned. Ever. Never even left the back of the restaurant. The owner brought out the third attempt at plate #4 at it seemed to be a winner. He jokingly said the waiter was upset and not coming back. Not sure how much of that was a joke. At this point it had been close to half an hour since the first meal came out so our dinner together consisted of a combination of food that was getting cold, and people eating in shifts.

Half an hour to get the order right and a waiter who has apparently locked himself in a closet. It’s bad, but not horrible. But plate #4 had a secret….. it wasn’t cooked. An order that includes cheese enchiladas that were filled with cold, refrigerated, shredded cheese. The owner cum waiter offered to stick it in the microwave, but everyone else was done and I was ready to leave.

Then came the kicker, the owner brings us a ticket. A ticket for 4 people in which two orders were wrong and delivered late and one order was incorrect 3 out of 3 times. A ticket for 4 meals at full price. No apologies. No coupons. No comped meal. A completely abysmal attempt at providing food at a place who’s primary goal is to provide people with food… all witnessed by, and including the owner, and he thinks he still merits full price.

I’m sure my lack of patronage means almost nothing to his bottom line, and things have likely changed over the years, but the manager’s complete disconnect with the concept of customer service will forever baffle me.