Salsarita’s in Owensboro, Kentucky: Food A-plus | Friendliness F
Every Friday, two of my daughters (Brittany and Emily) and I eat Lunch out together. When we’re in the mood for Mexican food…. very, very often… we usually eat at one of the amazing Real Hacienda restaurants here in Owensboro, Kentucky. The authentic Mexican food can’t be beaten and the workers all know us by now – they’re extremely friendly and often joke around with us.
Every now and then we’ll go to Salsarita’s on Highway 54, like we did today. When we went today I thought, “I’ve never done a review of Salsarita’s, I’ll write one up tonight.“ Oddly enough, I write scads of reviews for other restaurants around Kentucky (and even Southern Indiana), but I often overlook home.
Anyway, I thought I’d rectify that today – give the home team a shout out!
I will say this, Salsarita’s food is dang good. The Queso is fantastic and you can’t find a better taco than the hard-shell grilled shrimp taco.
The workers are normally pretty friendly, but today the first one in the line-up (a brunette) was even friendlier than usual. The crew at Salsarita’s can sometimes be far less than friendly, so this one stood out. I thought, “Wow. They’ve finally told their workers that customers are the good guys!”
However, as Brittany came behind me and placed her order, another worker (a young, curly-haired girl) was very rude and, get this, even argumentative. That was one thing – but then she nudged my beloved friendly brunette sort of like, “Get me… I’m putting this girl in her place.” Nudged her! Much to the brunette’s credit, she just walked away.
As Brittany was explaining to curls how she wanted the pizza made (as opposed to how the girl wanted to make it) – yet another worker came over and started being confrontational. This one was older than curls and had blond hair. The two of them kept exchanging looks which was, of course, extremely unprofessional. I just really don’t think my lovely young 5′4″ daughter needed two of them ganging up on her. Ironically, Brittany is the reason we’ve ever gone to Salsarita’s. As a vegetarian, she loves the options they offer and she has (in the past) heavily sung their praises to anyone who’d listen.
When we paid, I made sure the cashier (and apparently manager) knew that her workers were quite rude. She was very friendly to Brittany and even asked her if she’d like sauce for her pizza. Brittany told her that she did, but when had tried to tell the worker (curls) that she wanted sauce, she’d just turned and walked away. This worker (possibly manager) was very, very friendly and helpful. We’ve been in there before while she was working and she has always been great.
When my girls and I sat down to eat, the two workers in question kept looking at our table and talking to one another. Then the older one goes over to the manager and starts whispering.
I have eaten out at more restaurants than I could ever even BEGIN to count, and this sort of thing has never happened before. We felt more like intruders than guests and I promise you this: We’ll never bother them again.
Before we left, I put on my mother hen hat went back up to the counter, to let the manager know where she’d be able to find this review. No apologies. Nothing. Perhaps she was sticking up for her workers.
Well, this is a mother sticking up for her daughter.
If you’ve read this blog (or any of my other blogs) for any amount of time, you know that I am a very positive person. My youngest daughter’s boyfriend once asked me, “What if you eat somewhere that has horrible food? Do you write a bad review?” I told him that actually, I just ignore the restaurant and pretend it never happened. I just happen to be one of those people who looks at the world through rose-colored glasses. I refuse to put on any other kind of glasses!
Until, she said reaching for that mother hen hat again, someone is rude to either my husband or one of our daughters.
On a side note, restaurants should require their workers to wear name tags and should have comment cards on the tables. More importantly, restaurants should require their workers to treat customers as welcomed guests that they want to return – not as unwelcomed intruders that they have to gang up on and drive away. A restaurant is NOT a hit or miss just based on its food. A restaurant is a hit or miss (and determines if I return and/or recommend it) based on how it makes you feel to be there. Owensboro’s Applebee’s, Real Hacienda, Penn Station, and Ninki’s are just a few of the restaurants in town where you always feel completetly welcome. They love to see you come and seem to insist that you come back. In fact, the people at Penn Station are often so friendly, you feel for certain they’re going to follow you to your car and open the door for you!
I hate for the last post on Genuine Kentucky to be a negative Nelly. Watch for an upcoming reviews for Penn Station, Real Hacienda, Ninki’s, Applebee’s, and others: Places I have nothing but praise for.
If you go to Salsarita’s, I hope you catch them on a good day. But if you get a side of rude with your tacos, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Related Articles:
- Real Hacienda Mexican Restaurant in Owensoro Kentucky: Deliciousness Waiting to Happen If you love authentic Mexican cuisine like I do,...
- Dining at Land Between the Lakes – Ponderosa in Draffenville, Kentucky When you visit Kentucky’s pride, Land Between the Lakes,...
- Bob Evans Restaurant in Owensboro Kentucky is Extraordinary Two of my daughters (the third one was in...
- Aurora Landing Restaurant at Kenlake Lodge My husband and I have been making the rounds,...
- Starbucks Admiration Post Courtesy of a Starbucks Addict …..with no intenion of even trying to reform her ways...
